La Maison Française (French House)

Date

1907-1930 (private); 1930-1953 (college); 1953-1972 (private); 1972-present (college)

Location

135 West College Street

Architects/Collaborators

Builder unknown

Style

Mediterranean

History

La Maison Française (French House), was built in 1907 by Dr. Lauderdale, a dentist. He and his wife Mabel, an aspiring artist, ran the house as a student boarding house into the 1920s. Beginning September 1, 1930, the Lauderdale residence was operated by the College as a French House. The house was under the supervision of a native French directrice, Madame Marie-Jeanne Lahaurine Johnston. French was the prevailing language of the house. The house had rooming accommodations for twenty women and provided table board for forty additional persons. In 1953, the property was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Ritter, who made it into apartments. The College purchased the property again in 1972 and rented out the apartments at least until 2002 or longer.

The house is unusual as there are few in the Mediterranean style in Oberlin, while several important College buildings were designed in that style by Cass Gilbert. Prior to the use of the Lauderdale house as a French House by the College, a French House, under the same management, was conducted for three years in the Royce House at 118 West College Street. The Lauderdale house was used as a French House for 23 years, after which it moved to the former Graduate House at 58 E. College Street. In 1955-56, French House was moved to Webster Hall. In 1963-64, French House was moved to Baldwin Cottage, and in 1968 a new, modern dormitory was built as a French language residence hall (Bailey House). Today the house at 135 West College Street is used by the College as Village Housing for students.

Sources

Geoffrey Blodgett, Oberlin Architecture, College and Town: A Guide to Its Social History (Oberlin, OH: Oberlin College, 1985), 170.

Oberlin College Archives, Office of the Secretary Records.

Ohio Historic Inventory for 135 W. College St. by D.G. Henry, G. Baudoin and M. Franck, Ohio State Historic Preservation Office, January 16, 2002, accessed from the Oberlin Heritage Centere website, May 27, 2015.