The imposing red brick facade of the Mary Reed Building stands before us. Its central tower a testament to Denver’s rich history.
This isn’t just any building. This is the Mary Reed Building a landmark on the University of Denver campus. Originally built in 1932 it served as the university’s main library for decades. Mary D Reed a remarkable woman left a $20 million estate. A sum equivalent to nearly $400 million today. This generous donation funded the construction of this very building.
Imagine the excitement of its opening in January 1933. Students flocked to its doors eager to explore the vast collection of books and manuscripts. The architecture itself is breathtaking. Gothic arches elegant windows and wrought-iron railings. The interior boasted a Renaissance Room. It was a haven for students to study and browse. There was even a treasure room filled with rare books and manuscripts. Archaeology and art exhibits added to the building’s allure.
But the Mary Reed Building is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s said to be haunted. Custodial staff have reported strange occurrences. Books strewn about locked rooms. Sightings of a ghostly woman. Alarms inexplicably sounding in the dead of night. Some believe it’s the spirit of Mary Reed herself. Others whisper of Margery Reed a DU alumna who died in 1925. Even the DuPont room bears tales of Marcella Miller DuPont’s spectral presence. Her donation helped create a study room within these walls.
The building is a fascinating blend of the academic and the spooky. It’s a place where scholarship and speculation intertwine. Today it houses administrative offices including those of the chancellor and provost. The iconic central tower continues to grace the university’s stationery graduation announcements and class rings. A testament to Mary Reed’s enduring legacy. Even the tuck-pointing completed in 2008 ensures this building stands strong. Ready to welcome generations of students and staff to its hallowed halls. This magnificent building stands as a testament to a woman’s generosity and a campus’s enduring spirit. The Mary Reed Building is more than just a building. It’s a story waiting to be discovered.