Construction and years as Manual Labor School Before the
Main Building at the university burned down in the great fire of 1879, it hosted a Manual Labor School (founded in 1843), that was then moved after the fire to a location near currently Walsh Hall. It was the first Catholic trade school in the United States. A few years later, the Manual Labor School was moved on wheels to the present location of Badin Hall. The temporary structure was substituted with brick structure (the one still standing) and renamed St. Joseph Hall, in honor of
St. Joseph the Worker, and hosted the St. Joseph's Industrial School' and was opened in November 1897. A wide staircase led to the third floor, that was used entirely as dormitory. The first director of the new St. Joseph Hall was Rev. Gallagher, who arranged improvements to the rooms and set up a chapel where Mass was said. He provided newspapers and magazines for the boy's free moments. Once enrolled, young men ages 12 to 16 trained to be blacksmiths, bricklayers, carpenters, farmers, and tailors.
University dormitory Due to the conversion from a profitable institution to non-profit with an academic focus, the Manual Labor School was abolished and St. Joseph Hall was converted to a men's university dormitory in 1917. Stephen Badin was the first priest ordained in the United States, and was the previous owner of the land on which the university was built. It was opened to seventy freshmen, with the plan of building future wings to host more. The first rector of Badin Hall was Rev. Fr. Francis McGarry, followed by Florian Flynn. Badin Hall is shaped like an H, is three stories high, and it built of yellow brick and has steep roofs over classical architectural elements, although it has also some elements on the
neo-gothic style that prevails in the rest of South Quad. In 1923,
Hugh O'Donnell became rector. In 1931, the university bookstore, previously located in
Main Building, was relocated to the south half of the lower floor of Badin Hall, a space that had undergone a variety of uses; first it was a refectory, then a classroom, and then a recreation room for the members of the
Congregation of Holy Cross.
The Navy period In 1942, Badin Hall hosted officers, recruits and midshipmen that came to campus to train as part of the
United States Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School. At its beginning in April 1942, the school hosted a 30-indoctrination program for new officers, but it became a full-fledged Midshipmen School in October 1942, and hosted ten four-month courses and more than 10,000 officers. This provided the
Navy with space and resources for training, while it helped the university recover from the loss in income and enrollment due to
World War II. Students would sneak out of Badin Hall at night by stealthy using the fire-escape ladder.
Later years In 1947, the Hall celebrated its 50th anniversary, with a ceremony featuring the university president. Renovations for the transition to a woman's dorm included increased storage facilities and more washing and drying equipment. The first rector of Badin as a women's hall was Kathleen Ceranksi. Badin celebrated its centenary in 1997, with events including a speech about his time in the Hall by former resident Fr.
Edward Malloy. In 1998 the mascot changed from Badin Attitude to the Badin Bullfrogs. In 2003, Badin won the interhall football championship. Badin became the first residence hall in Notre Dame history to win overall Hall of the Year in consecutive years, winning the prestigious award consecutively in 2010, 2011, and 2012. In 2011, Badin's first floor was renovated to house students for the first time in the hall's history. Badin was extensively renovated in the 2017-2018 year, with air-conditioned lounges and kitchens on every floor, and a larger gym. Renovations included a new chapel, since the original industrial building did not include an apt space; the money was donated by Peter and Nancy Baranay. The chapel features stained glass windows from the early 20th century, donated by alumni Charles Hayes and Jon Ritten and originally designed by
Franz Xaver Zettler in
Munich, Germany, and restored from an old Chicago convent. The renovated chapel was built in
Notre Dame brick, as the main building itself was, that was rescued from the demolition of Brownson and Corby Halls. The residents of Badin Hall moved to
Pangborn Hall for the year.
Description in Badin Hall Badin hall is built in
Second Empire Architecture. The hall is H-shaped, with the central portion with a slated roof while the two lateral wings have a
mansard roof atop of classical cornices. It is built in yellow brick, three story high, and features a large porch and a balcony on the eastern side. The first floor is entirely dedicated to social spaces (including the new chapel), while the upper floors house the student rooms. Badin is mostly composed of single rooms, and is the smallest of the women's dorms. == Traditions ==