University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

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Carnall Hall, located on the corner of Arkansas Avenue and Maple Street, was constructed in I 906 as the first women’s dormitory. The building was named for Ms. Ella Howison Carnall, associate professor of English and modern languages from 189 I -94. PHOTOBYNATALIE ANDERSON Although many of the 50 guest rooms share the same floor plan, each con¬ tains exquisite furnishings and various Fayetteville-area views. Rates ranged from $80 per night to $ I 50 per night, based upon the room description. PHOTOBYSOPHIAKEENE Ella’s Restaurant, Located on the first floor, provides a learning laborato¬ ry for students studying hospitality and restaurant management.The restaurant offered patrons a wide variety of menu selections, including wood-fired pizza, I 50 different wines, and breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. PHOTOBYSOPHIAKEENE 016017 CAMPUSLIFE

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FAYETTEVILLESQUARE

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The Inn at Carnall Hall Historic Bed Breakfast Opens on Campus MEGANGARNER In a ceremony that drew students, alum¬ ni, tourists and former faculty and staff, Ella Carnall Hall opened its doors for the first time since 1991. The former women’s dormitory had been deteriorating for some years and had become a candidate for demolition when the Board of Trustees approved a plan to turn the building into a unique, historic hotel and restau¬ rant. The Inn at Carnall Hall now offers 50 beauti¬ fully furnished guest rooms, which became so popular that even before the Inn opened, all the rooms had been reserved for home game weekends. The Inn also provided an alternative to the usual hotel food, with Ella’s Restaurant, offering cui¬ sine paying homage to Northern Italy. The Inn also has a living room environment with a cocktail lounge and espresso bar. Ella Carnall Hall was originally opened as the first women’s dormitory on campus in 1906. It was named after Ella Howison Carnall, an associate professor of English and modern languages. Carnall Hall was placed as far from the boys’ dormitories as possible, since strict separation of the sexes was standard at the time. Eventually newer dorms replaced the hall and the building was used as a fraternity house by Phi Gamma Delta. During the late 70s Carnall housed the anthropology and geography depart¬ ments. When the restoration of Old Main creat¬ ed more space, the academic departments moved and Carnall became practically deserted. After some time, administrators considered tearing the building down. “As soon as they made that statement, all the historic preserva¬ tionists in northwest Arkansas came out of the woodwork,” said John Delap, general manager of the Hall. A private developer, Carnall Inn Development Co. LLC, developed a plan to convert the hall at a cost of $6.9 million. Now former professors could come back to see their old offices renovated into unique guest rooms, a few of which have the same floor plan. Students also enjoyed the addition, since Ella’s Restaurant offered break¬ fast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Many were drawn to try out the new menus, particu¬ larly at lunch. “The lunch crowd had been rock¬ ing us back on our heels,” said Delap. But for many visitors to the Inn, their stay was about more than great cuisine and a cozy room. For many, it was a return to a place full of memo¬ ries. “It’s nostalgia,” said Delap. Some I 949 coeds gather for coke and checkers in Carnall Hall. Opened in 1906 as the first women’s dormitory on campus, Carnall Hall was almost torn down until admin¬ istrators were persuaded to renovate it instead. CARNALLHALL