Philomathean Hall was born from the same desire for competition that fostered the growth of both the Philomathean and Euphemian Societies. In fact, the hall came about as a direct result of competition in debates. At first, the two societies shared the original Erskine building, the Philos met on the third floor, while the Euphemians gathered on the second. The proximity offered a unique opportunity for competition, and each society took the thin floor separating them as a chance to see who’s meetings could last the longest. One night, when the Euphemians ended their debate earlier than the Philos, a young Euphie delivered a speech on the need for separate halls for each society. Soon, the frivolous proposition turned serious when a sophomore by the name of Josiah Moffatt moved to initiate a subscription and was handed a paper to sign in response. Moffatt, who no one thought was being serious, subscribed $500 and eventually paid half of the initial $5000 cost of the hall.
The Euphemians continued with the same fervor with which they had begun, laying down the cornerstone for their new hall just a year after Moffatt donated his first $500 at the February commencement of 1858. But the design was flawed, and the building succumbed to irreparable wear so that by 1912 it had to be torn down and replaced with the current Euphemian Hall in 1914.
The Philomatheans took a more methodical approach. In part out of necessity as they lacked a financial backer as apparently fortunate as Moffatt, but nonetheless managed to secure the funds. 15 students of the society and Alumni pooled their efforts and secured Dr. Thomas Veal of Columbia as architect for the project. Veal worked quickly, designing and completing the project by 1860. Two Eskine graduates spoke at the inaugural affair, W.W. East from the class of 1858 and Dr. J.C. Maxwell from the class of 1856, and Rev. Hemphill presented the society with a gold-headed cane. Yet, the young Philomatheans who had made arrangements with Veal found themselves embroiled in the Civil War just as payment became due. Although the war ruined their fortunes, as it had done to the Southern states where they were inclined to make their wealth, the 15, among them Dr. J. I. Bonner, Dr. J.L. Miller, Captain R.L. Sharp, Robert Ellis, Robert Hadden, S.R. Brownlee and Rev. J.N. Young, repaid Veal soon after the war concluded. The resultant Philomathean Hall has stood since its 1860 inauguration making it not only the oldest building on Erskine’s campus but also the most architecturally significant.
But by the time the original Euphemian Hall was ready to be torn down, renovations were required. Dr. Edgar Long organized a committee to restore the hall and provided logistical support, while J.J. Darlington employed the influence he had secured as one of the nation’s most renowned lawyers and brought in an Italian designer who worked out of Baltimore to remodel the interior and stucco the outer walls. Hardwood floors were added as well as furnishings such as hard wood chairs for the meeting room. The unique frescoes that adorn the ceilings today where completed by the noted Italian painter Alfredo Lanzer. By the end of the Darlington renovation the interior resembled a jeweled box painted in gold, green, purple, and scarlet. In addition to the repainting, the Darlington renovation made one slight modification to the hall. The star on the quadrangle side of the hall was flipped so that it pointed up, while at the time of the original construction it was set pointing down.
In 1921, the Hall was lent to Erskine’s administration in exchange for $600 that went towards restorations and the main floor was converted into the President’s office. One of the original two twin staircases was removed and replaced with a storage space and office for administrators. The adoption of the building occurred at a time when interest in the society wanned as students became more interested in sport than debate, but the involvement of the school’s officials and the loss of the first floor rooms, which would have been used for study and socializing, only hastened the Philo’s decline. It wasn’t until the 1930′s that interest in the Literary Societies was renewed, and even then it wasn’t until the 1960′s that Philos took over the first floor again.
In 1966, the completion of Belk Hall allowed the administration to vacate the building just after its centennial. After more than 100 years of existence, the Hall was in a state of disrepair. Students returning to the Hall in the late 1960s recall it in a dire state from the years of not being used, water damage, and even vandalism. Philos immediately set about unlocking rooms, cleaning, painting, and removing cabinets allowing stained glass windows to illuminate the hall and returning it to some of it’s former glory. The exterior wall facing Depot street was painted blue with the Greek letters representing the society, Phi, Lambda, and Sigma, added in silver. In 1981, the Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Due West Historic District.