Venable Hall is a dormitory at

Hampden–Sydney College gr, Ye Shall Know the Truth , established = , type = Private liberal arts men's college , religious_affiliation = Presbyterian Church (USA) , endowment = $258 million (2021) , president = Larry Stimpert , city = Hampden Sydney, Virginia , cou ...

southside Virginia Southside, or Southside Virginia, has traditionally referred to the portion of the state south of the James River, the geographic feature from which the term derives its name. This was the first area to be developed in the colonial period. Duri ...

. Built in sections from 1824 to 1830, Venable Hall is the second oldest dormitory on Hampden–Sydney's campus. The building is listed in the

Virginia Landmarks Register The Virginia Landmarks Register (VLR) is a list of historic properties in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The state's official list of important historic sites, it was created in 1966. The Register serves the same purpose as the National Registe ...

(1969) and on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

(1970) as a contributing property to Hampden–Sydney College Historic District.

History

Construction of Venable Hall began in 1824 and was completed in three separate phases by 1830. The building was designed and constructed by

Dabney Cosby Dabney Cosby (c. 1793 – August 1862) was an American architect, slaveowner, and builder active primarily in Virginia and North Carolina. His earliest known work dates to the 1820s; he is known to have been active until the time of his death. ...

The Council of Independent Colleges
, Historic Campus Architecture Project in the Federal style of architecture and designed to complement

Cushing Hall Cushing Hall (1824) is a dormitory at Hampden–Sydney College in southside Virginia. Built in sections from 1822–1833, Cushing Hall is the oldest four story dormitory still in use in the United States. The building is listed in the Virginia La ...

. When completed in 1830, the building was the home of the Union Theological Seminary. Venable Hall provided the first Presbyterian seminary in the South and eventually became the head institution of the Southern Presbyterian Church. The seminary existed in Hampden–Sydney until 1898 when it moved to its current location in

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

. Subsequent to the Seminary's move to Richmond, Major Richard Venable, Hampden–Sydney Class of 1857, bought its buildings for $10,000 and gave them to the college, doubling the size of the campus. Named in his honor, Venable Hall is now a residence hall and contains the Parents & Friends Lounge, the former Seminary chapel.Hampden–Sydney Buildings
, H-SC Then & Now Graduation, typically held in May, is conducted in the front lawn of Venable Hall.

References

External links

{{authority control Hampden–Sydney College 1825 establishments in Virginia National Register of Historic Places in Prince Edward County, Virginia University and college buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Education in Prince Edward County, Virginia Buildings and structures in Prince Edward County, Virginia Residential buildings completed in 1830 School buildings completed in 1830