In 1914, the University had been obliged to acquire Bower House at 315 South Sixth Street in conjunction with the settlement of the Backus Estate. It had been the home of Frederick E. Bower, Class of 1869, who was the brother in law of President Harris. Bower had assisted Judge Harold M. McClure, Class of 1877, and A.W. Johnson, Class of 1896, who lectured on law at the University.

This house was used as a dormitory for women students from 1915 until the late 1920's. In 1925, the Trustees passed a resolution that "…. beginning with the fall term 1926, the number of female boarders admitted to college be limited to the capacity of buildings on the [Women's] campus and the Bower and Wolfe dwelling houses." After this resolution, however, additional women were admitted and housed in rented houses and private homes until Hunt Hall was occupied in 1928.

The house was remodeled during the summer of 1928 and used as a residence for unmarried women faculty members and librarians from the that time until 1943. During this period the house was also known as Faculty House.

In 1946, the house was renamed French House and used as a dormitory for women majoring in French. It continued as French House until 1965 what it was razed. (Sixth Street House is visible to the right; Scott House is very slightly visible to the left.)

The major source for the information on this page is the Minutes of the Board of Trustees of Bucknell University, 1920-1950 (BT '20-'50). Additional sources are the Theiss, Centennial History, Minutes of the Board of Trustees of Bucknell University, 1882-1920 (BT '82-'20 and Memorials of Bucknell University, 1919-1931 (MBU '19-'31).