Franklin Hall, Goodwell, Oklahoma, NRHP-listed
Franklin Hall is a concrete building in Goodwell, Oklahoma, constructed in 1909–10 by a local contractor. It measures 37 by 80 feet and has a moderately sloped hipped asphalt roof, with no particular architectural style. It originally housed students, faculty, and the school president's family.
The building dates from the earliest years of the Panhandle Agricultural Institute, which later became Oklahoma Panhandle State University. After World War II, it was converted into apartments for married students and faculty, and it remains one of the only surviving structures from the school's founding era.
Franklin Hall started as a dormitory for female students, reflecting how housing was organized by gender in early student life. The building shows how student living arrangements and daily routines changed as the school itself evolved.
The building has been partially closed in recent years due to safety concerns and needed repairs to meet current building codes. Visitors should check access conditions beforehand, as portions may not be open to the public.
Franklin Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 under the alternate name Girls' Dormitory/Boys' Dormitory, reflecting its dual role in student housing. It is the only building surviving from the time of the school's founding.
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