What Happened to Miller Hall?

Photo taken by: Mr. Harwood

If you were ever looking at Miller Hall from the outside, it looks like an open and active building, however you would be wrong. 

Miller Hall, originally a dormitory for male students was built in 1938.

The dormitory was name after the first president of the university (at the time known as the Colored Normal Industrial Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina), Thomas E. Miller. According to SC State’s archivist director, Avery Daniels, Miller Hall was one of the first buildings not named after a board member.

If you went on campus from 1938 to the late 1990’s, you would have seen Miller Hall as an active dormitory for on-campus students. Miller Hall was eventually turned into a women’s dormitory until it closed.

Former Miller Hall residents

Go on campus today, you probably would not notice Miller Hall. Yes, Miller Hall is still standing, and it is in very good condition on the outside. But unfortunately, the dormitory has been inactive for over 10 years.

Today Miller Hall is being used as a storage space for the university. If you were to go inside Miller Hall today, you will see paint peeling off the walls, boxes stacked high, and furniture that’s in the other dorms around campus.

The inside of Miller Hall, today.

Miller Hall is a historical building and the university should treat it as such. If the inside of Miller Hall would have been preserved like the outside of the building maybe it could be reopened as a dormitory or office spaces.

Maybe years from now Miller Hall will be renovated and reopened.

This story is part of a three-part series, read the other stories; Lets Get to Know Thomas E. Miller and Behind The Archive's Director, Avery Daniels.