Marietta Walker Hall

Graceland College, Lamoni, Iowa
Marietta Walker Hall was named in honor of Marietta (Hodges) Walker (1834 - 1930). Mrs. Walker was teacher, an authoress, the managing editor of Herald House's periodicals Autumn Leaves (established in 1888 for young men and women) and Zion's Hope (a Sunday School paper established in 1869). Mrs. Walker was one of three people who initially donated land in 1893 for the purpose of establishing Graceland College. Her donation consisted 20 of Graceland's original 66 acres of land. In 1929* a girls' dormitory, constructed at a cost of $3,100 on Graceland College's campus, was opened and first occupied on December 14, 1929. The dormitory, named Marietta Walker Hall in honor of Mrs. Walker, a pioneer in church and college work, is the oldest residence hall on the campus. Mrs. Bettie B. Smith, a kind-hearted, motherly saint, was put in charge of the dormitory, and kitchen and dining room in the basement of the college. It was a large family to cook for, and no one but "Aunt Bettie" could have done it.

Upon the completion of Walker Hall in 1929, food service was relocated from the basement of Zimmerman Hall to the basement of that building. This dining room had a 184 seating capacity and continued to employ students as waiters and waitresses. Walker's commissary later adopted a cafeteria system.

Walker commissary was eventually replaced by the Floyd M. McDowell Commons which served its first meals on Wednesday, April 26, 1961.

Banta Place was the name of the basic residence unit once located on the second floor of the south end of Walker Residence Hall, named in honor of Elijah Banta. Mr. Banta was the man who suggested the name “Lamoni” when the town was founded. Of note, Graceland's college farm was also called Banta Place during one period of time.

In September of 1956 a basic unit was formed at the south end of Walker Residence Hall on the third floor. It was named Burton Place in honor of Joseph and Emma Burton who made a mission to the South Seas in the “Gospel Boat.”

Carlile Manor was named in honor of Mabel Carlile Hyde, 30-year director and music instructor at Graceland, Carlile Manor was a basic unit name given in September of 1956 to the north and east portions of the first floor of Walker Residence Hall.

In September of 1956, The Derry's was the name given to the women's basic residence hall residing on the first south floor of Walker Residence Hall. The name honored Charles Derry who was the first RLDS Church missionary to England, an apostle and who composed O Lord Around Thine Altar Now.

In September of 1956 a basic unit was formed at the south end of Walker Residence Hall on the third floor. It was named Burton Place in honor of Joseph and Emma Burton who made a mission to the South Seas in the “Gospel Boat.”

Carlile Manor was named in honor of Mabel Carlile Hyde, 30-year director and music instructor at Graceland, Carlile Manor was a basic unit name given in September of 1956 to the north and east portions of the first floor of Walker Residence Hall. In 2015, Walker Hall houses units on the first floor, Aponivi House on the second floor, and Solah House on the third floor.


Horizons
Graceland University, Lamoni, Decatur County, Iowa
Fall, 2013, Vol. 29, No. 2, Page 4

Walker Hall Gets A Facelift

Marietta Walker Hall has been beautified by a recent landscaping project made possible by the generosity of donors Gearl Koonce ’53 and Earl ’53 and Ardyce Koonce ’54. The project features sidewalks, benches, landscaping and a plaque, all donated in memory of Katherine Lancaster ’54 Koonce.
 
SOURCES: Howell, Prof. J. M. & Smith, Heman C. "History of Decatur County And Its People." S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Chicago IL. 1915. Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.” Pp. 27, 40, 45, 72. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997. graceland.edu/About-GU/History graceland.edu/campus-life/walker-hall.cfm; Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2013, 2015, 2017.
NOTE: Graceland University expressly granted permission to Decatur County IAGenWeb to use photographs and materials for the sole purpose of this website.
Please, extend courtesy toward Graceland University and Decatur County IAGenWeb ~ ask before you "borrow" from this site. Thank you.
These pages have been updated and reformatted by Conni McDaniel Hall, October 2019
 
Graceland University   ***   Schools Directory *** Decatur County IAGenWeb