Irvin Hall was the first permanent building at Highland University in Highland, Kansas. It is the oldest building in Kansas still used for higher education. Planning The Highland Town Company offered to give the university forty-eight additional lots and a sum of $1,200 if the board of trustees would construct a building within a three-year time span at a cost of greater than or equal value of $6,000. Samuel Irvin's plan was for the university to sell the lots at $100 per lot to get $4,800 in addition to the $1,200 provided by the company to cover the cost of the building. The building committee designed an enormous structure of four stories in the center and three stories on the wings of the building. The planned structure was to be 180 feet by 40 feet. The Bricks of the building were sourced from the old gates farm just north of highland and lumber was sourced from St. Joseph, Missouri and Doniphan, Kansas. Groundbreaking The Corner Stone for Irvin Hall was laid on May 11, 1858, accompanied by speeches by local leaders. One of Highland University's founders Samuel Irvin said at the laying of the cornerstone that only a few years had passed that "savage Indians" had roamed the area. he also added in his speech "now with the laying of the cornerstone civilization and education have taken the place of savagery and debauchery... he saw no reason why a Harvard or Yale College should not be built here..." The first floor of what was supposed to be the east wing of building was completed as a one-story classroom building in 1858 in time for the school year that fall. The second floor was not finished until 1860. The rest of building was never completed as a due to lack of funds. The total cost ended up being almost double the original plan at $10,000. The Overspending on the hall put the college in debt and while it was the first financial burden on the college it certainly wouldn't be the last. The University Building The two-story red brick building is described as an excellent example of the Plains Vernacular style. The facade uses flat stone lintels over the windows and doors, with pilasters and a brickwork pattern on two side. The other elevations are plain in character. A flat-topped wood frame bell tower is situated on the east end. On