Remember this photo that appeared here a couple of weeks ago? A reader identified it as the old Gilmore Hall, which sat at the location of the current art building on the UH Manoa campus. According to UH information, the building went up in 1935 and was demolished in 1973 to make way for the new art building.

While looking through a few old negative files yesterday, I was surprised to find some pictures I had taken in Gilmore while the building sat empty waiting for demolition. I really don’t recall the occasion, but the photos tell the story. Even while gutted and awaiting destruction, it displayed some of those fine architectural features of its day. In retrospect, it’s a shame that it couldn’t have been renovated like Hawaii Hall.

Gilmore came out of an architectural period when stairs were more than just a utilitarian way to get from one floor to another. They also created shapes and forms that made for wonderful internal spaces where light and shadows mixed. By comparison, more modern buildings on campus, well, mostly just suck. Is that a term of art?

In any case, just click on this second photo to see some of the final days of the old Gilmore Hall.

Beyond that, I’m cutting things short today to get into town early. My dad is moving this morning from Queen’s Hospital to a skilled nursing facility. We’re glad he’s getting out of the hospital, but, as you can understand, also nervous about the next stage of this adventure.