Warren Stewart
Stewart Hall (1950), "A" Building, Old Model School (1906), "B" Building (1947), and Riverview (1913), St. Cloud State University
Stewart Hall, "A" Building, Old Model School, "B" Building, and Riverview, circa 1954
Stewart Hall (1950), exterior, St. Cloud State University
Stewart Hall before exterior renovation, 1960s
Biography
Warren Stewart was born June 23, 1889, in St. Cloud, where he grew up and attended Tech High School as well as St. Cloud State in 1910. He also graduated from the University of Michigan. Stewart married Zelah Freeman in 1914 and they had four children. He served in the National Guard and as the chair of Minnesota's sixth district Republican Party.
Stewart worked as an attorney in St. Cloud before he was appointed as St. Cloud State's resident director to serve on the State Teacher's College board in 1939. He served as president of that body until 1948. Stewart died in Sauk Rapids, MN, in 1959.
Stewart Hall (1950)
With a budget of $1.2 million, Stewart Hall opened in December 1948. Built around the remaining pieces of the Old Main building to the east, Stewart Hall was the main campus classroom and office building for St. Cloud State. Old Main, which was the main building at St. Cloud State beginning in 1874, was demolished in the summer of 1950.
Funds were the building were appropriated beginning in 1941 by the state of Minnesota legislature. Due to World War II, construction was delayed until 1947. In addition, the state of Minnesota appropriated more funds to construct the building. Open partially in late 1948, the building was designed by architects Louis C. Pinault and Frank W. Jackson.
Stewart Hall was extensively renovated in the late 1980s, including a complete exterior renovation. Renovation included additional entrances to Stewart Hall’s auditorium, which was named in honor of alum Kimberly A. Ritsche in 1995.
For more information, see the individual profiles for Stewart Hall on the University Archives’ website.