The Buildings of Central Michigan University
Old
Central Hall
Physical Training Building
Opened January 22, 1909
Demolished July 17, 1974
Cost: $45,000
Old Central Hall, built as Central's first gymnasium, was funded through a legislative appropriation bill in 1907. It was located near the present Ronan Hall, and part of the Grawn Hall extension is located on the original site of Old Central Hall.
During World War I, the building was used to train soldiers. The first ever Michigan invitational basketball tournament was held there in 1921. During World War II, naval officers in the V-12 and V-5 programs received training in the building.
After the construction of Finch Fieldhouse, the Physical Training Building became the headquarters for the ROTC program at Central and was renamed Central Hall. A first-floor gymnasium was converted into a rifle range in 1962. From the end of World War II until 1964, all freshman and sophomore men were required to take part in the ROTC program. In the spring of 1970, with protest against the Vietnam War raging over the country, between thirty and fifty students occupied the building and renamed it Freedom Hall. They had five demands:
- A vote by CMU students over whether to continue the ROTC program.
- The banning of military recruiters from the campus.
- That the University provide office space and supplies to student organizations.
- An official statement from Central's administration condemning the US invasion of Laos and Cambodia and of the shootings that left four students dead at Kent State University.
- Amnesty for all students involved in the occupation of the building.
The students remained in the building for five days, during which time they met with President William Boyd, who was known and admired for his willingness to consider the opinions of students and recognized their right to protest. Boyd donated several hundred dollars of his own money toward the cost of chartering a bus for a student group that wanted to attend a rally in Washington, DC.