The History of Coburn Hall

Coburn Hall

Coburn Hall was the first building for the University of Massachusetts Lowell. It is located at the intersection of Wilder Street and Broadway Street on what is now South Campus. It was founded in 1894 by the Lowell School Committee and State Board of Education and Legislature. It was built and opened in 1897. The first day of classes was held on October 4, 1897, however the building was not yet completed so classes were held in four rooms that were finished. In 1975, it was named in honor Frank Coburn, who was the first principal of the school. Originally it was named the Lowell Normal School later to be called Lowell State College, and nowadays Coburn hall is part of South Campus for the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Coburn Hall is the oldest building on campus here at UMASS Lowell. The city provided $25,000 to build it in the 1890s. Its location was chosen by Charles Allen, who was a native of Lowell. Trolley tracks used to run in front of the building which made the intersection of Wilder and Broadway streets an ideal location, because the trolley was a main means of transportation in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The architects were Frederick Stickney, a Lowell native, and William Austin, a Massachusetts native. They were partners in their company, Stickney and Austin, and designed buildings that reflected the style of the time. They designed it with "high style Beaux Arts design with classical symmetry, arches, cast-iron lampposts, lion's head-adorned gutters, and a dignified bearing"(Frank, 10). The building was modern for the time, and had a grand appearance. However, in the 1970s the cast-iron railing and lampposts were taken down. Coburn Hall stands today almost the same as it was when it was built in 1897, except for changes made to the interior.
The Lowell Normal School was a two year school that allowed for third and fourth years, but they were not necessary. Students studied English, math, science, and drawing. Some of the sciences studied there were geology, botany, and mineralogy. In classes such as geology, the students would draw maps on there desk that turned into easels. These desks were able to bring a connection between some of the sciences and drawing classes. The building was fitted with the newest laboratory equipment for that time period. With this latest technology, the science classes had a strong standing in the Lowell Normal school, which they still have today at UMASS Lowell. Also, on the 3rd floor of Coburn Hall there used to be gymnasium that the students would play basketball in to de-stress from they pressure of classes and societal standards. The gym also had stairs that led to a shower room at both ends. The Lowell Normal School was able to get what is now UMASS Lowell on a strong footing right from the start.
However, the Lowell Normal School did face its problems. When the school opened in 1897, they only had 5 faculty members. Frank Coburn, the principal, was one of them and he taught most classes. The other 4 faculty members included a physical education teacher, 2 maintenance men, and secretary, who doubled as a librarian. Also, the school had 108 student, 3 of which were men, and the remaining 105 were all women. Despite these seemingly bad disadvantages the school flourished, until the Great Depression. Lowell Normal School faced the threat of being closed down but instead grew to change from the Lowell Normal School to Lowell State College. Lowell State College expanded and finally merged with Lowell Technical Institute, which was located on what is now North Campus, to form the University of Massachusetts Lowell that is the school I attend today.
Coburn Hall stands as the building that started it all. Growing from 108 students and 5 faculty members to thousands of students and hundreds of faculty members today. Coburn Hall is the founding father of UMASS Lowell. This historic building serves today as a building for classes and a reminder of the foundation of the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Works Cited
1. "About Graduate Student of Education." About Graduate Student of Education. University of 
             Massachusetts Lowell, n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2013.
2.Frank, Marie. University of Massachusetts Lowell. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub., 2012. Print.