Neihardt
Residential Center

Neihardt Residential Center opened in fall of 1932 and will close in the summer of 2019, over its 87 year lifespan its gone through several expansions, but has remained largely unchanged. Neihardt consists of four halls, Raymond (opened 1932) Love (1939) Heppner (1939) and Piper (1957.)

 

Raymond Hall

Raymond hall, named after Carrie Belle Raymond was the original hall of the center. It opened October 8, 1932 and held 170 students. The hall was built in order to fill the growing need for women's residences on campus. Designed by Davis & Wilson in the Georgian Colonial style the hall cost $269,000. Many of the parlors still have the original furniture, although they have been re-upholstered. The students’ rooms were furnished with two beds, chairs and desks, a sink with hot water, a double clothes closet, and a double study desk

 

Carrie Belle Raymond

A prolific contributor to the music scene in early Lincoln, Carrie Belle Raymond served the community as organist, vocal teacher, choral director/arranger, and vocalist at First United Church, and later First Plymouth Church for over 40 years. For her service she received the Kiwanis Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 1924. In addition to this she was selected as the organist for the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, NY. At UNL she was appointed Director of Vocal Music in 1892 by Chancellor Canfield.  She was the director of the university orchestra and began the University Chorus. Here she remained until her death of Heart disease on October 3, 1927. Written in the Daily Nebraskan on the day after her passing, " In her hands music became a subtle vibrant force which lifted men and women to new heights of appreciation."

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Love and Heppner Halls

Love and Heppner halls were completed in 1939 also designed by Davis & Wilson. Similar to Raymond Hall they were built in the Modified Colonial style and cost a combined total of $255,000. $101,000 of this money came from a PWA grant, and $55,000 was given by Don L. Love. With this addition the capacity increased to 370 residents with 96 and 108 rooms in Love and Heppner respectively. Heppner is unique from the other halls in that it features ground level resident rooms, where the others do not. With this update the sun-porch’s trellis windows were glassed in, and “enclosed heated passageways” connected all three wings on both the ground and first floor. The first floor of Heppner featured a student infirmary (which may be the cause of the unfounded rumour that Neihardt used to be a tuberculosis hospital prior to being a residence hall.) Upon their additions, room and board cost $152 per semester in addition to a $1.25 social fee, which covered all hall social events, such as dances, formals, and ‘unofficial pajama parties.’

 

Julia Larrabee Love

Little is known about Julia other than that she was the wife of Don L. Love, mayor of Lincoln and major benefactor to the university. Born in Iowa in 1867, daughter of Iowa governor William Larabee and Anna Larrabee, she moved to Nebraska after graduating from the University of Iowa. Upon Julia’s death in 1937, Don Love paid for the construction of two residence halls, one of which is the Love Hall attached to Raymond.

 

Amanda Henrietta Heppner

Although the hall built along with Love came to be named Heppner Hall, originally it was simply called Northeast Hall. Heppner comes from right here in Lincoln, graduating from Lincoln high School, and then UNL. Heppner served as the Dean of Women from 1918-1938. In 1927 she was in charge of the nearly 2500 women enrolled at UNL, this number continued to rise throughout her time at UNL. In addition to her role as Dean of Women she had a prolific career as a German professor in UNL’s Language Department.

 

Piper Hall

Breaking with the traditional exteriors of the other halls of Neihardt, Piper is built with a modern style unlike the classic colonial of the others. The hall features built in desks, and no sinks in the rooms. Completed in 1957, it is the final addition to Neihardt Residential Center, adding 160 rooms.  Piper Hall was the first residence hall on campus to have air conditioning. It’s different architecture is a point of contention among some students who feel that the exterior at least should match the aesthetics of the rest of the center.

 

Elsie Ford Piper

Elsie, the youngest child of Joel and Jennie (Proctor) Piper, served as the Dean of Women for one year in 1939, and the assistant dean of women for several years surrounding 1939. In addition she served as the chair of the Latin Department for nearly 10 years at the university. She was also a founder of the Lincoln Alpha Omicron Pi chapter.