Philomath College was chartered in November 1865 as the United Brethren School for Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and California, and its name combined two Greek words meaning love of learning. The building’s center structure was completed in September 1867 from bricks made with clay extracted nearby, measuring 40 by 60 feet with walls 2 feet thick. The coeducational college offered a classical curriculum that reflected pioneer dedication to education. The west wing was completed in 1905 and the east wing in 1907. After 62 years and more than 6,000 students, Philomath College closed in June 1929. The City of Philomath, named for the college, grew up around the campus, and the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior in December 1972.