ASU president’s office back at Founders Hall
Published 2:00 am Saturday, May 1, 2010
- Dr. Robert Glenn’s office suite at Athens State University is now located on the north side of Founders Hall with large windows looking out to the north and east lawns.
By Guy McClure
Guest Writer
Kim Sandridge Snell remembers the president’s office at Athens State University well.
She always felt welcomed there, even as a teenager while her father, Dr. Sidney Sandridge, led the day-to-day operations of the then Athens College.
“I liked visiting my father’s office — his door was always open to all of his brood, as well as the students and the community,” remembered Snell. “Daddy’s secretary, Marte Porter, would be the first face I would see upon entering his office suite. Her duties went beyond the clerical; she was more like the hostess of the college.”
After almost three decades of serving other purposes, the original president’s office at Athens State University once again houses the institution’s leader.
Dr. Bob Glenn moved his headquarters into the office suite in Founders Hall in April.
During the 1980s, Brown Hall became the president’s domain and, in the early millennium years, the Bullington home across Beaty Street from Founders Hall served as the administrative headquarters.
“I guess you could say the original purpose of the rooms has been reinstated,” Glenn said. “It is funny how things come full-circle — when the building was erected in 1842, the architect Hiram Higgins had the foresight to place this office where it could best serve the school. We can learn a lot from the ingenuity of our past generations.”
Glenn’s office suite is now located on the north side of Founders Hall with large windows looking out to the north and east lawns.
The suite gives easy access to the circle drive in front of the building and the parlor, where so many institutional and community events are held.
Amid the unpacked boxes and general chaos of moving, Glenn and his secretary, Sandra Stockton, are carrying on their daily mission.
While the duties of the office have no chance to slow down, bookshelves are slowly being filled and pictures are hung.
The history of the rooms is well-chronicled by Elva Bell McLin in her books “Athens State College History 1821-1994” and “Madame Childs: The Lady and the Legend.”
The early presidents of the institution actually lived in Founders Hall, starting with President Richard Henderson Rivers, who brought his wife and five children who set up house in the two rooms allotted to him when the building was completed in 1844.
It is also said the Madame Jane Hamilton Childs, who according to legend saved the school from the Union troops, brought her own elegant furniture and accoutrements with her from her native Virginia befitting an elegant woman of her time.
Although still elegant by the sheer scale and architectural detail, the offices today are well equipped to handle the modern day tasks required of a university president’s office. But looking through the wavy glass of the massive windows and thinking of all of the history that has been witnessed through them makes us once again realize the timeless plan of Hiram Higgins lives on.
Guy McClure is director of public relations, marketing and publications at Athens State University.
