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Dorm and War Monument
Dorm and War Monument
Exterior of UM's Hayden Hall (April 2023) by Theo Brockman.
by Theo Brockman
I looked down at my room assignment submission and saw, “room 2115, Hayden Hall, East Quad.” Numbers and a namesake for a hall that weren’t significant to me at the time. Now I sit in my off campus room missing Hayden Hall, which has served as an essential part of the university's rich history for over a century and as a home for military training in World War II.
Joseph R. Hayden, namesake of Hayden Hall, was a distinguished alumnus and benefactor of the university. The Bentley Historical Library says he served UM as the "James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science and chairman of the department” and was “appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt to serve as vice governor of the Philippines and secretary of public instruction" ("East Quadrangle").
The name Hayden is an English place-based surname derived from the Old English words "hay" and either denu (valley) or dun (hill), according to BehindTheName. The name history website adds that the name Joseph comes from the Latin form of Greek name Ioseph, "which was from the Hebrew name יוֹסֵף (Yosef) meaning 'he will add.'"
Joseph R. Hayden. Photo courtesy: findagrave.com.
Architects Morrison and Gabler designed the hall, which was completed in 1939. They received 45% of their funding from the public works program aiding the project to completion ("East Quadrangle"). Hayden Hall’s portion of East Quad is, appropriately for its initials, in the shape of an “H,” no enclosed courtyard like was customary for other dorms. In an Ann Arbor News article about the dorm, an alum recounted the lore behind the H-shape, writing in the open comments chain: "We were told that this was because it had been built around a house whose owner refused to sell” ("A Retrospective").
While still in its infancy, Hayden Hall served primarily as a dormitory for students, offering them a comfortable and convenient place to live as they pursued their education. In the 1940s, the hall's purpose shifted dramatically as the United States became embroiled in World War II. The university temporarily transformed Hayden Hall into a military training facility for the United States Navy ("East Quadrangle: Home of the RC"). This conversion highlights the hall's adaptability and the university's commitment to national service during a time of global crisis.
In addition to its architectural and historical significance, Hayden Hall has played an essential role in the lives of countless University of Michigan students. For many, the hall represents a home away from home, a place where lifelong friendships and memories are formed, which is an idea that I, myself can certainly attest to. My roommate from last semester, who is now a brother of mine in my fraternity, constantly brings up to me all the memories he and I had in Hayden Hall. These are all glimpses of the past that we will hold until our end days. I grew as a person inside Hayden Hall, and that is something I will forever be grateful for.
Works Cited
“A Retrospective on the University of Michigan's East Quadrangle Residence Hall.” Ann Arbor News. Web. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.
“East Quadrangle.” Bentley Historical Library. University of Michigan, n.d. Web. Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
https://bentley.umich.edu/legacy-support/campus_tour/eastquad.php
"East Quadrangle Home of the RC." University of Michigan, n.d. Web. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023. http://websites.umich.edu/~aamuhist/eaparker/East%20Quad.html
Hanks, Patrick, et al. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.
"Hayden." Behind The Name. https://www.behindthename.com/name/hayden. Accessed 24 April 2023.
"Joseph." Behind The Name. https://www.behindthename.com/name/joseph. Accessed 24 April 2023.
"Joseph Ralston Hayden Papers." Bentley Historical Library. University of Michigan, n.d. Web. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhlead/umich-bhl-851643?view=text
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