McNeese State University
Campus Buildings no longer standing
Bel Hall. Built in 1958, this women's dormitory was originally called Beta Hall. McNeese renamed it after Della Goos Bel. McNeese demolished the building in 2002 to make room for more parking. In 2003, McNeese carried the Bel named to Bel Gardens, the new student housing complex located on the corner of Common and McNeese Streets.
Howard House. The Howard House/Home was a two-story frame building originally purchased for use as dormitory space for women. The house near where Gayle Hall sits today. The building was also known as the Horticulture Building, University Dorm, McNeese Dormitory, Guidry House, and Home Management House. Sources vary regarding the exact building date, between 1889 and 1905. Theodore Howard, a Michigan lumberman, built the house. McNeese purchased it in 1945. The Howard Home was used as a women's dorm from 1945 to 1953, and as the Home Economics Department for women from 1953 to about 1971. In 1971, the Guidry family purchased the house and moved it to a lot in far south Lake Charles. For more information, see If Walls Could Talk by Nola Mae Ross.
King Hall. Built around 1970, this men's dormitory was located on the corner of Beauregard Drive and Common Street. The original building was named for Alvin O. King. In 2001, McNeese demolished King, Watkins, and Zigler Halls to make way for building new student apartments. In 2003, McNeese carried the King named to King Suites, part of the new student housing complex.
McNeese Farm. In 1946, McNeese purchased 80 acres of land for the Department of Agriculture where the Athletic Complex sits today. Structures on this land consisted of a dairy milking barn, a dairy loafing barn, a beef cattle barn, two straw-loft laying houses, six colony laying houses, and six colony brooder houses. Also, the Department Head, J.C. Barman, was given a home located on the property. The McNeese Farm was relocated a few miles east of the campus in 1956 where it sits today.
Quonset Huts. During the 1940s and 1950s, McNeese used Quonset huts as temporary buildings placed throughout campus for various functions.
Sun Village Apartments. McNeese built this five unit, four-room complex around 1957 to house married students. The complex was originally located on the corner of Common and McNeese Streets.
Temporary Buildings. In the late 1940s, McNeese used numerous temporary buildings throughout campus for additional classroom space, offices, and housing.
Temporary Building A. Originally located next to the science building (Frasch Hall) in 1948, and used as the student commuter's area.
Temporary Building B. Originally located next to the cafeteria in 1948, and used for speech classes.
Temporary Building C. Originally located behind the administration building (Kaufman Hall) in 1948, and used as additional space for faculty offices.
Temporary Building D. Originally located near the Arena in 1948, and used for art classes.
Temporary Building SEC. The Special Education Center was also placed in a temporary structure located near the Arena in 1948.
Watkins Hall. Watkins was McNeese's first men's dormitory, located on the corner of Jefferson Davis Drive and Cameron Drive. McNeese students christened it the Blue Dorm because the bottom panes in all the windows were blue. The dorm was also called Wrangler Hall, in keeping with the cowboy theme. It was built in 1957, renovated about 25 years later, then demolished in 2001 for construction of new student housing, now called Watkins Suites. The original building was named for Jabez B. Watkins.
Zigler Hall. Zigler Hall was a men's dormitory, originally called Bronco Hall or the Red Dorm, located on the corner of Cameron Drive and Common Street. McNeese students christened it the Red Dorm because the bottom panes in all the windows were red. The dorm was also called Bronco Hall, in keeping with the cowboy theme. It was built around 1964 and later renovated at the same time as Watkins Hall, around 1982. In 2001, McNeese demolished it to construct new student housing, now called Zigler Suites. The original building was named for Fred B. Zigler.