Notables of Auburn University Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cupola

The cupola atop Ramsay Hall (the central College of Engineering building) is the inspiration for this symbol. Ramsay Hall was constructed in 1925. The official ambassadors for the college are named the Cupola Engineering Society.

Answer: Haley Center

The Haley Center is the home many of the classes taught by several of the colleges including Education and Liberal Arts and is home of the Tiger Transit and the University Bookstore. The Haley Center is the bane of existence of every freshman until they finally learn the room numbering system, and the university has a cruel way of assuring that most freshman-level classes are taught in this building! I have known students who graduated without truly understanding how to find a class in the building without just wandering around.

The top floor of the building is a look out known as the Eagle's Nest.

Answer: Draughon Library

The library, originally built in 1962 and added on to in 1990, houses 380,000 sq ft of floor space and houses 2.5 million volumes. It can accommodate 2000 readers at a time, using the reading rooms, lounge areas, and meeting rooms. It was named for the 10th president of the school, Ralph B. Draughon.

Answer: Samford Hall

Samford Hall, the large red (and beautifully landscaped) building featured most often featured when referring to Auburn University, was completed in 1890, replacing Old Main, which burned down in 1887. Rumor has it that a cow was once butchered in the bell tower. Story has it that some frat brothers took a cow into the bell tower as a prank and didn't realize that cows cannot walk down stairs, and thus could not get the cow down while it was alive. I have no idea whether this is true, but I always heard the story told that way!

Answer: Telfair B. Peet Theatre

Many of the students who frequent the Theatre are convinced that it is haunted by "Sydney." The ghost previously resided at the Chapel and is believed to be Sydney Grimlett, a confederate soldier who once stayed there when it was a hospital during the Civil War. Sydney started haunting the actors who performed at the Chapel when it was used as a theater. Once Peet Theatre was completed in the 1970s and the productions moved the current location, Sydney followed the actors and has been residing there ever since.

The students don't feel threatened by Sydney and feel that he is just playing with them by causing strange rattling sounds and footsteps as well as opening and closing doors and drawers.

Answer: Mary Martin Hall

Mary Martin was the first librarian at Auburn. This building was the first library on campus. The previously mentioned offices were moved there in 1963. Beautiful building!

Answer: Petrie Hall

George Petrie is a great man in the history of Auburn University, for both his contributions listed above and to the history department itself. The building named for him now houses the College of Sciences and Mathematics.

Answer: Old Rotation

Placed on the National Register in 1988, The Old Rotation is third oldest crop rotation in the U.S. and the oldest cotton rotation in the world. Since its inception by J.F. Duggar in 1896, the rotation has been supporting cotton and soybeans continually.

Answer: Langdon Hall

Originally part of a women's school, this large wooden structure was built in 1846 and moved to its current site atop a series of logs that allowed workers to roll the building. Upon its arrival on campus in 1883, the building was bricked over and named for a former trustee.

Answer: Lathe

The lathe was built in Selma, AL and used to build cannons for the confederate army. It was later buried in Irondale, AL (near Birmingham) to prevent capture. After the war ended, it was exhumed and used in Birmingham until it was donated to Auburn in 1936 in honor of the school's contribution to the war efforts (school closed when students and faculty enlisted and the main campus building was used as a hospital for the troops) and in honor of the engineering facilities housed there.