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Rustic Falcon's Nest Records Five Years of Campus Life
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From the Bee Gee News, October 23, 1946:
This is the story of our student union and how it came to be--Bowling Green's widely known Falcon's Nest--the symbol of informal
relaxation to every Bee Gee student.
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Plans for the construction of the building were made in the spring of 1941, just five years ago. Student Council decided that
students should have a place of their own where they could take it easy and drink cokes between classes. This suggestion was
presented to the Board of Trustees by President Frank J. Prout and they agreed unanimously to build a student union.
Ground was broken on May 1 and the building was completed six months later despite scarcity of the desired materials. The
present site was chosen because it is in the exact center and heart of the campus; University tennis courts were formerly
located there.
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Opening Ceremonies
A student poll agreed that the building should be called the Falcon's Nest. Gerry bircher, Homecoming queen that year, officially
opened the Nest in October by cutting the ribbon across the entrance of the building. She then led a procession to the south
balcony where Dr. Prout presented the Nest to the student body represented by Roger Gifford, president of the Council. They
keys were presented to Mr. and Mrs. Don Patterson, students who were the first managers of the Nest.
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Rustic Style
Novel use of wagon wheels as chandeliers and a split rail fence south of the building are added rustic features of the Nest.
One of the two small apartments on the second floor is now used as a business office and the other provides quarters for several
men students.
Chestnut wormwood paneling from West Virginia carries the rustic motif of the Nest inside. In the main room is a large fireplace
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against the south wall; not a dummy but a real fireplace used in winter to help keep the building warm. Smaller fireplaces
are also found in the student and faculty rooms on either side of the recently expanded kitchen.
Expansion Planned
Since the enrollment of the University has nearly doubled this year the need for expanding the nest is even greater than before.
Plans for enlarging the main room, for example, will be put into effect as soon as building materials become available.
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Because the Falcon's Nest was and is so central to campus life, photographs can be found in many areas of this website. Some
are listed below:
Return to Buildings | Historic Campus Tour
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