Student Housing

East Campus

Sprague, Whitney, Holcomb, Grange, and Hicks Halls

As part of the East community, you are about to embark on an exciting year-long journey which we hope you will find to be unique, rewarding, and life-changing. Through floor and community programming, and the informal bonds you will no doubt make with your peers during this upcoming year, you will have the opportunity to merge your curricular and co-curricular experiences in a manner few other students have been afforded. Holcomb hall has a study lounge with a big living room, a fireplace and a grand piano. It has a lot of real wood and old-world style -- far more charming than modern residence halls. It has been stated that Holcomb is the perfect place to make wonderful, life-long friends. All residence halls are smoke-free. Most students find this to be the quietest of all the residential areas on campus and really enjoying living in East!

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Fact Sheet

History

Grange Hall was named for the Connecticut Grange Society, which was a supporter of the University of Connecticut. The University of Connecticut has always been indebted to the Grange. On more than one occasion it marched on the State Capitol to demand and get new laws, buildings, or large appropriations for the University. Former UConn president R.W. Stimson attributed much of the success in getting the appropriation for Storrs Hall to the Grange. Grange Hall was built in 1950.

Hicks Hall was named after Elizabeth Hicks, painter, philanthropist, and consultant to the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture (named after her father). Ms. Hicks served as director of Hicks Realty Company in Meriden; was a founding member and later director of the Tolland Public Library; and provided a trust fund for the Ratcliffe Hicks Memorial School in Tolland. Hicks Hall was built in 1950.

Holcomb Hall was named for Marcus Henry Holcomb, who was the attorney general (1906-1907), and governor of Connecticut (1915-1921). Holcomb hall was built in 1922.

Sprague Hall was named for M. Estella Sprague, who ultimately became Professor of Home Economics (1917), Dean of the Division of Home Economics and Dean of Women (1920-1926) at Connecticut Agricultural College. Sprague Hall was built in 1942.

Whitney Hall was named for Edwina Maude Whitney. Edwina was employed by the Connecticut Agricultural College as a Librarian in 1900. During her employment at UConn, Edwina also taught German and occasionally, English and American Literature. Old Whitney Hall was built by her father, Edwin, to be used as the Connecticut Soldiers' Orphans' Home. After the home closed in 1875, it stood empty until 1878, when Augustus Storrs bought the land and offered the buildings to the state. These buildings formed the foundation of the Storrs Agricultural College, now the University of Connecticut. The new Whitney Hall was built in 1939.