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Built in 1977 as a temporary accommodation, Potomac Hall, also known as the College Center, was located in the middle of the Salisbury State College (later Salisbury State University (SSU); now Salisbury University) campus. During its tenure, Potomac Hall had classrooms, offices, Gull's Nest, the Book Rack, Modern Languages laboratory, the Art Department, and various art studios. Despite its primitive design and constant campus complaints about the quality of the building's features, Potomac Hall served the SSU community until 2000 when the building was demolished to make way for Henson Hall.


Potomac Hall, 1998

Plant, Sky, Building, Tree

Potomac Hall, also known as the College Center, 1980

Sky, Building, Grey, Wood

Potomac Hall, also known as the College Center, 1983

Plant, Black, Road surface, Standing

Potomac Hall (Right) and Powell Dining Hall (Left), 1980

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The back of Potomac Hall (left) and Powell Dining Hall (Right), 1982

Cloud, Sky, Building, Tree

Potomac Hall was built in 1977 as a temporary accommodation but was utilized for 33 years. Located in the middle of campus, slightly south of the Powell Center and north of Maggs Gym and Devilbiss Hall, Potomac served as classrooms, offices, and as the college center before the construction of the Guerrieri Student Union. It also housed the Gull’s Nest, Book Rack, Modern Languages Laboratory, Art Department, and art studios in the 1990s. Despite complaints about the building’s air quality, furniture, cooling and heating system, its outdated technology, and aesthetic, Potomac Hall avoided demolition in 1991 during a discussion for a new library and again in 1998 when SSU officials were planning a new building to accommodate overcrowding. However, Potomac Hall did not escape the wrecking ball in 2000. Faculty housed in Potomac Hall were moved to the Allenwood Shopping Center and Henson Hall was constructed on the newly-cleared ground. 

Bradley, Sylvia. Salisbury: From Normal School to University 1925 - 2001. Salisbury, Maryland. Salisbury University Press, 2002.

Salisbury University. A Timeline of SU Buildings & Presidents, Salisbury University. Accessed March 16th 2021. https://www.salisbury.edu/discover-su/campus-history/whos-who.aspx.

"Opinion: Statues Tacky, Too Expensive." The Flyer (Salisbury) December 6th, 1994.

"Spotlight on David Ganoe." The Flyer (Salisbury) May 5th, 1998.

"SSU Seeks Donations for Building." The Flyer (Salisbury) April 6th, 1999.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

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