The Carroll Building, commonly referred to as Old South, was the first building erected on the campus of Georgetown University. The building was named for John Carroll, Georgetown's founder and, later, first bishop and archbishop of Baltimore.1
Construction
Building on the three-story hip-roofed building began in 1788 and was completed in 1791. Henry Carlisle was the carpenter hired to erect the shell of the building. The interior is thought to have had ten or eleven rooms in total. The original cost of the building was estimated at 493.5 pounds for materials and 450 pounds for labor. Completion of the building was delayed until 1791 due to a lack of funds. Georgetown's first student, William Gaston, arrived on campus before the building was completed and had to spend three weeks living above the City Tavern on Falls Street (now known as M Street).
History and Use
Being the only building on campus, the Carroll Building served all purposes for the faculty and students. It contained classroom space, a kitchen and refectory, and a chapel. The student dormitory was located in the attic of the building. Classes began on January 2, 1792. The Carroll Building was razed in 1904 to make way for Ryan Hall.
Founding Date Controversy
The College had previously used 1788 as the founding date of the Old South until a typographical error led to it being recorded as 1789. Considering that 1789 was a historically significant year for the University since it was the year that John Carroll was able to buy the deed to the University's land, the founding date of the Old South was also altered to 1789.2
- 1Conway, Lynn. "The Quadrangle: A history in fifty images." Booth Family Center for Special Collections, April 6, 2020. https://library.georgetown.edu/exhibition/quadrangle-history-fifty-images
- 2Mullaney, Richie. "The Early Years: Georgetown University Historical Walking Tour." Pocket Sights. Accessed March 1, 2024. https://pocketsights.com/tours/place/The-Early-Years-19539:2415
