Eastern will feature an event called “The Curious History of Pemberton Hall” Thursday at 10 a.m. online on the Academy of Lifelong Learning’s Facebook page or on its page on Eastern’s website.

Director of Housing and Dining Mark Hudson will discuss the history of the oldest residence hall in Illinois during the event.

Pemberton Hall is known for many things like its rich history, ghost legends, its registration as a historical landmark and the memories made by the students have lived in the “Old Main lookalike.”

The hall was completed in 1908 and opened in 1909 and included parlors, fireplaces, fourth floor maid’s quarters, a matron’s apartment, and a dining room.

Eastern’s first President, Livingston C. Lord, expressed his interested in building Pemberton in 1900 saying, “the building is absolutely necessary if the school was to cultivate in its students a spirit that its graduates should take into the communities in which they teach.”

Originally his request was denied but later with the help of Senator Stanton C. Pemberton the hall was built and later made the senator’s namesake.

More information on the hall will be available Thursday in the session.

The News Staff can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].