The first classes of The Dickinson School of Law were taught in an office out of Judge John Reed’s home.
After the Law School became incorporated in 1890, the Law School’s home became Emory Hall, formerly Emory Chapel. The Law School rented the building from Dickinson College. 
However, the Law School quickly outgrew this space, and in 1916, the Board of Incorporators appointed a committee to study the feasibility of building a new space for the Law School. Horace B. King, from the class of 1910, threw himself into the fundraising effort, and space for the new building was located at the intersection of College Street and South Street. R. R. Markley, from Harrisburg, was hired as the architect for the building, which he designed to fit in with the colonial-style architecture prevalent in Carlisle.1
The new building was named Trickett Hall, after Dean William Trickett. The dedication was originally slated for August of 1917. However, construction was delayed due to World War I. The building was ready for occupancy in January of 1918 and the formal dedication ceremony was held on August 16, 1918.
Trickett Hall was open for inspection by the public the day before the ceremony, and a smoker was held that evening in the student lounge. The event was a cheerful one with “singing of the old college songs and popular war songs…” and “old graduates told of humorous incidents of their student days and in their later practice.”2
On August 16, 1918, the entire building was decorated with the flags of the Allied Nations. In the morning, the first meeting of the Association of the Alumni was held in the building’s new assembly room.
In the afternoon, the official dedication ceremony took place. Speeches were given by Justice S. B. Sadler of the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas, Justice Edward J. Fox of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and Dr. George Edward Reed, former President of Dickinson College and the Dickinson School of Law. As part of the ceremony, “a massive mahogany chair, the gift of the alumni of Berks County,” was presented to Dean Trickett, “as a token of their love and respect for him.”3 The Star-Spangled Banner was sung, and the alumni posed for a photograph on the steps of Trickett Hall.
This building, erected largely through the generosity of its young alumni, guarantees the future of the School. The men who erected this structure will never allow the school to fail.
……
Trickett Hall will never fail, never close its doors.
Alumni and friends will see to that. Long live Trickett Hall!
Long live the noble body of loyal sons who by their generous giving have made possible the noble building which for a hundred years and more will continue to be the home of the Dickinson School of Law.
~ Dr. George Edward Reed4
1 I highly recommend reading the architect’s incredible description of the building, which is included in Henry M. Bruner’s article, New Building at 21 Dick. L. Rev. 293 (1916). The full-text of this article is available through our digital repository, Dickinson Law IDEAS. 2 Trickett Hall, 23 Dick. L. Rev. 1, 4 (1918). 3 Trickett Hall, 23 Dick. L. Rev. 1, 6 (1918). 4 For further information about the dedication ceremony, as well as the full text of the speeches given by Justice Sadler, Justice Fox and Dr. Reed, please check out our digital repository, Dickinson Law IDEAS.