Event Detail

Brockway Hall, Cheney Hall and DeGroat Hall (1951)

Growing student enrollment in the 1940s sparked a demand for on-campus, student housing. In 1946, the newly created State Dormitory Authority, under Governor Thomas E. Dewey’s administration, approved the construction on Cortland’s campus of two dormitories and a social center, allocating $865,000 for the projects. Construction of the buildings began three years later. President Donnal V. Smith sought additional funding for the projects and approached retired president of Brockway Motors George Brockway for a donation. Brockway gave a generous gift of $100,000 for the use of a social and recreational facility, that eventually become dedicated as Brockway Hall.  The building’s groundbreaking ceremony was held June 11, 1949, and George Brockway was the first to break the ground. Brockway Hall was officially dedicated on June 9, 1951. Governor Thomas Dewey attended the ceremony and offered the dedication address.. South Hall, later named DeGroat Hall, was opened in September of 1950. North Hall, later named Cheney Hall, welcomed students for the 1951 spring semester. The total cost of the projects was $1,879,407.