Students from 10 residence halls gathered for a party to celebrate the 108th birthday of Elon's oldest building.
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President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley is joined by students in blowing out the candles on the West Hall birthday cake.Elon’s Historic Neighborhood Association held a party on Nov. 14 to celebrate the 1905 opening of West Residence Hall. The building is the oldest on the Elon campus, the beloved campus home for generations of Elon students, and is the backdrop for the annual Under the Oaks celebrations of Commencement and Opening Convocation.
The Historic Neighborhood consists of West, Virginia, Sloan, Hook, Brannock, Barney, Carolina and Smith halls, plus the Cannon and Kenan Pavilions in the Academic Village. It is one of Elon’s seven residential neighborhoods and the home of mostly first-year students.
Students dressed up for the West Hall party and enjoyed cake and fellowship in the building's commons room.Students were invited to the birthday party in formal wear to hear remarks from President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley ’46, Executive Vice President Gerry Francis and Vice President for Student Life Smith Jackson. President Danieley explained the long history of West Hall and recalled the days of his youth when he courted his future wife, Verona, in the West Hall Commons Room.
The birthday party was organized by Monet Thomas ’07, assistant director of residence life for the historic neighborhood, and Nancy Midgette, professor of history and co-chair of the Historic Neighborhood Association. This was the first of what is planned to be an annual celebration of the opening of West Hall. The Historic Neighborhood Association organizes events and activities that help students make a successful transition to college life and integrate academics and residence life programming.
