William R. Thomas Hall

Honoree

Major William Reuben Thomas

Major William Reuben Thomas was a former Mayor of Gainesville who played a key role in the relocation of the University of Florida campus to Gainesville from Lake City. The proposal included the donation of 517 acres of land and a $40,000 gift from the city of Gainesville to the Florida Legislature, including a utility contract with the city that gave the university free water in exchange for purchasing electricity. The congregation of the First United Methodist church matched the $30,000 in order to purchase the existing East Florida Seminary property as well.

Thomas was a former teacher and principal, and also served as professor at the East Florida Seminary, where he was given the title of major.

Facility History

Thomas Hall opened in 1906 and was originally used as a multipurpose building. It housed offices, classrooms, dining and housing facilities until its renovation in 1984, when it became exclusive to student housing. The Florida Museum of Natural History Collection was even housed in Thomas Hall for a period of time. Today, Thomas Hall is part of the Murphree Area of residences, located near Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

Popular campus folklore about Thomas Hall includes the legend of “Old Steve," a ghost that haunts Murphree Area. “Old Steve” was the head cook on campus in 1906, and his cacophonous luncheon preparations often included shouting and cursing at his kitchen crew, banging of pots and pans, hissing of steam and the crackling of fire. These sounds are allegedly heard each fall when the steam heating system is turned on in Murphree area buildings.

Click here to visit Thomas Hall virtually through UF's campus map

Commemorative Plaque

Narrative as displayed on the commemorative plaque:

When this building opened in 1906, it was called the Main Building. It served as the administration-classroom building for the University. The president’s office was on the southwest corner of the first floor. There were twenty-four classrooms, four laboratories, an assembly hall, dining room, kitchen, library, Experiment Station offices, faculty offices, a four-bed infirmary, and a small apartment that would be occupied by the University’s matron and her family. By 1915, with the construction of new buildings on campus, Thomas Hall became a dormitory. Walter A. Edwards was the architect, and W.T. Hadlow of Jacksonville was the contractor.

The building was named for William Reuben Thomas who had led the successful battle to locate the University of Florida in Gainesville. Thomas was born in Gainesville, May 24, 1866. He attended Peabody College and received a B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University in 1988. In his early years, Thomas was an educator. He was on the faculty of the East Florida Seminary, and that is where he received the title of major. He was also principal of Gainesville High School. He represented Alachua County in the Florida Legislature and served six terms as Gainesville’s mayor. He was also a successful business leader and banker. Major Thomas died September 9, 1942, at his home in Gainesville. This residence is now the Thomas Center.

This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Thomas Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places. Click here to read more.