Rubelmann House residential adviser Michael Land learned a lot about the historic residence hall while planning farewell events for alumni and residents.
First, it almost did not get built.
University lore suggests that university donor Karl D. Umrath cold-called Washington University in St. Louis about making a donation to build dormitories on the South 40. He was bounced from office to office until finally he exclaimed in exasperation, “Just who do I talk to about giving this university a million dollars?”
Land also learned that Maurie Rubelmann died before the dormitory built in her honor opened in 1959. Rubelmann was the sister-in-law of Umrath, an immigrant who worked as a floor sweeper before making his fortune in the cash register business.
Another bit of history: Rubelmann always has inspired fierce loyalty among its residents. “Ruby” has no private bathrooms, spacious study rooms or kitchens for midnight cookie baking. But, the building boasts its own charms — views of the Swamp, windows that slide all the way open and proximity to late-night pizza.
“Frankly, because you have to leave your room to go to the bathroom, people become close,” Land said. “I have a real love for Ruby. I can just walk down the hallway and see what everyone is up to. I maintain it has the best location on the South 40.”
Junior Michael Land currently serves as a residential adviser at Rubelmann House. His father, Brian, was a Rubelmann RA in 1982.
This summer, Rubelmann will come down, but not before Land gives it a proper send-off. He is organizing two farewell events — one Saturday, April 12, for alumni returning for Reunion at Thurtene Carnival, and another in May for current Rubelmann residents. At the alumni event, visitors can take a tour, write memories on their old doors and enjoy a Rubelmann-shaped cake.
(To find out about other events for alumni this weekend, visit here.)
“Thousands and thousands of people have lived there,” said Land, a junior studying business. “I think it’s important to pay tribute to that history.”
courtesy of WUSTL Archives (3)
Rubelmann Hall was named after Maurie Rubelmann, the sister-in-law of university donor Karl Umrath. Neighboring Umrath Hall was named for Umrath's beloved wife, Helen.
“I was surprised when I came back how small the hallways felt. They felt so big when I was a student,” Land said. “A lot of students liked living in the high-rises, but I remember being really excited to move into Rubelmann. I felt like I was at the center of campus, right next to the Bear’s Den and where you got your mail. I could look out my window and see everything that was going on.”
Demolition will start once students leave for the summer. The new, yet-to-be-named, facility will open in August, 2015 and house 188 students. Ruby’s replacement will feature all of the amenities of a modern residence hall.
“The new building will have more study rooms and community spaces where students can study, socialize and collaborate with each other and faculty,” said Justin X. Carroll, associate vice chancellor for students. “That’s why we call them residence halls, not dormitories. These buildings really are living-learning communities.”
Built in 1958, Rubelmann and Umrath halls were for women. The original Liggett and Koenig halls were for men. Beaumont and Lee followed in 1961.
In a 1958 story, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the groundbreaking would include a student parade from campus to the “wooded area” of the South 40 and a picnic at the home of Ethan Shepley. Total budget for the project, which included Liggett, Koenig and Umrath Halls, totaled some $3 million. The building was designed by Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum. Known today as HOK, the firm ranks as one of nation’s biggest and best. But 56 years ago, founding partners and WUSTL graduates George Hellmuth, Gyo Obata and George Kassabaum were relative newcomers. Still, critics praised the building for its “highly intellectual, carefully reasoned approach to college living.”
“The students used to call them shoebox dorms because they are rectangular shaped,” Carroll said. “The construction of Rubelmann really marked this major transformation from commuter school to residential campus. Thirty years ago, most students who lived within 50 miles commuted. And this year, there was only one first-year student who commuted from home. Times really have changed from the era of the single-sex dorm.”
The construction of Rubelmann, along with Liggett, Koenig and Umrath Halls, marked WUSTL's transition from a commuter school to a residential college.