Historical markers planned for The Green

8:59 a.m., Aug. 6, 2004--Ever walk across The Green and wonder who Samuel Chiles Mitchell was or why the library was named in honor of Hugh M. Morris?

Soon markers will be placed in front of buildings on The Green to provide biographic information about those whose names grace UD buildings and a brief historical note about each structure.

“To understand an institution, one must know something of its history,” UD President David P. Roselle said.

Designed by UD’s award-winning landscape engineer Thomas Taylor, the first historical marker has just been installed by UD Facilities employees in front of Hullihen Hall, the central administration building. The marker, which consists of a brass plaque mounted on a brick column, provides an abbreviated biography of Walter J. Hullihen, who served as the University president from 1920-44, along with a capsule history of the building, which was originally called University Hall when completed in 1940.

Roselle said he got the idea for the historical markers during a visit at another college campus. “I first saw such markers at Virginia Tech,” he said. “I am not aware of other institutions that have them, but there may be others.”

A comprehensive plan has not been developed yet, but Roselle said he anticipates the markers eventually will be placed in front of buildings campus-wide, including UD’s new Center for the Arts now under construction just south of the Amy E. du Pont Music Building on Orchard Road.

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