Chronology

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1. Early twentieth century · 1900–1944

2. 1913–1914
   Naming or commemoration · Chapel Hill, Swain Hall Swain Hall is built as the university dining hall

   The university built Swain Hall in 1913 and 1914 as a dining hall on the site of the first president's house and named it for David L. Swain. It served as the dining hall until 1940 and later became the first home of the communications department.

3. 1913
   Construction or physical change · Cameron Avenue and South Columbia Street, Chapel Hill The first president's house is moved off the Swain Hall site and becomes a private home

   When Swain Hall was built in 1913 at Cameron Avenue and South Columbia Street, the 1795 house built for the university's president was moved from the corner and reused as a private dwelling.

4. June 1942
   Construction or physical change · Swain Hall, UNC campus, Chapel Hill The Naval ROTC moves out of Woollen Gym and Lenoir Hall into Swain Hall

   By university decision the Naval ROTC left its quarters in Woollen Gymnasium and the basement of Lenoir Hall during June 1 to 9, 1942, and moved into Swain Hall, which its commander thought below the Navy's minimum standard.

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Compiled and maintained by the Friends of the Orange County Public Library from county records, the sources named on each card, and the index’s event pages. Last updated October 1, 2026.