CARMICHAEL HOUSEGraceland University, Lamoni, Iowa |
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The official residence of Graceland University's president, Carmichael
House, is located west of the Frederick M. Smith Library. It provides
overnight accommodations for guests. The house was named in honor of
five members of the Carmichael family who served on the Board of
Trustees during the first century of the college's existence: Albert
Carmichael (1911-1935); A. Max Carmichael (1922-1925); N. Ray Carmichael
(1934-1937); D. R. Carmichael (1952-1965); and, David Carmichael (1988-
). A plaque on the front door of Carmichael House commemorates the
service of all five men. Completed in 1994, Carmichael House was the first structure built specifically for Graceland's president. Up until that time, the university did not provide housing for the president. In 1994, Harvey Grice left the presidency and sold his two-story building at 109 E. South Street to Graceland. Graceland used this home, located just west of the campus across from Cherry Street, as the president's home. It was first used by William T. “Bill” Higdon and last used by Barbara J. (McFarlane) Higdon. It was sold to Mark Easter in August of 1990. Meanwhile, the president resided in a rented property located at 520 Cherry Street until Carmichael House was ready for occupancy. During the fall of 1991, President Barbara J. (McFarlane) Higdon submitted a financial proposal for a new president's home to the Board of Trustees. Dr. David Carmichael (a 1942 Graceland alumnus) and his wife Ava offered to donate the bulk of the construction cost for a much larger residence than the cottage-style structure President Higdon had envisioned. The Board of Trustees accepted the Carmichael's offer on November 2, 1991 and voted to name the residence Carmichael House. Jointly, Dr. and Ava Carmichael shoveled the first piece of sod during a groundbreaking ceremony on July 26, 1992. Hugh Kensler, Dr. Carmichael's roommate during his Graceland years and an alumnus of the class of 1942, was the architect. Graceland's physical plant employees along with individual builders constructed the home. Consequently, Graceland constructed a new road from Cherry Street to the library. Carmichael House was dedicated during a ceremony held on Sunday, May 15, 1994 which began at 5 p.m. |
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SOURCES: Edwards, Paul M. "The Hilltop Where. . . An Informal
History of Graceland College." Pp. 80, 86, 88. Venture Foundation.
Lamoni IA. 1972. geocitiessites.com/scott_norwood/CarmichaelN.html
Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.”
Pp. 45-6. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997. 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 |
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