DEMOSTHENIAN HALL RENTALS

  • Please review the rental guidelines and fill out the Hall Rental Form (below) if you are interested in renting Demosthenian Hall.

    The Demosthenian Literary Society is the only student organization to manage a building on campus. To ensure the safety and well-being of our building, a historic landmark, we ask that you sign a rental agreement.

  • We request all payment in the from of CHECKS made out to The Demosthenian Literary Society. The Demosthenian Literary Society has three payment categories that determine the cost of using the building for an event.

    1) Payment Category (Plan) A covers the general public. Individuals in this category should be sure to send in a $350 rental fee and a $200 security deposit.
    2) Payment Category (Plan) B is the option that student organizations should select. We charge students a reduced rental fee of $50, although we still require that they send us a $200 security deposit. The group’s faculty advisor must sign the rental contract.
    3) Payment Category (Plan) C is the option for UGA departments. We do not charge UGA departments a rental fee or security deposit with the understanding that the department is liable for damages above and beyond normal use. A member of faculty or staff must sign the rental contract.

  • As our hall has come to represent over 200 years of history, we feel obligated to preserve it for future Demosthenians. Therefore, we ask that you observe the following requests. If any of these rules are violated, the Society reserves the right to retain the security deposit in its entirety and assess additional damage fines as needed.

    1) Please do not use an open flame in the hall. This includes the burning of candles. If your event requires the use of candles, DO NOT rent the Hall.
    2) Smoking is prohibited.
    3) As Demosthenian is party to the regulations of the University of Georgia, we do not allow alcoholic beverages in the hall. Please do not drink alcohol at your event!
    4) Please refrain from bringing food or beverages upstairs.
    5) Please do your best to leave the Hall in a neat and orderly condition.
    6) Do not break state or federal law. Please also abide by all the regulations of the University of Georgia.

    The Hall Administrator is responsible for ensuring that you are able to gain access to the hall on the date of your rental. Please e-mail the Hall Administrator, at demosthenian@dlsuga.com, in the event of an emergency and to gain access to the building or call our current Hall Administrator, Emily Harkness, at (706) 577-9254.

  • The Demosthenian Literary Society asks that all renters follow the check-out procedure outlined below. If any of the following procedures are not followed, the Demosthenian Literary Society reserves the right to retain the security deposit in its entirety and assess additional damage fines as needed. Before you leave:

    1) Remove all trash to the dumpster located behind the building
    2) Return any moved furniture to its original position
    3) Place the key back into the lock-box and scramble the code
    4) Turn off all the lights both upstairs AND downstairs
    5) Close the door as you leave. It will lock automatically

    Your rental helps the Demosthenian Literary Society keep the Hall in good condition. Your assistance will reduce the burden placed on our all volunteer and student run operations, and it will also allow us to preserve our beautiful 200 year-old building for future generations.

haLl Rental Form

 

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HALL

HISTORY

Demosthenian Hall is the fourth oldest building at the University of Georgia and home to the Demosthenian Debate Society. Constructed in 1824 by Dr. James Tinsley of Columbia County, Demosthenian Hall has become the physical expression of a living tradition which binds generations of students.

The Hall was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and is the fourth-oldest building on campus after Old College, New College, and Waddell Hall. It has undergone several preservation efforts in its 200 year history including large-scale renovations throughout the late 20th century.

The building was constructed in a formal federal style with period accurate windows and doors. On the second floor, the debate chamber is the main meeting space of the society. The ceiling is made of intricately carved plaster in the shape of holly leaves. The ceiling of the society is one of the few remaining carvings of this type.

The speaker’s lectern of the society is an original piece from the 1820’s that was hand built for the society. Underneath the lectern is a stump from the Robert Toombs Oak, a tree under which Toombs gave reportedly his 1828 commencement speech. When he died in 1885, legend says the tree was struck by lightning. The stump is now used by the society for election speeches.

The lower chamber of the building contains a space for members of the society to study and socialize. Paintings of the Hall and of former members adorn the walls. The Society also contains a library of over 1,000 books which at once point was the largest at the University. The Society donated many of their books in order to help the Main Library rebuild after it was burned down during the Civil War.

PRESERVATION EFFORTS

As a building that is over 200 years old, the Hall has undergone several large-scale renovation projects. In 1997 the building was restored to its 1824 appearance including hardwood replacement, repainting, and furniture replacement. The restoration was completed using alumni donations to the Society.


The most recent renovation in Demosthenian Hall was the replacement of seating in the Upper Chamber. Old seats reclaimed from another historic Athens building had been used for more than a decade and have since been replaced with benches. The project was conducted in consultation with the UGA Preservationist, UGA Facilities Management, and other local and community figures.

Citations

Beckett Smith. “Demosthenian Hall.” April 27, 2018. Accessed December 8, 2021. https://theclio.com/entry/59268

Waymarking

UGA Architects