Milwaukee-Downer College had several dormitory buildings to house their large student population. The dormitory buildings were designed by Alexander Eschweiler and Howland Russell in collaboration.
Holton Hall
The first dormitory for Milwaukee-Downer College was built for seminary students. It was named Holton Hall after Edward D. Holton, one of the original trustees for Milwaukee Female College. Holton Hall also served as the main entrance to the college for any visitors, so it was the fanciest place on campus at the time.
Holton Hall Parlor, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 6 
Holton Hall Parlor, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 5 
Holton Hall Parlor, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 8 
Holton Hall Parlor, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 1 Folder 1 
Holton Hall Parlor, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 7 
Holton Hall Drawing Room Postcard, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 1 Folder 2 
Holton Hall Drawing Room Postcard, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 5 
Holton Hall Parlor, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 6 
Holton Hall Parlor, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 6 
Holton Hall Parlor, Milwaukee-Downer College Cumtux 1917, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 7 Box 15
The drawing room and parlors were furnished with English furniture, imported rugs, and rare works of art given to the college by the Chapman family, a family that would continue to give many generous gifts.
Alumnae Hall in the west wing of Holton Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 6 
Alumnae Hall in the west wing of Holton Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 8 
Alumnae Hall in the west wing of Holton Hall, Milwaukee Downer College Bulletin November 1923, Series 6 Number 2, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 10 Box 1 
Alumnae Hall in the west wing of Holton Hall, Lawrence University Archives, ARC2007-112
In the west wing of Holton, The Alumnae Hall was established. It was also used as the Recital Hall. Kate Flanders Duryea placed a Tiffany Clock in the Alumnae Hall in memory of her mother Susan Everett Flanders.
Holton Hall Dining Room, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 6 
Holton Hall Dining Room Postcard, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 2 
Holton Hall Dining Room, Wisconsin Historical Society 153161 
Holton Hall Dining Room, Lawrence University Archives, ARC2007-058 
Holton Hall Dining Room, From the University of Wisconsin=Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 1 Folder 1 
Holton Hall Dining Room, Lawrence University Archives, ARC2007-069 
Holton Hall Dining Room, The Dowager, Milwaukee-Downer College, 1964, Lawrence Lux, Milwaukee-Downer College Written Histories
The basement of the west wing housed Holton Hall’s dining room, which was usedfor daily meals as well as special events.
Holton Hall Gym, Milwaukee-Downer College Cumtux 1955, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 7 Box 19 
Holton Hall Gym, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, James Blair Murdoch Photographs, Box 6 
Holton Hall Gym, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 9 
Holton Hall Gym, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 9 
Holton Hall Gym, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 9 
Holton Hall Gym, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 9 
Holton Hall Gym, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 9 
Holton Hall Gym, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 9 
Holton Hall Gym, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 9
The second floor of the west wing housed Holton Hall’s gymnasium which was completed in 1900.
There was also an intricate tapestry hung in Holton Hall, although I’m not sure where it was located. Holton Hall was finished and ready for occupancy in September of 1899. The building was designed by Eschweiler and Russell in collaboration.
Johnston Hall
The next building to be built was a dormitory for the college students, and it was designed by Eschweiler and finished in 1901. It was called College Hall until June of 1904 when the board of trustees voted to name it after their recently deceased president John T. Johnston.
Parlor in Johnston Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 7 
Parlor in Johnston Hall, Milwaukee-Downer College Bulletin 1904, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 1 Folder 1 
Parlor in Johnston Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 7 Volume 49
The first floor of Johnston had a beautiful drawing room with hand-carved wooden furniture and a fireplace.
Technically, Johnson Hall houses the Department of Linguistics and the Department of Communication. The top floor of Johnston houses the TA offices, second floor of Johnston is the Communication department faculty offices And the first and basement floors are the Department of Linguistic Department of Linguistics faculty offices, as well as their phonetics lab, in which whenever they do research for the linguistics department, they use those. There’s a recording equipment as well as Sound booths in many of the the different rooms in Johnson Hall’s basement.
One thing that makes Johnston unique is that the outside of the building is adorned with carvings of dragons and the heads of nuns. Some would call these carvings gargoyles, but the faces are actually called grotesqueries. The carvings on the corners of falcons, dragons, and mermaids are called gargoyles, because they used to be able to spout water.
“They include include iconography from fairy tales and folklore, like mermaids and angels, as well as demons at some point. But some of them also show people who existed at that time Like Deans of the college faculty members is a little homage to them,” said Sabrina Fuller Muniz, building chair of the Milwaukee-Downer College buildings.
McLaren Hall
McLaren Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 1 
McLaren Hall, Milwaukee-Downer College Bulletin February 1908, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 10 Box 1 Folder 7 
McLaren Hall, News and Views, Milwaukee-Downer College Bulletin February 1947, Series 29, Number 3, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 10 Box 3 
McLaren Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 4 Folder 1 
McLaren Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 5
The third residence hall was called Third Hall, and was designed by Russell and opened in September of 1903. Shortly after, it was renamed McLaren Hall in honor of William McLaren who was a trustee of Milwaukee Downer College.
Student’s Lounge in McLaren Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 11 
McLaren Hall Drawing Room, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 5 
Student’s Lounge in McLaren Hall, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 4 Folder 7
On the first floor, there was a student lounge with a fireplace and seating that changed throughout the years.
UWM buys the Milwaukee-Downer College Buildings
When the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee acquired the downer buildings, a study was done in May of 1965 to record the current conditions of the buildings and make recommendations for their use.
According to the report, “The building shows the wear of its full-time occupancy; its condition is somewhat deplorable. As the recommendations and summary will indicate, it is hoped that this particular building will not be used for any greater length of time, at least not for more than three years.”
The report also said that there was a noticeable easterly lean in the walls. The cost of construction, plumbing, electrical, and heating and ventilating was estimated to be $161,000.
“The present wiring system presents a great hazard, as it is worn and passes through wood floor and wall sections with no protection, except for wire covering which is of doubtful value. The floor joists are exposed in much of the basement and any short in the present wiring could be the start of a calamitous conflagration.”
The report concluded that McLaren should be abandoned after the school year, and be demolished for a new building. Johnston and Holton were used as women’s residence halls and McLaren as a men’s residence. The Downer College residence halls, with approximately 240 residents, were the site of the first food service operation.
These facilities were used as residence halls until June of 1970 when Sandburg Hall opened. At that time these buildings were turned over to the University for other uses except McLaren which was torn down.
Holton Hall’s Parlor was designated as a historic room, and renovated to look like a historically accurate parlor.
Ornate Desk in Holton Hall’s Parlor, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 6 
Ornate bookcase in Holton Hall’s Parlor. Credit: Cael Byrne Credit: Cael Byrne 
Ornate table in Holton Hall’s Parlor, From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives, Milw Mss L Series 11 Box 5 Folder 5
According to a pamphlet that was produced at the time of the drawing room’s renovation, Lawrence University lent three pieces of the original furnishings to UWM including a desk and a matching bookcase, and a round table. None of the other furniture and paintings are original, but style and location are similar to those shown in contemporary photographs.
Today, the only original piece of furniture that remains is the bookcase. I’m not sure what happened to the desk and round table. They could have given them back to Lawrence College, or they could have gone into storage.
In the 70s, UWM converted Holton Hall’s Gymnasium into a sewing lab. Nowadays, it has been renovated into office space and classrooms.
In one of the conference rooms on the third floor, you can find an original writing desk from Downer College.
In another conference room on the second floor, there’s an ornate set of hand-carved wooden furniture. I’m not sure if these pieces are from Milwaukee-Downer College.
Dormitory Buildings Historic Gallery:
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Dormitories Gallery:
