Featured on Flashback Friday this week is a classic mid-century photochrome postcard depicting NC State University’s Patterson Hall. The stately buff-colored brick building has been a campus landmark for more than 100 years.

Patterson Hall, North Carolina State College, Raleigh, N.C. completed in 1904 and named in honor of Samuel L. Patterson, State Commissioner of Agriculture. This building was completely renovated and modernized in 1953, and is the headquarters of the School of Agriculture.

No message on this week’s card, but it appears that Belgium was the intended destination. How curious.

Patterson Hall — A Beacon on Ag Hill

Originally known as Agricultural Hall, Patterson Hall was built in 1904-05 on the western fringe of the NC College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The site chosen for the imposing structure was the highest point on campus. An African-American community known as Beef Hill had been located there since Reconstruction. Afterwards, Beef Hill became known as Ag Hill.

The cornerstone of Patterson Hall was placed in position in 1905.

When completed, Agricultural Hall housed all the college’s agriculture programs, and included classrooms, laboratories and administrative offices. In 1912 the building was renamed in honor of Samuel L. Patterson, former State Department of Agriculture Commissioner, who had died four years previously. Ironically, Patterson believed the preferred site of such an important building should have been in downtown Raleigh, and not the NC A&M campus, which was two and a half miles beyond the city limits.

Agriculture Hall, as it appeared shortly after its completion in 1905. 

Although the building has been renovated several times, and the interior adapted for various uses over the years, the exterior appearance of Patterson Hall has remained essentially the same since 1905.

State Archives of North Carolina

Patterson Hall as it appeared in the 1930s; the viewpoint is exactly the same as seen in this week’s postcard.

Today, Patterson Hall serves an office building for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Although venerable old Agricultural Hall is now surrounded by newer buildings and parking lots, it still nobly reigns atop Ag Hill.

A detailed history of Patterson Hall and its association with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences was published during its centenary in 2005 in the College’s magazine, Perspectives.

Our Flashback Friday photochrome postcard this week was printed under the trade name ‘Plastichrome’ by Colourpicture Publishers of Boston, MA.

Colourpicture Publishers  (1938-1969)
Boston and Cambridge, MA

A major publisher and printer of linen view-cards of the United States. They later went on to publish photochromes and small spiral bound picture booklets under the name trade name Plastichrome in the 1950’s.

“Flashback Friday” is a weekly feature of Goodnight, Raleigh! in which we showcase vintage postcards depicting our historic capital city. We hope you enjoy this week end treat!