West Dormitory, a three-story brick building measuring 158 feet long by 45 feet wide, was constructed in 1905 to serve as a residence primarily for women, and had an attached two-story annex that was 80 feet long by 40 feet wide that contained the dining hall and the first men’s gymnasium. Its doors opened to students and faculty in the fall term of 1906. The first floor was used as parlors, reception rooms, and rooms for the Dean and other women faculty members; while the second and third floors were occupied by approximately 100 young female students. As construction for West neared completion, modern bathrooms (connected to the new sewerage system) were installed on each floor, and the entire college was supplied with steam heat, running hot and cold water, and electric lights which were first turned on January 1, 1907. West’s annex was destroyed by fire on January 17, 1942; however, the main part of West Dormitory was safely protected by parapet walls and fire-safe doors included in the original construction. In 1956, Virginia Hall, a residence for women, was constructed on the site of the old West Dormitory annex and still stands today. West Dormitory was the third building to be built on campus and is presently the oldest building still standing on campus.