Monteith Hall, a residence hall, is home to 211 residents in the Upper Quad. Monteith Hall's first two floors serve as cadet housing for the Corps of Cadets and the top two floors are civilian housing. It was first occupied in Fall, 1949. Cost of construction was $405,530; it contains 35,860 sq. ft. It was closed for renovation from 1969 to 1970, then reopened in the Fall of 1970.
Monteith Hall is named for 1st Lt. Jimmie W. Monteith. A member of the U.S. Army, Monteith was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism on Normandy beachhead on D-Day 1944 during World War II. Born in 1919, he was a native of Richmond, Virginia and a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School. A member of VPI’s Class of 1941, he studied mechanical engineering and played football. He enlisted in 1939 but did not graduate because of the war. Monteith landed under heavy enemy fire with the initial assault waves on the coast of France. Without regard for his own personal safety, he continually moved up and down the beach, reorganizing men for further assault. He led the assault over a narrow protective ledge and across the flat, exposed terrain to the comparative safety of a cliff. Retracing his steps across the field to the beach, he moved to where two tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent enemy artillery and machine gun fire. Completely exposed to the intense fire, Monteith led the tanks on foot through a minefield and into firing positions. Under his direction, several enemy positions were destroyed. He then rejoined his company and led his men in capturing an advantageous position despite repeated vicious counterattacks. He continued to ignore his own personal safety, repeatedly crossing the two or three hundred yards of open terrain under heavy fire to strengthen links in his defensive chain. When the enemy succeeded in completely surrounding Monteith and his unit, he was killed by enemy fire.
Address: Turner Street (Upper Quad) | Map Grid: N-2
Originally Built: 1949 | Abbreviation: MON