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The Little Red Skulehouse: Difference between revisions
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Built in 1878, the School of Practical Science building, known colloquially as 'The Little Red Skulehouse', was the original home of the School, later merged into the University of Toronto as the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. It was demolished in 1966 to make way for the Medical Sciences Building. | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
These days, if you were to ask an engineering student where the centre of their non-academic life at the University of Toronto is, most would reply that it is the Atrium of the Sandford Fleming Building. In days gone by, however, the answer would unanimously have been the red Skulehouse, which used to occupy the site that the Medical Sciences Building now occupies. If you were to talk to a student about the Skulehouse, however, many of them would likely return a quizzical look, as if they had never heard of the building. Unfortunately, the significance of the Skulehouse to the average engineering student has been lost over the years. As it currently stands, the only reference that many students will likely read or hear about the little red Skulehouse is the verse of Godiva’s Hymn that refers to it. | These days, if you were to ask an engineering student where the centre of their non-academic life at the University of Toronto is, most would reply that it is the Atrium of the Sandford Fleming Building. In days gone by, however, the answer would unanimously have been the red Skulehouse, which used to occupy the site that the Medical Sciences Building now occupies. If you were to talk to a student about the Skulehouse, however, many of them would likely return a quizzical look, as if they had never heard of the building. Unfortunately, the significance of the Skulehouse to the average engineering student has been lost over the years. As it currently stands, the only reference that many students will likely read or hear about the little red Skulehouse is the verse of Godiva’s Hymn that refers to it. | ||
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The Skulehouse played several important roles in the shaping of engineering at the University, both in the past and presently. The Engineering Society elections were held within its walls, with many yells and cheers sounding down its hallways on election night. It was also the home of the gauntlet, which an engineer had to run before they were allowed to cast their vote in the EngSoc elections. The orientation of F!rosh (or Freshman, as they were called during the Skulehouse days) also took place, with the first years entering the Skulehouse through the basement doors. And the name Toike Oike (pronounced “Toi-kee Oike”) had its humble beginnings within the walls of the building, with the reported source of the name being an Irish janitor of the Skulehouse. When a student was working in one of the labs of the Skulehouse and it came time to lockup, the janitor would tell them to “take a hike”. Thanks to his accent, however, it sounded like ‘toike oike’, and for that he has been immortalized in the history of SkuleTM. Finally, Freshman were constantly reminded of their position in SPS; they were barred from using the eastern entrance to the building! | The Skulehouse played several important roles in the shaping of engineering at the University, both in the past and presently. The Engineering Society elections were held within its walls, with many yells and cheers sounding down its hallways on election night. It was also the home of the gauntlet, which an engineer had to run before they were allowed to cast their vote in the EngSoc elections. The orientation of F!rosh (or Freshman, as they were called during the Skulehouse days) also took place, with the first years entering the Skulehouse through the basement doors. And the name Toike Oike (pronounced “Toi-kee Oike”) had its humble beginnings within the walls of the building, with the reported source of the name being an Irish janitor of the Skulehouse. When a student was working in one of the labs of the Skulehouse and it came time to lockup, the janitor would tell them to “take a hike”. Thanks to his accent, however, it sounded like ‘toike oike’, and for that he has been immortalized in the history of SkuleTM. Finally, Freshman were constantly reminded of their position in SPS; they were barred from using the eastern entrance to the building! | ||
==Demolition of the Skulehouse== | |||
Unfortunately, the Skulehouse was unable to stand the test of time and became a victim of progress. In 1961, the Galbraith Building was opened and became the new headquarters for the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, and in 1967 the Sandford Fleming Building was acquired from Physics. Due to these two events, engineering was forced to bid farewell to the little red Skulehouse in 1966, as it was torn down to make way for the new Medical Sciences Building. Around the same time, the name SkuleTM came into full use, replacing the School of Practical Science, which had been closely associated with the Skulehouse. | Unfortunately, the Skulehouse was unable to stand the test of time and became a victim of progress. In 1961, the Galbraith Building was opened and became the new headquarters for the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, and in 1967 the Sandford Fleming Building was acquired from Physics. Due to these two events, engineering was forced to bid farewell to the little red Skulehouse in 1966, as it was torn down to make way for the new Medical Sciences Building. Around the same time, the name SkuleTM came into full use, replacing the School of Practical Science, which had been closely associated with the Skulehouse. | ||