The first structure erected for the use of Knox College was located on the northeast corner of Main and Cherry Streets. It was used as a preparatory school as well as a church. A bronze plaque can be seen on the wall next to the entry of a bank building now on the site. It was placed there in 1957 as part of the city’s sesquicentennial observance.

The next structure was the Academy building completed in 1838 at the northeast corner of Seminary and Mulberry Streets. It burned down shortly afterward. Careless disposal of hot ashes from a heating stove was the cause. There was a cupola on top of the structure which could be seen for quite a distance across the prairie. The loss was a major blow to the finances of the college.

The East Bricks building was erected in 1844 and the West Bricks in 1845. They housed about ninety male students. The two literary societies had meeting rooms on the upper floor. The buildings were made of locally manufactured brick. These were the first buildings to be located on the college campus.

Old Main and Whiting Hall were erected in 1857. At the time of construction, the main college building was called “Main College.” It wasn’t until the turn of the 20^th century that the term “Old Main” began to be used. The wide sidewalk west of the Knox County Courthouse which was built about thirty years later was called “The Way” to Knox.

“Old Main” is an historically significant structure because Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas conducted their seventh debate on the subject of slavery. They were campaigning for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Old Main has always been considered the heart of the college.

The building was designed by Charles Ulricson (1816-1887) who was born in Sweden and arrived in New York City in 1835. He found work as a draftsman at the prominent architectural firm of Ithial Town and Alexander Jackson Davis. Town was particularly interested in designing buildings upon the principles of the Masonic Order.

Professor Lance Factor wrote an interesting book, Chapel in the Sky, in 2010, describing the Masonic symbolism used by Ulrickson throughout the building. This is surprising since the trustees of the college were extraordinarily anti-Mason in their beliefs.

In 1879, Maria Whiting was hired as principal of the Female Seminary. After her death in 1894, the women’s dormitory was named for her. It contained a chapel, library, classrooms and rooms for ninety female students. Senior citizens live in the hall today.

The educational institution has had several names since its charter was granted by the State of Illinois. It was called Prairie College by the investors in George Washington Gale’s settlement scheme. At the time of its chartering, the school was called Knox Manual Labor College. The college began with an additional burden of 500 four-year scholarships. They were offered as an inducement to purchasers of the college-owned land in and around Galesburg.