A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on March 30 to celebrate the grand opening of the newly renovated Brown Hall building on Athens State’s campus. This iconic, columned three-story structure that stands directly behind Founders Hall was constructed in 1912 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. It is the second oldest building on the Athens State campus behind Founders Hall.
Brown Hall is named in honor of Ms. Florence Brown, the 21-year-old staff member who remained with young women on campus who were too ill to travel as a result of the 1909 typhoid epidemic that claimed the lives of 15 students. Ms. Brown also succumbed to the epidemic on November 5, 1909.
The historic building has been transformed into a space for the University’s growing Health Sciences programs. Brown Hall was built for students in honor of a woman who gave her life in service to students, and Athens State has renewed that mission to utilize Brown Hall to serve students once again.
“Over the years, Brown Hall has evolved with Athens State University,” said Dr. Catherine Wehlburg, President of Athens State University. “It’s been a residence hall, the President’s home, offices for the Provost and many others. Today we celebrate the start of a new chapter as this becomes the home of our Nursing and Health Sciences faculty, an especially fitting purpose for a building rooted in a legacy of care, healing, and service.”
Dr. Wehlburg continued, “As we stand here today, we are reminded that places like Brown Hall are not just structures, they are stories. They carry forward the values of those who came before us and inspire the work that we do here today. In this space, we will continue to prepare students, especially those entering the health professions, to serve others with the same level of dedication and purpose that Florence Brown exemplified. This is who we are at Athens State – honoring our past, shaping our future, and always moving onward ever.”
“This is a day that has been a long time coming,” said Senator Arthur Orr. “The renovation of Brown Hall is a great accomplishment for Athens State and puts us in a great position for the future of higher education in the Athens and North Alabama area. I’m pleased the facility will house Health Sciences faculty, which is a growing area of our economy and our workforce needs. Athens State is taking the lead in providing nurses for us across North Alabama – what an important mission for this institution to undertake, and now we have a great place to do it.”
Additionally, a separate ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the grand opening of Pillar & Paw’s new, permanent location on the top floor of the Sandridge Student Center. The campus gift store also includes an adjoining coffee shop, appropriately named “heBREW’s” on behalf of Athens State’s mascot, Hebrew the Bear. Store hours are Monday – Friday from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm.
