Treasures from Archives: Foley Hall Elevator

Foley Hall conjures many memories for many people. For those of us who never had the privilege of seeing this magnificent edifice, old photographs help us to imagine what an awesome structure Foley must have been. Another way in which we can appreciate the grandness of this building is to peruse some old documents wonderfully preserved in our Archives.

The cornerstone of Foley Hall, then known as the Academy, was laid in 1860 with the three-story structure completed in 1868. Electric lights were first installed in 1890, and a fourth-story front section was completed in 1898.

By 1909, the Sisters of Providence sought a contract with the Otis Elevator Company out of Indianapolis for an Electric Push Button Passenger Elevator for the Academy. The car pictured above, number 3036, was the design that the company suggested. A specification sheet dated Oct. 28, 1909, stated that the elevator had to travel from the first to the fourth floor, an approximate distance of 44 feet. It had to travel at a speed of 150 feet per minute, and it had to be able to lift 2,000 pounds in addition to the weight of the car. The engine for the elevator was to be located in the basement. The price for this part of the elevator was $2,750.

The contract also included design number 3218 (pictured above) for the enclosure work. This was priced at $678.

This invoice from the office of D.A. Bohlen and Son, architects, shows that the entire bill for the project cost $3,428.