Mrs. Emma Guffey Miller was a long time member and past president of the council of trustees. At the time of her death, she was the oldest member of the Democratic National Committee. Mrs. Miller was a very influential person in Pennsylvania State government and was instrumental in securing state assistance for one of the foremost growth programs of Slippery Rock State College. The W. G. Eckles Architectural Company of New Castle was primarily responsible for the construction of the following buildings.

THE LOWRY CENTER - 1928
This structure was constructed as the private residence of Professor Howard Headland. Following the purchase of this house by the college, it housed the offices of the director of development and alumni affairs. Presently, the Lowry Center houses the dean of academic services, graduate studies and research, and continuing education. This house was dedicated in 1988 in honor of Dr. Robert Lowry, a 1948 graduate of Slippery Rock. Mr. Lowry was the first director of admissions at Slippery Rock in 1957, and in 1968, was appointed acting president.

McKAY EDUCATION BUILDING/SECONDARY EDUCATION* - 1929/1938
By 1929, student enrollment had increased to the point that the college was desperately in need of a new teacher training facility. This building was constructed of brick in two phases. The education building was originally a combined college building and Slippery Rock community school. Now it is used almost exclusively for the College of Education. In 1979, the education building was dedicated in honor of Miss Maree McKay, registrar.

EAST GYMNASIUM - 1930
President J. Linwood Eisenberg persuaded the council of trustees to approve the construction of the East Gymnasium. This building was adjoining to the existing West Gymnasium and is built of matching yellow brick. Today the buildings are known as the East/West Instructional Complex and include a swimming pool, two gymnasiums, exercise physiology labs, a computer lab and classroom and office space.

THE HUT - 1930
The Hut was the recreational center for the college. This wood-frame building contained a completely furnished lounge with a fireplace. Chestnut beams and paneling surrounded the large stone fireplace and the lumber came from the College woods. On the ground floor were three bowling alleys, ping pong tables and pool and billiards tables. The Grill adjoined The Hut and was owned and operated by Student Cooperative Activities. As the social center for the college, The Grill contained a snack bar with all the latest equipment for serving ice cream, sodas, soft drinks and sandwiches. Tables and benches surrounded the floor area that was used for dancing to music from the jukebox.

MALTBY LIBRARY* - 1939
Maltby Library was designed rectangular in shape and consisted of a main floor and basement. Large windows were placed in the structure allowing for the greatest possible illumination of the reading and reference rooms. Maltby Library has a colonial doorway exactly in the center and a gracious cupola tops the peak of the slate roof. Expansion of the Maltby Library was completed in 1960. Today, Maltby Center houses Information Technology, Career Services, Admissions and other administrative support services. This building was dedicated to Dr. Albert E. Maltby, principal from 1890-1916.

NORTH HALL* - (after the fire of 1937) 1938
The current North Hall was constructed in 1938 after a devastating fire destroyed the original North Hall on October 16, 1937. The fire consumed all the women residents’ personal belongings, but no one perished in the fire. The town rallied to help these students replace their belongings and provided lodgings until the new dormitory was built. Designed in Early Colonial architecture, North Hall today is the university’s oldest residence hall. The first floor is the social hub of the university, which includes the University Club, the Pennsylvania Room, and the Lillian Yartz Fireplace Lounge.

STRAIN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE BUILDING* - 1938
This red brick building housed the physical and chemical science departments with eight large and four small, well-equipped laboratories, four full-size classrooms, a library, an herbarium, an animal room, and a greenhouse. Considered an outstanding feature of the science hall was the large general lecture room located to the rear of the main floor. This building was dedicated to geography Professor Dr. Warren G. Strain. Dr. Strain brought academic fame to Slippery Rock State College and served as chairman of the geography department where he raised the status of that department to one that was nationally recognized.

PRESIDENT’S RESIDENCE* - 1939
The President’s Residence is a spacious, red brick colonial home located on a hill behind Maltby Center just below the baseball stadium. The house has a sloping slate roof featuring dormer windows, chimneys at opposite ends of the house, windows with shutters and a central doorway and hall. The president’s residence is open to thousands of students, parents, alumni, and university friends for receptions and dinners.

*These buildings represent the largest construction project ever
  undertaken at one time in the history of Slippery Rock University.