KU's all-time home court records;
| Cosley Skating Rink............ | 4 - 0..................100% |
| YMCA Gymnasium............ | 2 - 4...................33.3% |
| Journal Hall........................ | 2 - 0..................100% |
| Haskell Gymnasium........... | 1 - 1...................50% |
| Snow Hall Gymnasium....... | 7 - 3...................70% |
| Robinson Gymnasium........ | 148 - 37.............80% |
| Hoch Auditorium................. | 204 - 40.............83.6% |
| Allen Fieldhouse................. | 744 - 109...........87.2% |
| Total.................................... | 1,112 - 194........85.1% |
The often quoted line about James Naismith is he is the only KU coach with a losing record. But consider this, during the nine seasons under Naismith, KU played nearly 80% of its games on its opponents' home courts. On what could be considered their own home court, KU was 16 - 8, for a winning percentage of 66.7.
So why did KU play so few home games? Because they really didn't have a home court until Robinson Gymnasium was opened in 1907. Prior to this, KU's home basketball games were played in five different buildings in Lawrence, two of which still stand today. The first home courts were a roller skating rink, a warehouse, a dance hall, and a couple of basements.
Outdoor Court, West of Snow Hall
Basketball was first introduced to Lawrence at the YMCA in 1895 and is known to have been played at KU since 1896. But enthusiasm for the game at KU didn't take hold prior to Naismith's arrival in the fall of 1898, the most likely reason being there was no suitable place to play on campus. The earliest references to where KU students and faculty played basketball indicate an area outside, on a field west of old Snow Hall.
The faculty has organized to play basket ball, and games take place on the grounds west of Snow Hall every evening from 5 to 6 o’clock. Prof. Sayre is acknowledged the best player.
Lawrence Daily Journal, October 23, 1896
Some of the University girls are playing basket ball on the campus west of Snow Hall two days in the week instead of taking gymnasium work at that hour.
Lawrence Daily Journal, November 18, 1896
The University officials have at the request of Mrs. Clark given the space west of Snow Hall to be used as an athletic field for the girls. They have made two tennis courts, a basket-ball field, and a running track.
Kansas University Weekly, November 13, 1897
Interest in basket ball seems to be increasing. On Wednesday more than twenty players were out. Ten minute halves were played and some of the players showed up in good form. On Friday another ground was made ready to accommodate all wishing to play.
Kansas University Weekly, November 5, 1898
The ill feeling which has gradually been springing up between those members of the faculty who hold forth in the main building and those of Snow Hall, has culminated in a challenge to a match game of basket ball to be played next Saturday west of Snow Hall.
Kansas University Weekly, December 3, 1898
The interest in basket ball is on the increase. There are now one Faculty and four class teams. Last Wednesday a meeting was held for the purpose of arranging a schedule for games and an effort will be made to secure the rink as the gymnasium is too small and grounds outside are not well arranged for a series of match games.
Kansas University Weekly, December 10, 1898
Class teams were organized early in the fall, and practice was carried on out of doors until cold weather set in, when the field was transferred to the narrow quarters of the gymnasium.
Oread Yearbook, 1899
The basket ball men are beginning to get ready for the season. Mr. R. C. Russell was elected manager at the last meeting of the Athletic Board, and is pushing matters. The field has been laid out beyond the hedge west of Snow Hall, and some of the men have begun practice already.
Kansas University Weekly, October 7, 1899
The men are practicing in the field every afternoon and are rapidly getting into condition.
Kansas City Journal, November 21, 1899
Cosley's Skating Rink, 807 Kentucky Street
| Haskell | W | 29-8 | Jan. 28, 1899 |
| Topeka YMCA | W | 31-6 | Feb. 10, 1899 |
| Lawrence YMCA | W | 14-4 | Feb. 18, 1899 |
| Kansas City YMCA | W | 17-14 | Feb. 25, 1899 |
With the presence of the game's inventor, the fervor for basketball at KU held going into the winter of 1898-99. With no suitable place to play on campus a roller skating rink on Kentucky Street was leased for games.
Built in 1884 by Frank Cosley, the rink was a wooden building measuring approximately 50 feet by 120 feet, with a maple floor and a gallery for spectators. Although originally built to be a roller skating rink, the people of Lawrence found it to be an ideal place for public gatherings, including concerts, dances, banquets, lectures, and revivals. Susan B. Anthony spoke there in 1886 and William Jennings Bryan spoke there in 1898. KU held an annual athletic meet there which included boxing, wrestling, gymnastics, and track and field events. The building was also known as the armory because Company H, the Lawrence unit of the Kansas National Guard, rented it for their use.
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| 1884 ad from University Courier |
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| Lawrence Daily World, October 8, 1896 |
In that first season, KU went 4-0 at the rink, playing three YMCA teams and Haskell. Today a marker stands at the corner of Eighth and Kentucky in Lawrence commemorating KU's first home court.
In the early hours of March 20, 1899, a fire of unknown origin destroyed the rink.
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| Lawrence Daily Journal, March 20, 1899 |
YMCA Gymnasium, 925 New Hampshire Street
| Haskell | W | 14-5 | Jan. 27, 1900 |
| Topeka YMCA | L | 14-24 | Feb. 9, 1900 |
| Kansas City YMCA | L | 15-21 | Mar. 16, 1900 |
| Haskell | L | 22-40 | Jan. 25, 1901 |
| Lawrence YMCA | W | 28-12 | Feb. 15, 1901 (KU was the visiting team) |
| Topeka YMCA | L | 22-26 | Mar. 1, 1901 |
| Lawrence YMCA | W | 27-20 | Mar. 8, 1901 (KU was the visiting team) |
| Haskell | W | 25-20 | Mar. 15, 1901 |
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| Lawrence Daily Journal, January 1, 1900 |
In 1899, the Lawrence YMCA purchased a warehouse at 925 New Hampshire Street and also began renting rooms on the second floor of the building directly across the alley at 924 Massachusetts Street. The buildings were converted into the association's new headquarters. The warehouse was raised one story in height and a gymnasium and swimming pool installed. The gymnasium was 40 feet by 65 feet with a 20 foot ceiling. Encircling the gymnasium was a running track which also served as a gallery for spectators. The new gymnasium opened on January 1, 1900.
The rented space in the Massachusetts Street building was used for the social rooms and offices of the association. The two buildings were connected by a covered passageway suspended over the alley.
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| Based on sketch from Lawrence Daily Journal, January 1, 1900 |
It is interesting to note that James Naismith was the vice president of the Lawrence YMCA during this time and also served as chairman of the building committee established for this venture. Thus, Robinson Gymnasium was the second time Naismith played a part in designing KU's home court, the YMCA gymnasium being the first.
KU hosted six games in the YMCA gymnasium over two seasons. KU played two other games there as the visiting team against the Lawrence YMCA. Unlike Snow Hall and Journal Hall which were disparaged in newspaper accounts, it appears the YMCA was a satisfactory place to play.
Like the rink, the YMCA gymnasium was used by Company H of the Kansas National Guard as an armory. Like the rink, the YMCA gymnasium was destroyed by fire of unknown origin. Like the rink, the location where the YMCA gymnasium stood is a parking lot today.
Early in the morning of September 29, 1901, the YMCA's New Hampshire Street building caught fire and was destroyed in spectacular fashion.
The loss of arms and ammunition of Company H was practically complete, though some of the gun barrels were fished out of the swimming pool yesterday, and others were recovered today when the pool was drained. The ammunition exploded in a regular fusillade and reminded many of the members of the company, who were present at the fire and who had served with the Twentieth Kansas in the Philippines, of some of the engagements in which the popping of the musketry and the burning of houses was a combined feature in many of their engagements. The bullets could be heard whizzing in every direction, and this added to the danger of the work about the fire. As far as learned no one was hurt by the flying bullets.
Lawrence Daily Journal, September 30, 1901
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| Lawrence Daily Journal, September 30, 1901 |
Journal Hall, 710 Massachusetts
| Haskell | W | 27-22 | Jan. 14, 1902 |
| William Jewell | W | 12-11 | Jan. 25, 1902 |
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| Lawrence Daily Journal advertisement |
With the arrival of the 1901-02 basketball season, KU was once again looking for a place to play. On the second floor of the Learnard Building at 710 Massachusetts was a room that over the years had been used as a dance hall and for other social gatherings. Journal Hall, as it was called, was rented for the season and eight home games were tentatively scheduled.
J B Bernhard, manager of the basket ball team of the University of Kansas, is making arrangements for the winter’s games. Journal Hall has been rented for the games that will be played here, wired with electric lights, and baskets put in, and season tickets for the home games have been placed on sale at $1.25.
Lawrence Daily Journal, December 4, 1901
The eight game home schedule was pared down to only three games, two of these at Journal Hall. Accounts of the games describe the court as being narrow with a low ceiling and the floor being slippery. Without a proper place to play, enthusiasm for basketball at KU was fading.
The only encouraging aspect of the basket ball situation is that the sport is inexpensive and that the athletic association is not in danger of contracting big debts in support of the game. But the fact that basket ball does not entail one-tenth the expense of foot ball and base ball will not insure its success at KU. The student body must shuffle off its indifference and get on friendly terms with this neglected branch of Kansas athletics. Why not? Do you admire endurance, activity, nerve, a cool head and a quick eye in an athlete? If so attend the next basket ball game and see a good exhibition of these qualities. Athletics can't thrive on money alone -- it must have encouragement.
Kansas University Weekly, January 25, 1902
Early on September 20, 1979 a fire gutted the buildings at 706 and 708 Massachusetts and damaged 710 Massachusetts. These buildings were rebuilt or refurbished as part of the Nickel Building project.
Haskell Gymnasium
| Nebraska | L | 29-35 | Mar. 1, 1902 |
| William Jewell | W | 23-12 | Jan. 30, 1903 |
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| Hiawatha Hall on the Haskell campus |
In 1902, the idea of using Journal Hall for games was abandoned after playing only twice there, and KU was again looking for a new home court. With Nebraska scheduled to come to Lawrence to play KU and Haskell, it was decided to play both games in Haskell's gymnasium on consecutive nights.
Tomorrow night the University of Nebraska will meet the Haskell Indians, and on March 1st the University of Kansas, at Haskell gymnasium. Tickets admitting to game, with transportation both ways, are on sale at Smith’s depot and at Bromelsick’s. Price, 45 cents with conveyance, 25 cents without conveyance. Hacks will leave the Eldridge house at 7:15 and 7:30, and return promptly after each game. Games called at 8:15 p. m.
Lawrence Daily Journal, February 27, 1902
Hiawatha Hall, as it would later be named, opened in 1899 and was designed by John G. Haskell, who also designed old Snow Hall and other buildings on KU's campus. The main floor of the building housed the chapel and auditorium, and the basement was the school's gymnasium. Measuring 90 feet by 50 feet with a 18 foot ceiling, the gymnasium had two rows of support pillars that provided extra entertainment and danger during basketball games.
The Indians' court was fitted with chicken wire back stops and instead of shooting for the baskets the Indians fired away from a distance at the sagging area in the wire netting. Much to the chagrin of their “white man” opponents the ball would drop dead and fall directly into the basket. To complicate matters further, in the Indians' gymnasium there were six large, round, steel floor supports located in the playing court. The Indians would dash down the court, feint to go one direction, then clutch a post and swing off at an unexpected angle to elude their pursuers and, receive the ball at an unlooked for angle.
Baskets and Bankboards by Forrest "Phog" Allen, February, 1932
When it comes down to a peculiar floor we have got to hand it to the wily redskins at the Haskell Institute. The ceiling of the Haskell hall is supported by two rows of pillars, about eight on a side, all of which are inside the playing surface. It is amusing to watch the Indians play the posts. They dodge or shake off the man covering by grabbing the posts and sliding around. They get the ball with their opponents yards away, and consequently get many practically free throws from the field.
Kansas City Times, February 1, 1907
A peculiarity of the Haskell Indian court at Lawrence, Kas., is the posts, four on each side and inside the side lines. The Indians practice working round these posts and have become skillful dodgers. It is dangerous going for the visiting team. The Haskell court has a wire netting backstop. The Indians, of course, know the right spot on the netting and the shots drop dead into the basket.
Kansas City Star, February 16, 1908
Nebraska beat the Jayhawks after being trounced by Haskell the night before. Haskell's band provided entertainment during the game and also at the banquet held for the teams after the game.
During the 1902-03 basketball season KU played only two games in Lawrence, both in Haskell's gymnasium. The first game was against the home team Haskell in December. In the second game on January 30, KU was the home team versus William Jewell. Transportation was provided to ticket holders from downtown Lawrence to the Haskell campus for the Friday afternoon game.
Considering they played 14 of 15 games on the road, the 1902-03 KU team finished with a respectable 7-8 record.
Now that the basket-ball season is over it is of interest to review the record of the team of the season ’02-’03. Considering the fact that the team was from the beginning seriously handicapped by the lack of a good court to practice on and had to play every game but one on their opponent’s courts, the record made is an unusually good one.
Kansas University Weekly, April 18, 1903
Hiawatha Hall still stands on the Haskell campus, but has been close to the public for some years with a mold problem making it dangerous to enter.
Snow Hall Gymnasium
| William Jewell | W | 27-10 | Dec. 12, 1903 |
| Kansas School for the Deaf | W | 35-10 | Jan. 8, 1904 |
| Topeka YMCA | W | 25-22 | Jan. 14, 1904 |
| Haskell | L | 12-28 | Jan. 21, 1904 |
| Ottawa University | L | 23-26 | Mar. 7, 1904 |
| Emporia Normal | W | 46-11 | Jan. 21, 1905 |
| Fraternal Aid | L | 20-37 | Feb. 11, 1905 |
| Chilocco Indian School | W | 19-11 | Jan. 15, 1906 |
| Washburn University | W | 39-12 | Feb. 28, 1906 |
| Emporia Normal | W | 60-13 | Mar. 3, 1906 |
When Snow Hall was built in 1885-1886 there were no plans for a gymnasium to be in it. The west room of the basement, which would eventually become the gymnasium, was, according to the original floor plans, meant to be a laboratory for botany classes. Its actual use seems to have varied, being used as a banquet hall, meeting room, and for football practice.
In 1894 the west basement was converted into a gymnasium to accommodate the newly introduced Physical Culture classes at the University.
The basement of Snow hall is being fitted up for gymnasium use. The windows are already screened and as stated last week, a lot of lockers, dumb bells, Indian clubs and other apparatus purchased.
Lawrence Daily Journal, March 7, 1894
The west room in the basement of Snow Hall is being arranged for gymnasium purposes. The apparatus from the main building will be moved to this room, and two hundred and fifty dumb bells and lockers have been ordered.
Students Journal, March 9, 1894
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| Men's Physical Culture class in the "gymnasium" in old Snow Hall |
The gymnasium room was 86 feet long, 36 feet wide, with an 11 foot ceiling. The low ceiling along with eight support pillars running down the middle of the room made basketball unpractical. Further complicating matters, the room was divided in half during Naismith's first two years at KU to accommodate zoology classes
In order to accommodate the large class in beginning zoology, the west half of the gymnasium is being partitioned off as a laboratory. The east wall will be occupied by sinks and acquariums, while along the center and west wall there will be work tables for the students.
Lawrence Daily Journal, September 19, 1898
The gymnasium room has been divided and one-half is now used by classes in zoology.
Kansas University Weekly, September 24, 1898
The girls in the gymnasium are advancing rapidly in their ability to swing clubs and several new movements are added to the series each day. A young man takes his life in his hands however, when he tries to enter the zoology department. It really approaches the pathetic to see him dodge and slink along the wall in mortal fear of being prostrated by a swinging club.
Kansas University Weekly, November 12, 1898
The removal of the zoology rooms to the medical school building has given larger quarters to the physical culture work, and the whole lower floor of the west end of Snow hall is now devoted to that work. This room has been fixed up so that it looks very much like a gymnasium, and gives Dr. Naismith much greater opportunity to do his work.
Lawrence Daily Journal, September 21, 1900
Despite the difficulties, attempts were made to play basketball in the gymnasium. Complaints about the inadequacies of the gymnasium soon followed.
A large scorpion was found in the basement of Snow Hall this morning. These are rather rare for this part of Kansas.
Lawrence Daily Journal, October 25, 1898
The gymnasium has just added to its supply of Indian clubs and several dozen wands. At present the gymnasium is very inadequate in its space accommodation, the room being too crowded for the best work and too small to admit of basket ball. It is hoped that the next building obtained for the University will be a new gymnasium with ample accommodations for dressing and bath rooms.
Kansas University Weekly, November 5, 1898
It was decided to try to get a place fitted up in the Y. M. C. A. rooms for practice. There is no room in the gymnasium for basket ball practice at present owing to its small size, but next year efforts will be taken to have this remedied.
Topeka State Journal, December 7, 1899
The boys can not find a good place to practice indoors now that cold weather has set in, as there is no room for basket ball in the gymnasium at the University.
Topeka State Journal, December 18, 1899
After being shown through Nebraska's beautiful gymnasium, a handsome structure as large as Spooner library fitted with every appliance for the development of physical manhood, the boys were asked how it compared with ours. Some one aptly replied, "We have none. All we have at K U is a bath and a hole in the basement of Snow Hall where we have the privilege of storing our apparatus."
Kansas University Weekly, March 10, 1900
The season has been delayed this year at Kansas university by lack of a suitable place to practice.
Topeka State Journal, January 29, 1900
The gymnasium of the Lawrence Y. M. C. A. has been secured by the manager of the basketball team as a place for the squad to practice, the university gymnasium in Snow Hall having proved very unsatisfactory for that purpose. Pillars that support the floor overhead make playing extremely dangerous. Besides the ceiling is too low and the room is needed for other kinds of athletics.
Topeka Daily Capitol, November 23, 1900
Where will the team play? Our University gymnasium is not large enough for practice, to say nothing of playing an inter-collegiate game in it. Dr. Naismith has reserved one end of the gymnasium for the basket ball team, but there is only enough room for practice in passing the ball, much of the work must be done out of doors.
Kansas University Weekly, October 5, 1901
No games were played in Snow Hall by the KU varsity teams until the 1903-04 season when the gym was remodeled. However, the KU women's team and the Lawrence high school teams did play a few games there before the remodel.
During the summer of 1903, the floor of the Snow Hall gymnasium was lowered and four of the eight support pillars were removed. The lowering of the floor was possible because Snow Hall had been built with a four-foot air space, or plenum, under the basement to aid in the circulation of air through the building.
The regents inspected the repairs and interior improvements which are being made on the new gymnasium room. This department has been placed in the west end basement of Snow Hall and the floor has been lowered five feet to permit of putting in the trapeze and other athletic apparatus. New shower baths and dressing rooms have been added and a complete gymnasium has been put in as far as the capacity of the room will permit until a new building is erected. The gymnasium improvements will cost $2,000 when completed.
Lawrence Daily Gazette, July 22, 1903
Nearly all the basement will be used in connection with the work in physical training. The floor of the main gymnasium room has been sunk three feet, making the room that much higher. A small room will be fitted up for fencing, boxing and tumbling. The offices of the physical director, the ladies’ physical director and the general manager of athletics will be in the southwest corner. The lockers have been entirely re-arranged and new baths are being put in.
Lawrence Daily Journal, August 12, 1903
In Snow hall there are many changes. The Natural collection has been removed to the Museum building. The basement floor has been lowered three feet, cemented, and will be used for a gymnasium. It will make a splendid room for basket ball and other games of the sort.
Lawrence Daily World, August 20, 1903
The basement floor has been lowered and a much better gymnasium room has been secured, where classes in gymnasium training for all students will be conducted, and where it will be possible to play the winter’s basket ball games.
Lawrence Daily Journal, September 8, 1903
Numerous changes have been made in the buildings in the summer vacation. The new museum building has been occupied by the collections of the natural history department and the changes made in Snow hall as a result of the increased room have given much more space for the work in botany, zoology and similar sciences. The floor of the basement in this building has been lowered four feet for the athletic drill every student is to take. The football dressing rooms have been moved to the south side of the basement floor, with the offices of the physical director and his assistants adjoining the east entrance. It is here that the athletic manager, U. S. G. Plank, will have his office.
Kansas City Star, September 8, 1903
The state legislature did not deem it expedient to grant us a gymnasium building when we asked for it last year, yet, by extensive remodeling of the basement of Snow Hall, the facilities for gymnasium work have been greatly increased. The large west room has been ceiled and plastered and its floor lowered three feet, thus affording a room fourteen feet high with a floor area thirty-eight by ninety feet. One half of this will be used for basket ball and the remainder for general apparatus for physical development.
Kansas University Weekly, September 26, 1903
It is in the basement that the changes have been made that interest the greatest number of University people. By lowering the floor three feet and reducing the number of columns through the room from eight to four, the gymnasium has been converted from a low, crowded room into an airy room of adequate height and reasonable freedom from obstruction. By means of two large swinging doors a partition can be thrown across the middle of the room, and two rooms can thus be made for the use of classes in physical training. In the remaining space of the basement, toilet and locker room, and two shower baths have been equipped for young women, and larger rooms and three baths for young men. Next to the east basement door are the offices of Dr. Naismith and Mr. U. S. G. Plank, assistant in physical education and general manager of athletics.
Graduate Magazine, October 1903
The Gymnasium is as yet very inadequate to the needs of the University. It is located in Snow Hall, occupying all of the basement floor. The main exercise room is 86x36x14 feet, and was refitted last fall, so that it is now a pleasant room, well-lighted and heated. It may be divided into two rooms by large folding doors, permitting two classes to work at the same time. Another room has been set aside for small classes, or for special work by those who are unable to take the regular work, or who need special developing exercises.
Kansas Annual Catalog, 1903-04
Despite the improvements and initial enthusiasm, as soon as games were played there the gymnasium became a source of embarrassment to the University. The 14-foot ceiling and the pillars were still a handicap. The size of the court was reduced when hosting games by the need to add about 300 to 400 seats for spectators. During the four seasons that the Snow Hall gymnasium served as KU's home court, only 10 games were played there. Emporia Normal (now Emporia State) was the only team willing to play KU twice there. During the 1906-07 season no home games at all were played, despite 1,200 athletic season tickets being sold to the students.
One thing which was a menace to the home team was a row of posts down the center of the room and also the woven wire back of the baskets instead of the regulation board backing as is used in practice work here.
Topeka Daily Herald, January 15, 1904
The team work of the Jewell boys was handicapped because of the inconvenience of the court.
William Jewell Student, February, 1904
The present gymnasium is totally inadequate to the needs of an ordinary high school and is actually unfit to be used in connection with any University. It is located in the basement of Snow Hall and is simply the unfinished basement with a shower bath and board partitions.
Kansan, October 27, 1904
The present gymnasium is a discredit to the people of Kansas and to the University. Everything is crowded into half the space it should occupy. Two men are given a locker about the size of a lunch basket. Their clothes are wrinkled and soiled. The men are forced to work in a small room which is so crowded that those who play basket ball are often injured by falling over apparatus, or against the racks that are standing about the room.
Kansan, December 8, 1904
Leslie Burt broke his nose in the gymnasium Monday evening by colliding with one of the upright posts. No serious injury was sustained, although a most painful one.
Lawrence Daily Journal, February 1, 1905
Forest Allen made his first appearance at basket ball in the gymnasium Thursday evening. The ceiling was too low for him to show how well he could throw long goals, but he gave the men some good ideas of how to get into the game.
Kansan, October 21, 1905
Washburn has evidently been playing upon a floor with higher ceiling, as many of their long throws coincided with the ceiling.
Kansan, March 3, 1906
The Jayhawkers are without a coach, and at present without a suitable floor on which to practice. Manager Lansdon has opened negotiations for the Eldridge house hall but has not been able to get possession of it. One thousand, two hundred tickets to the basketball games are out and the present gymnasium will hold only 120 persons. The new gymnasium will not be ready this year and unless some arrangements are made for a hall down town Kansas will not be able to get a local game.
Kansas City Journal, December 13, 1906
Kansas is about to let basket ball die for this season. The new K. U. gymnasium is not yet finished and the old gymnasium is better suited for a crossroads grocery store than for any athletic contests.
Kansas City Star, January 15, 1907
One thing is almost certain, there will be no game in the K. U. gymnasium as no visiting team will risk their lives among the pillars and there is no room for spectators.
The Kansan, January 23, 1907
A word of explanation is due the athletic management as to the basket ball situation before it is condemned for the lack of home games this year. With 1200 tickets outstanding, and with no hall either in the University or in town that could accommodate a fourth of that number and leave room for a team, the problem is a hard one. Under such circumstances it is almost out of the question to schedule games for the home court until the new gym is available.
The Kansan, January 23, 1907
The University of Kansas is to have a few home baseball games this spring even if they do cost money. The K. U. students were reamed on the basket ball deal. They paid for games, but none were played. The Jayhawker students had better order their games C. O. D. if they want to be sure they get what they pay for.
Kansas City Journal, February 21, 1907
In the fall of 1907, KU basketball finally had a permanent home with the opening of Robinson Gymnasium. The gymnasium in Snow Hall was converted into a laboratory, then later to classrooms. Old Snow Hall, which stood in front of where Watson Library stands today, was slowly demolished between 1932 and 1934. Limestone blocks salvaged from the building were used for the facing of the Military Science Building still standing on the KU campus today. Stone from old Snow Hall was also used in the construction of the benches and bulletin boards gifted by the class of 1931 that flank the main walk leading to Watson Library.
Additional Notes
The records section of KU's basketball media guide lists 37 games played in Lawrence prior to the opening of Robinson Gymnasium. Many of those games were actually played elsewhere or where played against Haskell or the Lawrence YMCA on their home courts. Only 24 games were played on what could be considered a home court for KU.
