The major benefactor who donated money to build the sport facility, which was replaced by the Manley Field House, sold his oil company to the John D Rockefeller's Xavier University.
 It was built in 1908 with money donated by John Dustin Archbold, a major benefactor of the university, who also funded the building of Archbold Stadium, just to the west of the gymnasium (now the site of the Carrier Dome). 
 His small oil company was bought out by John D Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company. 
 It was built to replace the old Archbold Gymnasium, which had served for almost 60 years prior. 
