Johnson Hall (Eugene, Oregon)
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Johnson Hall
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Johnson Hall in 2006
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| Location | University of Oregon |
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| Coordinates | 44°02′42.4464″N 123°04′32.7864″W / 44.045124000°N 123.075774000°WCoordinates: 44°02′42.4464″N 123°04′32.7864″W / 44.045124000°N 123.075774000°W |
| Built | 1915 |
| Built by | Boyajohn Arnold |
| Architect | William C. Knighton |
| Architectural style | American Renaissance |
| NRHP reference # | 85001351 |
| Added to NRHP | June 20, 1985 |
Johnson Hall, located in Eugene, Oregon, is the main administration building of the University of Oregon. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The building was constructed in 1914–1915 from plans submitted by Oregon State Architect William C. Knighton in the American Renaissance style. The building's name was changed in 1918 to honor John Wesley Johnson, the first president of the university.
Johnson Hall, when it was constructed in 1915, was originally designed to house administrative offices and other campus services just like it still does today. Also just like its current day condition, the second floor included the offices of the President, Registrar, Business Manager and all of their related support facilities. All other services were located on the first and basement floors. In its early beginnings, Johnson Hall housed the Guild Theater, major department offices, classrooms and a collections exhibit. At the time when the building was completed the total cost of the project amounted to $103,829.96 making it the most expensive building on campus in 1915. In 1949, renovation removed the Guild Theater whose function was replaced by the "New University Theater" (Robinson Theater at Villard Hall). The beloved glass panels on the roof of Johnson were dispersed after the renovation. Some sections of the panels were located at the Erb Memorial Union until when in 1998 restoration once again moved the stained glass panels. Today some portions of the glass panels can be seen in the "Johnson Hall" boardroom while others can be seen in the second story windows of Lawrence Hall.
With the late 1960s and early 1970s came the Counterculture and anti-war sentiment. Eugene was flooded with anti-war rallies as students began to take a side against the American conflict in Vietnam. On March 23, 1970 students took to "Johnson Hall" and held a “stay-all-night” sit-in. Administration allowed the all night sit-in after talking to the crowd and announcing that as long as the students allowed the administration to return home to their families, they would permit the protestors to remain in the building overnight. The president, however, constantly reminded the students that their occupation of the building was an infraction of the law. According to newspaper reports as many as 200 students spent the night in "Johnson Hall". The sit-in continued all day Thursday and by that evening there seemed to be no resolution in sight. At that time on Thursday, President Robert Clark informed the protesters that he would not allow them to remain in the building for another night. He also told them that if they did not leave peacefully they would be arrested for trespassing. Clark finally made the decision to call the police. Eugene police backed by lane county sheriff's deputies, entered the building from the front and rear doors. Students did not try and resist them until they were pulled out of the circle they had formed on the floor of the lobby and handcuffed. After this, chaos erupted at the south entrance of the building while a group of protesters were seen staging a sit-down around the police vans. The police reacted quickly and released tear gas clearing a way for the vans. It was at that point the National Guard entered. The crowd of spectators swelled outside "Johnson Hall" that day to about 700 people after the sit-in was broken up. Many followed the police vans as they made their hurried exit from campus, throwing rocks, trash and anything they could find. The police and national guards intervention resulted in 61 arrests for trespassing and or disorderly conduct that day.
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