Hoyt Residence Hall · Eastern Michigan University Campus Building

Building Name

Hoyt Residence Hall

Description

The complex was constructed in 1969 to house ever-growing numbers of students at the university. The three structures and the conference center were constructed at a cost of $6.25 million. The university financed the project through the sale of self-liquidating bonds. These 11-story structures stand taller than anything on or near campus except the city water tower at Cross and Washtenaw. Designers built the residence halls to house a total of 1,404 students in the three dormitories. Hill and Hoyt originally only housed women while the men resided in Pittman. Like many of the other dormitories on campus, the buildings surround a courtyard. The fourth side of the court is closed by the Conference Center which at one time contained dining commons 3, and conference center.

Namesake Biography

Charles O. Hoyt was born in Middlesex, New York, July 12, 1856. As a young boy, he and his family moved to Saline, Michigan, where he graduated from high school. He received an A.B. degree from Albion College in 1896, attended the University of Jena, 1901-1903, and received his Ph.D. degree in 1903. Hoyt began his teaching career in rural school at age sixteen; he was the school principal at Blissfield, Michigan, 1877-1881; Superintendent of schools, Wyandotte, Michigan, 1881-1886; Grass Lake schools, 1886-1889; Jackson schools, 1889-1893; and Lansing schools, 1896-1896. He then came to Michigan State Normal College as director of the training school, 1896-1898; and then became Professor of Pedagogy, 1898-1900; Professor of Philosophy and Education, 1900-1920, and finally, Head of the Department of Education until his death. During his more than thirty years of service in the college, he became known as one of the more creative teachers and educational lecturers of the state. As a conductor of teachers institutes, his work took him to all sections of Michigan and into Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, and was constantly in demand as a commencement speaker. With Dr. R. Clyde Ford, he was co-author of John D. Pierce, Founder of the Michigan School System; A Study of Education in the Northwest, published 1905, he also authored "Studies in the History of Modern Education," published 1908, and also wrote numerous magazine articles and pamphlets. Hoyt was a member of the National Education Association and the Michigan Education Association. While on campus, he organized the campus chapter of the Phi Delta Pi fraternity and for thirty years was its only patron. During those years he stressed for the more than four hundred members who came under his influence scholarship, loyalty, fraternalism and morality. In Hoyt's city and church life he was a member of the First Methodist Church and taught a large student class, he was also a Mason and a member of the Rotary Club. Charles Oliver Hoyt died at his home on Forest Avenue, Ypsilanti, April 14, 1928, after a long and serious illness.

Building Namesake

Charles Oliver Hoyt, Professor of Pedagogy, Head of Education Department, 1896-1928.

Year Constructed

1968

Date Dedicated

24 October 1969

Building Functions

Single occupancy residence hall.

Architect

K.F. Leinninger Associates of Birmingham, MI

Original Cost

$1,500,000

Architectural Style

International

Rights

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