Few weeks ago I acquired this antique porcelain creamer depicting Purdue University’s Fowler Hall. It was imported by the Jonroth Studios for Deac’s Bookstore in West Lafayette, Indiana sometime between the 1910s and 1950s. Deac’s occupied the same building strip that Von’s Bookstore occupies today off of State Street. Funny enough, the transferring of ownership was actually quite contentious.
Before it was demolished in 1954, Fowler Hall held the distinction of being the only Purdue University building to be designed by Vonnegut & Bohn, the architecture firm of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.’s family. As a long-time reader of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., I was tickled that there was a connection between the Vonnegut family and my current place of employment.
Vonnegut & Bohn Architects
I shouldn’t have been too surprised that Bernard Vonnegut, Kurt Jr.’s grandfather, worked with Purdue University. Vonnegut & Bohn, and then later Vonnegut, Bohn, & Mueller, which was then inherited by Kurt Vonnegut, Sr., had been contracted by companies all around Indiana to design buildings. Indiana University’s Student Building and IU Indianapolis’ (formerly IUPUI) Herron Art Institute serves as a testament to their work at other campuses around the state.
Although Fowler Hall was the only building Purdue University hired Vonnegut & Bohn to design, they were in the running for a few other projects. This included the Purdue Memorial Union, which is currently celebrating its 100th birthday. Pond & Pond, who had designed the student union at the University of Michigan, were hired by Purdue to ultimately design the building. The Memorial Union would have looked much different if Vonnegut & Bohn were selected, namely because they incorporated a distinct German style into their designs. Fowler Hall was a handsome building. The front of the building had an extravagant limestone archway, which was the most distinguished feature of the building.
Otto N. Mueller
The Purdue and Vonnegut family connections do not end there. Several Purdue engineering alumni went on to work with Vonnegut & Bohn. “Dutch” Bruck started working with them in 1911 as a structural engineer. Most significantly, Class of 1904 Otto Mueller joined as a partner in the architecture firm, making it Vonnegut, Bohn, and Mueller. Famously, Mueller served as the architect for the state of Indiana in 1929 and shortly after led the relocation of the eight-story Bell Telephone building in 1930, which made national news.
Concluding Thoughts
While Fowler Hall was demolished in 1954, there still exists a Fowler Hall on campus. Located in Stewart Center, it serves as an event venue for lectures, concerts, and recitals. While it’s a shame the Vonnegut name is no longer attached to Purdue University, I am glad the Vonnegut family legacy is not entirely forgotten. Thank you, Jonroth Studios.
Sources
MSP 39 Collection of Purdue University Postcards, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections
Purdue University Debris Yearbook, 1904
Purdue Alumnus, Volume 2, Number 3, 1 December 1914
Purdue Alumnus, Volume XVIII, Number 4, 1 January 1931
The Purdue Exponent, Volume XIII, Number 19, 20 February 1902
The Purdue Exponent, Volume XVII, Number 23, 23 March 1906
The Purdue Exponent, Volume XXXII, Number 118, 30 January 1921
Wayne's Wonder-Room 