These Walls: Old North, on the University of Central Okla. campus in

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City),  May 27, 2008  by Kelley Chambers

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Since long before subdivisions and SUVs dominated Edmond, Old North has stood watch over the city and the University of Central Oklahoma campus.

Records from the university show the Territorial Legislature established the Territorial Normal School in Edmond on Dec. 24, 1890. It was signed into law by Territorial Governor George Washington Steele.

The school is the oldest institution of higher learning in Oklahoma.

To get the school started, however, the Legislature required Oklahoma County to donate $5,000 in bonds and Edmond was required to donate 40 acres of land - 10 for the school, and the rest to be sold to raise money for the school.

The measure was successful and Edmond even pitched in an additional $2,000 in bond money.

The initial 23 students met in 1891 in the nearby First Methodist Church.

In the summer of 1892 work began on Old North Tower.

The National Register of Historic Places nomination form for Old North lists the building as being made of pressed red bricks manufactured on the campus site. The original building had three stories and a basement.

The architect for the original building is listed as Gall Whitley, and J.G. Haskell was architect for renovations that changed the look and expanded Old North.

The additions included adding two projecting wings and a central clock tower, which were completed in 1894. Red sandstone was used on the additions to match the original red brick.

Over the next decade the school continued to grow. In 1904 it became Central State Normal School and in 1919 was renamed Central State Teachers College. The names Central State College and Central State University followed until finally the school was renamed the University of Central Oklahoma in the 1990s.

Old North served as classroom and office space for years, but began to fall into decline and was closed in 1999.

A pair of bond measures over the next few years provided $4.5 million for renovations.

Nevertheless, cost estimates have continued to rise, which has prolonged the renovation process.

David Stapleton, director of architecture and engineering services at UCO, said it has been a long process to bring the tower back as a usable building on campus.

"The proposal right now is to get the interior structures repaired and completed," he said. "That will allow the next sets of renovations to literally come in and make the spaces usable."

One key piece of the renovation will be installing all new mechanical and electrical systems as well as elevators and measures to make the building ADA accessible. University officials are also counting on a fundraising initiative to help make up the difference for repairs to get the tower eventually reopened.

For now the building stands unoccupied, but the clocks on the tower work and bells chime out the hour across the UCO campus.

Old North was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

The Journal Record profiles a significant Oklahoma City or Tulsa building in "These Walls" every Monday and Tuesday.

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