1929 President's House
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
President's House 1929
Normal School President, Richard T. Hargreaves enjoying a game of golf.
Mrs. Edna "Rose" Hargreaves
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The President's house was completed in 1929 for President, Richard T. Hargreaves and his wife, Edna "Rose" Morrow Hargreaves. The home was occupied by succeeding school presidents until 1987. It was then used as a faculty club, as well as a special events venue for the college and community. Weddings, receptions, and other special occasions were held in the renamed University House until 1998. That summer, President Stephen Jordan and his wife, Ruth, moved into the President's House, returning it to its original use.
The two-story red
brick house is 47 by 30 feet with a 14 x 10 foot one-story extension on the
back. In 1946, a two-car garage with an attached outdoor fireplace was built in
back at the C Street side of the property. Between the garage and the house is
a large brick barbecue with chimney and segmental arched fireplace. The barbecue and fireplace are put to use
during gatherings hosted by the university president. Dr. Rudolfo and Nadine
Arevelo used the back yard extensively to entertain guests, as well as their
own family. During his tenure, toys were scattered across the yard waiting for
the grandchildren's next visit.
The interior of the
President's house has had few alterations from its original plan.
You enter the house
to a spacious foyer with small closets on either side. Through the arched
opening on your left, is the sunken living room with a large fireplace. Glass
double doors open from the living room to the terrace at the back of the house.
Facing the living room through the arch on the right, is the dining room with a
door connecting to the kitchen in back. The library occupies the one-story
extension at the back of the house.
A staircase takes
you to the second floor from the foyer, making two 90 degree turns on its way
up. Here there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master bedroom is
above the living room and has a large fireplace with a marble and painted wood
hearth.
Down in the basement
of the house, there are two rooms which were once the maids' quarters.
Sources
Guide to the Eastern Washington University Campus Historic District; 2003
The Southwest Spokane County Historical Society photograph collection