Historic Neighborhood parties in West like it's 1905

The second annual "Birthday Party for West Residence Hall" on Oct. 16 brought together more than 100 current students and five alumni to celebrate the oldest building on Elon University's campus.

The Historic Neighborhood sponsored the second annual Birthday Party for West Residence Hall on Oct. 16, 2014, to celebrate the traditions and history of Elon University. 

More than 100 students who live in the neighborhood attended an event held in conjunction with Homecoming, which enabled alumni to take part. 

The building is the oldest on the Elon campus, the beloved campus home for generations of Elon students, and is the backdrop for the annual Under the Oaks celebrations of Commencement and Opening Convocation. It opened to students in 1905.

The Historic Neighborhood consists of West, Virginia, Sloan, Hook, Brannock, Barney, Carolina and Smith halls, plus the Cannon and Kenan Pavilions in the Academic Village. It is one of Elon’s seven residential neighborhoods and the home of mostly first-year students.

Jo Watts Williams ’55, vice president emerita at Elon University, cut the cake. Allen and Lisa Wolff, both members of the Class of 1989, were in attendance. Lisa Wolff spoke with the students about the importance of the friends they will make and how meaningful it has been to her to keep in touch with both her friends and the university.

Also attending were Vickie Somers ’89, Jeremy Allen ’07, Kat Gosney ’09 L’12 and Cal Stanley ’99.