Historical marker describes campus building that survived Civil War raid

'The Little Round House'

This week’s featured historical marker is the “THE LITTLE ROUND HOUSE” marker in Tuscaloosa County, Ala. This marker is located near the rear entrance to the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Unlike most markers of this type, this marker doesn’t indicate the year that it was erected or what organization erected it. I’m guessing from the symbol at the top that it was erected by the University of Alabama. There’s text on both sides of the marker, and both sides are the same. What follows in the complete text from the marker:

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“THE LITTLE ROUND HOUSE: Constructed as a guard house for the Alabama Corps of Cadets during the early 1860s, the Little Round House provided shelter from inclement weather for cadets on sentry duty. Until 1865, it also housed the University Drum Corps, which was composed of rented slaves. One of the few University buildings not destroyed by Union forces when the campus was burned in 1865, this building became the office of the University surgeon in 1871, and was used later by non-military students as a residence. In 1888, the building became a storage area for University records and in 1933 the Jasons, a men’s honor society, was permitted to use it as headquarters. In 1990, the building was converted into a memorial for all honor societies of the University.”

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If you look to the right of the door in the photo above, you’ll see a small plaque that reads as follows – “JASONS SHRINE: BUILT 1860 AS SENTRY POST: One of four University structures which survived the Civil War, Served as student infirmary and University Records Office, later became Jasons Shrine, restored through the generosity of the Andrew J. Gentry Jr. family, those that supported the 60th Anniversary Celebration of Jasons, and the 1973-74 Jasons. This plaque placed by the 1982-83 and 1983-84 Jasons, Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of using this Shrine.”

The Jasons are a somewhat interesting organization. Arguably the most renowned honor society at the University of Alabama, the Jasons haven’t been officially recognized by the school since 1976 because they don’t admit women. Formed in 1914 by Lister Hill, who was the first president of the school’s Student Government Association and would go on to serve as a U.S. Senator. Other members include UA Athletic Director Bill Battle, Coach Steve Sloan and Senator John Sparkman.

The Jasons, which is short for Jasons Senior Men’s Honorary, taps 36 (some sources say 15) new members each spring during a ceremony on the Franklin Mound, which is just a short walk from the Little Round House. I’ve yet to find out where or why the name “Jason” comes into play in the organization’s name.

In the end, visit this site next Wednesday to learn about another historical marker. I’m also taking suggestions from the reading audience, so if you know of an interesting historical marker that you’d like me to feature, let me know in the comments section below.