CAMPUS GROUNDSGraceland University, Lamoni, Iowa |
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Over the decades, Graceland as we know it today evolved through several campus layout plans. The first plan was designed in 1895 by Kenneth F. Jones of Davenport, Iowa. Jones' concept called for a central building housing executive and administrative offices, a campus chapel and a connecting library to the north and classrooms on the south side of the building. Jones envisioned four women's dormitories to be constructed to the north of the central building, and four men's dormitories opposite south of the central building. Two additional buildings for classrooms, two laboratory buildings, separate women
and men gymnasiums, a store and a post office were envisioned for the site east of the central building. Just south of these facilities, Jones plotted four practice rooms and shop buildings. Jones' blueprint included two recreational fields east of the men's and women's dormitories and a formal athletic field planned for
location in the southeast lawn of the campus. Jones did not forget Graceland's faculty for also envisioned faculty homes to be constructed on the southwest campus lawn.
Originally Graceland's campus was 66 21/3 acres – 20 acres donated by Marietta Walker; 13 1/3 donated by Lamoni banker W. A. Hopkins; and 2 2/3 acres donated by Minnie A. Wickes. The rest of the land was purchased to complete the campus grounds. The College City Chronicle of August 1, 1895 described the original tract as running from College Street on the north past Lydia Avenue on the south, and from First Avenue on the west to beyond Fifth Avenue on the east. On August 1, 1895, lots were advertised for sale at prices from $200 to $300 with the proceeds going toward building and maintain the “College [Administration] Building.” This tract of land was known as “College Addition” to the town of Lamoni. College Avenue is the road located on the north side of Graceland's campus, stretching east from the bottom of college hill and up past the north side of Walker Residence Hall, continuing on to curve around the north and east side of Gunsolley and Graybill Residence Halls. College Avenue was a cooperative project of Lamoni, Decatur County and Graceland, built during 1953-54. Construction of this roadway eliminated the long but scenic winding road which had become increasingly difficult to maintain. The previous roadway had passed through campus; the new roadway directed heavy traffic along the periphery of the campus and away from pedestrians. College Avenue up to the Administration Building was paved during the summer of 1963.
During World War I, the portion of Graceland's campus located west of the Administration Building and Briggs' Hall was cultivated into a large bean field. During the war it was imperative that any and all available land be utilized as agricultural tracts. After the war, bean production ceased although the students called this tract of land the “Bean Field” for several years.
The class of 1915 contributed the first fountain on campus. It was a small metal fountain installed west of the Administration Building and formally presented by the class of 1916. This fountain was operated only on special occasions.
Graceland's second fountain was constructed during the summer of 1939 by Evan Walden, superintendent of buildings and grounds. It was located near the west door of the Administration Building. Stone benches facing the front of the fountain were presented by the class of 1939. The class of 1963 donated an updated fountain fixture which was installed in late April of 1964. By the early 1970's, the fountain began to leak. It was also often falling victim to many campus pranks. Although the campus landscaping committee objected, President William T. “Bill” Higdon ordered that the fountain be removed. It was dismantled during the summer of 1972. An oval-shaped portion of sidewalk was poured over the fountain's former location.
East of the football field and facing the grandstands is an eight-acre body of water known as Big G Lake. Construction on the lake began in April of 1959 made possible by a donation from the Mother's Club of Independence, Missouri. In a naming contest, Bud O'Dell received the $10 prize. Bud's suggestion of “Big G Lake” was officially accepted by the Campus Planning Committee on November 8, 1959. The K.O.G. Club proposed the construction of a large “G” made out of concrete that would be visible from the grandstands in the west football field. When their proposal met with approval, the club laid the concrete which created a 72-foot tall letter “G” On Saturday, November 19, 1960. The club mixed the concrete with yellow paint.
The big letter “G” has been included in many homecoming activities over the years – from houses painting the “G” in their house colors and/or including the “G” with other letters to spell out a house name.
Through the efforts of Graceland's Alphi Phi Omega chapter to plant trees from every U.S. State and country represented at the college in the outdoor bandstand area south of the present-day location of the Frederick M. Smith Library, an outdoor chapel came into being. At the start of the 1959 fall semester, The Chapel in the Grove was completed, although portions of it had existed previously along with several rows of benches facing the grandstand which were surrounded by numerous trees. This site had been used for graduations and some of the college's major theatrical productions. During the summer of 1970, Dutch elm disease claimed many trees in southern Iowa, and the Chapel in the Grove was not exempt. The bandstand and some of the seating remained but as the years progressed was seldom used. Early in February of 1997, the wooden stage was dismantled due to structural concerns.
Graceland's Farms began in 1906 as part of the work-study Industrial Department. The first college farm was located east of where The Shaw Center stands today [2015], extending from where College Avenue leads toward the football parking lot. During the fall of 1906, the college was given two dozen hens with another 12 shortly after added to the flock. After the arrival of the hens, the Board of Trustees authorized the construction of “the Chicken House.” One of the students was placed in charge of the poultry department. By spring, the college had purchased a 200-egg incubator along with four pigs, a cow and a team of horses. 40 tons of hay and five tons of millet were stacked throughout the following summer. On May 4, 1907, the Board of Trustees authorized the purchase of the 40-acre Weable farm located next to the college for $3,950. Mrs. C. J. Hunt assisted with the purchase on October 5, 1907 by offering $1,000 to be used without interest for two years. When added to the original college plot of 66 2/3 acres, the Weable farm created a tract of nearly 100 acres of land which had farming potential. E. D. Moore was elected superintendent of the farm on January 4, 1908. During 1908, steps were taken to develop the poultry industry and create a course in poultry culture. The farm's apple orchard and garden were supplying food for the college's boarding department and some of the students were utilizing a few of the farm's rooms as dormitories. T. A. Hougas, a member of the Board of Trustees, donated a silo which was built in June of 1913. The college farm was increased by 57 acres in 1926. That fall Thamer Warren operated the college's canning plant where he used a steam cooker and a canning machine run by a special boiler to can tomatoes, green beans, beets and apples which had raised on the farm. On Friday, March 27, 1953, two small boys were inside the barn playing with matches on the hay mound. Consequently, the barn and silo burned to the ground and a pair of one-month-old Jersey calves and a four-month-old Holstein calf perished in the fire. The losses were settled for $5,026.95 by insurance. After the fire, the college's farming headquarters moved slightly further northeast onto a property east of the intersection of South Smith Street and East Ackerley Street. By the fall of 1954, the college farm comprised of 266 acres and was producing hay, corn and oats. In the fall of 1953, a herd of 75 Jersey cows were sold and replaced with Holsteins. Every other day a large tank truck picked up the grade A milk which was sold to Borden's in Kansas City. The dairy was often left unlocked when it was unstaffed, allowing people to enter and purchase dairy products on the honor system. Prior to 1953, the college farm had been run by college employees and never was really successful. This changed when Bill Ballantyne arrived in 1953 as manager and partner and started building up the herd and milk parlor. Pasteurizing equipment was installed in 1955 and the farm began providing milk to the college. Soon the farm sold 130 gallons of milk a day in salad dressing jars to area residents. In early 1972, the farm had a herd of around 60 cows and was selling chocolate milk, orange juice, and ice cream mix for the college's Swarm Inn. More than 300 gallons of milk were processed daily. Delilah, one of the college farm cows, held the Iowa record for the highest butterfat production among junior three-year-old cows. She produced 22,370 pounds of milk and 914 pounds of butterfat in one year and was feared in the Des Moines Register in 1971. (Average cow production was 9,388 pounds of milk and 345 pounds of butterfat.) The Graceland dairy remained active under Bill Ballantyne for 25 years before it closed on May 1, 1978, due to diminishing profits and the need for new equipment. Some of the second-hand equipment purchased in 1953 was still in use in 1978. The herd by 1978 numbered close to 150 cows but only 65 were in production. This was the last small dairy in Iowa where all of the processing occurred on the farm. After closure, the dairy's raw milk was sold to Mississippi Valley Milk Producers of Davenport, Iowa. The herd was sold later that summer. Several acres of the older portion of the farm became a part of the campus' recreational area that fall. Paul and Marjorie Thompson turned over ownership of their 375-acres farm next to the campus on January 3, 1978. The Thompson farm, appraised at $562,000, was expected to net $30,000 a year toward school operations. National radio broadcaster Paul Harvey mentioned this donation in one of his programs, calling it a “gift from Santa Claus.” Graceland sold portions of this property and leased the rest.
As early as October of 1897, there had been talk of initiating a football program at Graceland. At this time, the editors of The College City Chronicle commented in their column “Graceland Arena” that there might be such a program at the college within two or three years. Indications are that Graceland's football program was first organized during September of 1902, as per a reference made in the March 1903 issue of Athenian Arena. The football program also appears for the first time in The Board of Trustees minutes dated November 11, 1902. Graceland's 1902 football team had a 2-2 record under Coach Clifton Taylor, then acting college president. John F. Garver was the captain of the 11 letter winners and substitutes that made up that year's squad. Of note, only the coach and the 11 letter winners appeared in the team photograph. Until the 1920's, football players staged carnivals to raise funds to purchase their letter sweaters. World War II interrupted Graceland's football program due to a shortage of male students. Only one game was played during this time, in the fall of 1944. After the war, the football program was resumed in the fall of 1946. In 1956, a baccalaureate degree program at Graceland was restored. The first seniors to play a full four-year schedule in a varsity sport were: Gerry Westwood, Everett Graffeo, Bob Speaks, Barney Parker and Don Davis. They all began their fourth year with the 1957 football team. During the first three decades, Graceland's football squad suited up at the college, then went to Lamoni's North Park where their games were played. In 1935, an on-campus football field was created south of Zimmerman Hall. The north end zone ran in about the same line as the entrance of Kelley Hall which was located nearby. The main bleachers were erected on the west side of the field facing east. This field was prepared in the summer of 1935 by buildings and grounds supervisor Evan Walden and a crew of student workers. The dirt was hauled from the top of the college hill to level off the field for water drainage. The Board of Trustees determined that they could not finance lighting for the football field. Consequently, A. R. “Willie” Gilbert and A. Neal Deaver borrowed funds from two good friends of the college, G. H. Derry and alumnus Charles Van Eaton, so that lighting could be installed. Gate receipts paid back the loan. Eight 65-foot light poles were shipped in from Minneapolis (after someone had made an unsuccessful trip to Nebraska for the order), and were set approximately 10 feet into the ground. Each pole contained four 1,500-watt light reflectors, providing a total of 48,000 watts illumination for the field. On the night of the first game, the field was destined to being pitched into darkness because the wiring had not been completed. A crew of workmen used a spot light as they continued to wire the transformers. Final adjustments were completed a mere 30 minutes before the game was scheduled to start. Although the lights hadn't been tested, they were turned on for the game. They worked. The field was first used under lights on September 27, 1935. Graceland, under coach Alva R. “Willie” Gilbert, played Fort Dodge (the Iowa State Junior College champions of 1934), resulting in a scoreless tie. The first touchdown was made during the next game against Simpson College on Thursday, October 16 when Orra Rew ran 15 yards on a spinner play for the Yellowjackets; Graceland won 19-0. In 1938, the first section of bleachers were added to the field. These were an 1937-38 project of the Graceland College Alumni Association. In appreciation, members of the association were granted free admission to the homecoming game. The last regulation game played on this field occurred in the fall of 1955. Work had begun on a new field located southeast of the old field in 1953 and was completed in 1956. This new field became part of the Bruce Jenner Sports Complex in 1984. The old field later became the site of the Closson Center.
The two-acre body of water located at the northwest corner of the campus is known as Founders Lake. Construction of the lake began in the spring of 1959 and completed in the fall of 1960. Construction costs were paid for through alumni contributions. During 1958-59, the name Founders Lake was proposed and ultimately accepted by the Campus Planning Committee on November 8, 1959. During the summer of 1980, a dam and new aerator were added. A moveable fountain, duck house and ducks have also been added. A flock of Canadian geese residing on campus year round also enjoy Founders Lake and Big G Lake, alternating between the two throughout the day. Founders Walk, which goes along the north side of Founders Lake, was laid in 1954. It runs approximately 1,000 feet south of College Avenue from Walker Hall to Cherry Street toward downtown Lamoni. Marietta Walker's daughter, Frances Walker Davis, contributed $500 toward the sidewalk in 1955.
Graceland's first flag pole, atop of the highest turret of the Administration Building, measures 115 feet from the ground to the tip. The United States flag was first flown from this pole on the day of the building's official opening, January 1, 1897. West of the Administration Building is a 100-foot flagpole which was added during the summer of 1938 and dedicated the following September. This flagpole was donated by the classes of 1925 through 1932 and the class of 1938. In May of 1962, a normal-sized flag was briefly replaced with a large 40-foot flag.
Located south of the Swarm Inn portion of the Memorial Student Center (MSU). The Gazebo was erected as a six-sided completely enclosed informational kiosk. It was funded from a $1,000 donation made by the Independence [Missouri] Mother's Club. During the fall of 1978, the G.S.C. Senate worked on several design proposals and the structure was ultimately built during the summer of 1981. The north and south sides were opened to create a gazebo in the spring of 1992. In preparation for revisions to the college's entrance and parking area, The Gazebo was removed on July 8, 1997.
The Independence facility moved to 9900 East Winner Road in 1973 where the college's second campus was named the Independence Education Center (IDC) on Sunday, April 29, 1973. IEC remained at this location until 1993 when IEC relocated into rented rooms in the Central Professional Building, 221 West Lexington. Over the next five years, IEC expanded and eventually occupied all parts of four floors in the building. Graceland announced plans to construct the new Graceland College Independence Campus on Truman Road in 1996. This building was designed to house Graceland's nursing and addiction studies programs along with fields of education unrelated to health care. The facilities included classrooms, administrative offices, nursing skills laboratory, the Health Promotion Center, the Charles F. Grabske Sr. Library and a 250-seat auditorium. Construction began in August of 1997 with J. E. Dunn of Kansas City as the building's contractor. Funding was raised from operations and a bonds issue to cover the estimated $8.5 million site. Completion target date for the project was set for the fall of 1998.
A museum existed as early as September 6, 1901, with the Board of Trustees putting the acting president Herbert S. Salisbury in charge. The museum was located on the third floor of the Administration Building and in April of 1903 consisted of five cases which contained historical exhibits, minerals, shells and fossils, zooogical specimens, miscellaneous articles and curios. New cases were installed during 1909-10.
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Beginning in 1937 and for a few years afterward, Graceland's lampposts were given individually by each graduating class. The first lamppost was presented by president of the Class of 1937, Robert Brackenbury, during an assembly held on May 21, 1937. This lamppost was installed directly west of the Administration Building by the sidewalk. Others donated during 1937 came from the Patroness Society (placed between the Administration Building and Walker Hall), and the O.O.H.Club in recognition of the club's 20th anniversary (donated on October 23, 1937 and placed southwest of Briggs Hall). The posts were purchased by the college at a complete cost of $60 each. The college's buildings and grounds personnel determined where the lampposts would be set. Prior to the addition of the lampposts, the sidewalk between Briggs and Walker Halls was illuminated by lights which were suspended from a series of poles and were connected with wires.
In the fall of 1969, Graceland's Independence, Missouri campus replaced the diploma program that had previously been the Independence Sanitarium and Hospital School of Nursing. This was upon Graceland establishing the bachelor's degree program in nursing in 1968.