The Rise and Fall of Clemson House

One of my many memories of being a student at Clemson was the evening walks across campus to eat at The Clemson House. We would walk from Johnstone F just to get a slightly better meal than the ones served in the dining halls on campus.

I also spent many hours in the Clemson House Barbershop, getting my haircut while then owner Dennis Laye was chewing gum, smoking a cigarette, and talking Clemson football. I don't know that it was the best haircut, but the conversations were well worth it. 

Heck, in 1995 the guys getting haircuts in the Clemson House were still talking about Danny Ford as if he still had an office in Jervey.    

This week, Clemson University took a look back at the history of Clemson University's famous Clemson House which opened its doors on November 1, 1950.

Per Wikipedia:

The hotel was constructed on a hill overlooking Clemson University's campus. It was located across from Bowman Field and in close proximity to the Clemson University of Visitor and Alumni Center. The historic Tillman Hall and Memorial Stadium were visible from the front facing rooms of the house, and on clear days the Blue Ridge Mountains could be seen in the distance.

Clemson House served several functions, including being a residence hall, dining hall, barber shop, laundromat, gym, hotel and conference area.

Clemson House also served as a hotel for visiting faculty and extended stay housing featuring six fully furnished rooms on the seventh floor of the building. 

It hurts losing another iconic symbol of my years in Clemson. 

My old dorm Johnstone was torn down not long after I graduated. I can remember thinking that one day I would take my children to see F-327 or F-119. I pictured myself knocking on the door and telling a current student that, "This was my old room."

That never happened. My old dorm is just a memory for me and many others like me who stayed up too late studied way too little and overslept far too often.

Times are changing in Clemson. 

With construction comes, destruction and The Clemson House will soon be a distant memory. 

Leave a comment about your memories of Clemson House or your time at Clemson.

Click here to view: The Rise & Fall of Clemson House