Opened in 1965 the Tawes Fine Arts Building was a vibrant hub. It was named after J Millard Tawes Maryland’s governor at the time. Tawes housed the theatre and music departments. Its theatre could seat 1350 people. It was the main performing arts building before the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center opened in 2001. The building had a unique charm. Some called it the Tawes Fine Arts Closet. Its hallways and dressing rooms were a maze. Faculty offices were tucked away in this warren. Much of the building was uninsulated. Heating and air conditioning were notoriously problematic. The HVAC system was so loud. They had to turn it off for decent acoustics during performances. That wasn’t ideal of course.
Tawes had a reputation for being haunted. Not by a professor or student but by a dog named Mortimer. Mortimer belonged to Tom the building’s first technical manager. Tom would throw a Frisbee for Mortimer during construction. Mortimer would leap catch it and do a backflip. One fateful day Tom tossed the Frisbee too far. Mortimer leaped did his backflip and landed badly. He broke his back and died instantly. Tom and friends buried Mortimer in the basement. Some believed Mortimer’s spirit was trapped. People heard clicking sounds like toenails on the stage. Things would move slightly. It was harmless. They’d just say Goodnight Mortimer.
Tawes hosted many famous performers. Marcel Marceau the world’s most famous mime performed there. Steve Martin brought his banjo and comedy. Billy Joel played Piano Man and Captain Jack. Patti LaBelle graced the stage. Gloria Steinem a pioneering feminist spoke there. Even presidential candidates debated there in 1992. Bill Clinton was among them.
In 2000 the theatre and music departments moved to the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Tawes sat empty for years. Renovations began in 2007. The English department moved in 2009. Another renovation happened in 2011. The theatre became lecture halls and classrooms. The fly space became a window well. The Department of American Studies joined in 2016. Tawes is a place with a rich history. It hosted famous people and unforgettable events. It’s a building with stories whispered through its hallways. Stories of laughter ghosts and unforgettable performances.