The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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July 22, 2009

NOC's Vineyard says Clay Hall still a viable building

By Bridget Nash Staff Writer

On a hill, above a golf course, sits a lonely building.

It has been rumored to be a hangout for hooligans.

It has been rumored to be haunted.

It has been called, by some, an eyesore.

But Clay Hall, also known as the old Phillips University girls dormitory, is protected by security and the grounds are kept up, in hopes one day it can be used again.

“We understand the historical significance of the building,” said Ed Vineyard, vice president of Northern Oklahoma College Enid campus. NOC has been located on what once was the Phillips University campus since 1999.

The building bears a stone plaque with the year 1941 engraved on it and is remembered as home to many female Phillips graduates.

Despite its place in Enid’s history, the building has fallen into disrepair; but, NOC officials hope to keep the building as sound as possible until it one day can be renovated.

“The deterioration hasn’t been on our watch,” Vineyard said. “It was basically abandoned 20 years before we got onto the scene.”

Efforts are made to keep the lawn tidy around the building, and NOC has taken measures to prevent further damage to the building.

“We actually have put a new roof on it,” Vineyard said

Vineyard said the building is not beyond renovation.

“Structurally, it is very sound,” he said.

It is the part of the building not visible from the outside that is in dire need of repair.

In order to renovate the building, the best plan would be to “gut the entire building,” Vineyard said.

Since NOC does not need the space for students, any money received by the state for renovations is put into other buildings on campus that are occupied.

“Our focus has been renovating the buildings that our students use,” Vineyard said. “The state is not going to give us money to renovate a building for the sake of renovation. It comes down to priorities.”

It is hoped when the economy turns around, someone will recognize the building’s potential and seek to renovate it. NOC officials are open to many possible ideas for public use of the building.

“We’ve had groups look at it and request blueprints,” Vineyard said. “We’re open ideas. We’re certainly willing to talk to people about options.”

Until someone decides to renovate and use the large building, it will remain safely boarded up with “no trespassing” signs posted.

Vineyard said NOC security does not ignore the building at night, and trespassing is not tolerated.

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