Named For: William Dawes, a Chicago businessman and member of the Board of Trustees, who presented the building to the College in 1887.

Also Known As: Dawes Cultural Center.

Location: A small frame house just south of the present Memorial Hall, on the corner of Elm and Seward Streets.

Date of Construction: Built in 1876, and owned by Edward H. Merrell, second president of the College, and his wife Ida.

Former Uses: In 1887, women used it as a co-op to cook their own meals. Primarily, Dawes was used as a women's residence hall. It was also used as living quarters for college maintenance and dining room employees. Prior to its demolition, it was used for meeting rooms by a number of student organizations such as the Women's Interest Organization (successor to the Women's Self-Government Association) and the Ripon Scholastic Honor Society, which sponsored cultural events on campus. Dawes Cultural Center was also used as a coffee house.

Razed or Sold: Razed in 1975.

References: Tomkies, p.5.; Ripon College: A History, p.219.