In January 1963, the North Greenville Junior College Board of Trustees approved plans for a new three-story addition to Simpson Hall, the college’s women’s dormitory. The proposed wing would be connected to the existing building by a lobby and would include an apartment for the dean of women. Before construction could begin, however, the college had to demolish its old science building to make room for the expansion. The project carried an estimated cost of $175,000 and was designed to provide housing for an additional eighty students.
Construction was completed during the fall semester of 1963, and students moved into the new residence hall that December. The rooms were arranged in suites of two, with an adjoining bathroom, and each room accommodated two women. Additional amenities included a ground-floor lounge and two apartments for faculty and staff members.
The new residence hall was formally dedicated on May 9, 1964, and named Howard Hall in honor of longtime North Greenville educator and administrator Henry J. Howard. Dr. Howard joined the college in 1949 as dean of instruction and professor of English. During his tenure, he played an important role in guiding North Greenville through the accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Although he retired from his administrative position in 1965, he continued teaching English and serving as chair of the English Department for several more years. His contributions to the college also extended to its institutional history. In 1967, he authored From These Roots: The Story of North Greenville Junior College, 1892–1967, the second published history of the institution. Dr. M.C. Donnan delivered the dedication address, and the celebration concluded with a barbecue lunch.
Nearly three decades later, Howard Hall’s common spaces received renewed attention. In April 1993, the Alumni Council published an appeal in Alumni News requesting donations to renovate the lounge areas in Simpson and Howard Halls. Alumni, friends of the college, and volunteers from several local churches—including Easley First Baptist Church, Blue Ridge Baptist Church, and Taylors First Baptist Church—provided financial support and volunteer labor for the improvements. The renovations included fresh paint, new ceilings, updated lighting, furniture, and decorations, giving the lounges a refreshed appearance.
The Howard Hall lounge, however, would serve students for only a few more years. In 1995, the space was closed and converted into additional dormitory rooms, creating housing for twelve more women. This change reflected the continued need for student housing while marking the end of the lounge’s original purpose as a shared gathering space within the residence hall.
By 2021, Howard Hall stopped being used as a dorm due to the condition of the building. The renovations have started, and the dorm will reopen for the Fall 2027 semester. In addition to new apartment-style dorm rooms for female students, the building will feature a coffee shop. You can read more about the renovations here: https://www.ngu.edu/ngu-to-renovate-howard-hall-create-community-space/
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