The Collegiate Gothic architecture of The University of Western Ontario is what makes Western, well, Western.
However, there are many distinctive features that can get missed in the hustle and bustle of academic life. This occasional Western News feature goes looking for some of those overlooked elements.
Do you ever get the feeling you’re being watched? Take a stroll around the Physics & Astronomy Building and that feeling may well seem a reality.
And no, it’s not the hard-working faculty and students peering down from their windows, but rather a collection of odd and unique figures attached to the building itself – faces such as a Yorkshire farmer, Tecumseh and ‘Ole Bill’ (based on the First World war British Tommy created by cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfeather).
Construction of the university campus began in 1922 with University College, the Natural Science building (now Physics & Astronomy), the heating plant, and the bridge across the Thames River.
In charge of the Natural Science building, completed in 1924, was builder John Putherbough, who was in a friendly competition with the builder of University College.
“There was a friendly competition as to who could do the best job,” says Alan Noon, freelance researcher with the Department of Communications and Public Affairs. “John hired stone mason Dan Cree of Hamilton, Ont., who asked John if he could make some interesting designs on the building to give it some colour and movement.”
From that enthusiasm came more than 30 one-of-a-kind sculptures, which Cree carved on the spot.
“That’s what makes them so special, there were no moulds whatsoever,” adds Noon.
The best time of year to catch a glimpse of these matchless mugs, such as ‘Boy with Toothache’ (modeled after a magazine advertisement for toothpaste) is right now – before spring blankets the limestone stares with green ivy.
For a detailed look at the famous facade faces, check out a website of former Physics professor Don Moorcroft at physics.uwo.ca/~drm/history/sculpture.html.
If you would like to share information about a special corner of campus let us know by contacting Western News reporter Paul Mayne at pmayne@uwo.ca.