"The bands' last assembly at the dedication of Corvallis Brewery building in 1887. From left to right: Loren Mason, cymbals; N.P. Briggs, drums; driver of band wagon; E.A. Milner; White; Ed Anderson, clarinet; L. Wilson; Dave Irvine, horn; Jess Houck, alto; Wayman St. Clair; J. Mason; N.R. Barber. The back of photo has handwritten note ""Hunt's Brewery, north on 2nd street at the corner where the U.S. Post Office now stands. The Blacksmith....next on the right was Manual .......restaurant, the small white building at left stood where Montgomery Wards Building now stands. Opposite the Brewery stood Corvallis first grocery store, where the Huston Building (now being remodeled) has stood for many years."""
The building was constructed in 1859 and expanded in 1876. It served as the primary bulding for what is now Oregon State University until 1888, when the new Administration Building (Benton Hall) was completed on the west edge of the original college farm.
The building had been remodeled and expanded in 1876 in order to accommodate a year-round preparatory department and an additional faculty member. Much of the lumber for the addition was donated by a member of the board of trustees, R. W. Brock of Corvallis.
This image shows some of the preparatory and college level students enrolled at the time. The 1872-73 college catalog lists ninety-eight students at all levels, including twenty-six “agricultural students.”
This view of what is now Second Street in Corvallis is one of the first images taken of its business district, and was taken around the time that Corvallis College received permanent designation as the state’s land grant institution. Corvallis’ 1870 population was estimated to be 1,200.
Corvallis College as it appeared in about 1868. It was located in the center of the block bounded by Fifth, Sixth, Madison, and Monroe Streets in Corvallis, Oregon.
Cadets pose after constructing a temporary bridge across the Marys River, ca. 1920. The proximity of the Marys River to the OAC campus made it a suitable location for this type of military exercise. The more permanent 3rd Street bridge is in the background.