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Building Name
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Brown Residence Hall
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Description
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Brown Residence Hall, constructed in 1948, was named for James M. "Bingo" Brown, football and baseball coach 1923-1929 and first dean of men 1925-1962. The adjacent residence hall, Munson, contained 200 student rooms when it was built and Brown contained 250. Brown also had a kitchen and dining room attached. As of 2024, Brown and Munson have been demolished and are set to be turned into green space.
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Namesake Biography
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James Maurice "Bingo" Brown was born in Chelsea, Mass., in 1892. He was a talented athlete in high school, and went on to coach the football, basketball, baseball, and track teams at the Tilton School in Tilton, New Hampshire, after graduation. In 1912, he started school at Colgate University where he was a successful scholar and athlete. During his time at Colgate, Brown acquired his nickname "Bingo" due to his batting skills. Following his graduation in 1916, Brown spent a short time working as the supervisor of physical education in the Herkimer, NY public school system, before joining the U.S. Army in 1918. During WWI, Brown served as an infantry lieutenant in the American Expeditionary Force in France. Brown went to Michigan after the war ended, and coached football, baseball, and basketball at the University of Detroit between 1919-1923. In 1923, he became an instructor of education and football coach for the Michigan State Normal College (now EMU). He coached football until 1925, which was the year he brought the MSNC its first undefeated football season. In 1927, Brown was appointed the Dean of Men. Between 1928-1933 and 1935-1936, Brown was chairman of the Michigan Boxing Association, and he organized boxing tournaments on the MSNC's campus during these years. James "Bingo" Brown passed away in 1965, and left a strong impact on everyone who had the opportunity to get to know him.
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Year Constructed
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1949
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Date Dedicated
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1949
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Building Functions
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Student Apartments
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Date Demolished
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Fall 2024
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Architect
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R.S. Gerganoff, Ypsilanti, MI
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Original Cost
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1,165,768
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Architectural Style
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WPA Moderne
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Square Footage
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78,354
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Rights
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This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the owner, Eastern Michigan University Archives (lib_archives@emich.edu).
