Editing Gustavus Adolphus College (section)

====Old Main====
{{Infobox NRHP
| name         = Old Main, Gustavus Adolphus College
| nrhp_type    =
| image        = Gustavus Adolphus Old Main.jpg
| caption      = Old Main
| location     = Gustavus Adolphus College campus, [[St. Peter, Minnesota]]
 <!-- | lat_degrees = 44 | lat_minutes = 27 | lat_seconds = 35 | lat_direction = N | long_degrees = 93 | long_minutes = 10 | long_seconds = 48 | long_direction = W | locmapin = Minnesota#USA DELETED UNTIL THIS NRHP IS MOVED TO NEW PAGE -->
| built        = 1876
| builder      = O. N. Ostrom
| architect    = Edward P. Bassford and O. N. Ostrom
| architecture = Italianate
| added        = May 12, 1976
| area         = less than one acre
| refnum       = 76001065<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
}}
"Old Main" was the first building erected at Gustavus Adolphus College. Its cornerstone was laid on August 12, 1875.<ref name=":0">"The Dedication of 'Old Main': the fiftieth anniversary." Gustavus Adolphus College, 1926. Print.</ref> Contracted to O. N. Ostrom and constructed from [[Kasota limestone]], the total cost of the building was estimated at $25,000.<ref name=":0" /> Old Main was completed in 1876 and dedicated on October 31. Originally called the School Building, as more buildings were erected, it became known as the Main Building and by 1905 as Old Main.<ref name=":0" />

The building was heated by wood stoves and housed the entire college in the institution's first years. It originally contained several classrooms, sleeping quarters for students, faculty, and the president, and a kitchen, dining room, chapel, library, and museum.<ref name=":1">"Dedication Ceremony: on the occasion of the renovation of the Old Main building." Gustavus Adolphus College, 2005. Print.</ref> Until 1920, it was tradition for seniors to gather on the building's roof for a sunrise breakfast the morning of commencement.<ref name=":1" />

On its 50th anniversary in 1926, Old Main underwent a renovation from funds provided by the [[Minnesota Conference]].<ref name=":0" /> The [[1998 Comfrey–St. Peter tornado outbreak|1998 tornado]] destroyed much of the Gustavus campus and damaged Old Main's bell tower. In 2005, another renovation was completed; the building now houses the Office of the Chaplains and the religion, political science, philosophy, and classics departments.

A famous ghost story surrounding Old Main is the tale of former Chaplain Richard Elvee of two deceased Gustavus security officers, Harley and Barney, occasionally wandering its halls. At the same time, he composed his sermons on Sunday mornings.<ref>Freiert, William K. "Old Main Rededication Remarks." Rededication of Old Main. October 8, 2005. Print.</ref>