Joint Synod Favors Further

Substantial Improvements on Campus of Local Institution.

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NEW RECITATION HALL

TO COST ABOUT $225,000

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Plans May Incinde Erection of

Auditorium and Gymnasium,

Adding $135,000 to Expenditure.

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In order to cope with the rapid and substantial increase in the enrollment of Dr. Martin Luther college of this city, as experienced in the past few years, the Ev. Lutheran Joint Synod of Wisconsin and Other States has already taken steps toward a new building program, which, it is anticipated, will be inaugurated during the fall of 1927.

May Spend $360,000

If this program is carried out according to pending plans and indicated needs, it will mean an expenditure of approximately $225,000 to $360,000for combined new structures. The proposed improvements will place the local college in the front ranks of Lutheran educational institutions in the northwest.

New Recitation Hall

At its general meeting, held in Milwaukee, Wis., during the past summer, the Joint synod voted to begin at once with the collection of funds for the erection of a new recitation hall on the local college campus, and sponsored a general cash collection at this time, among the individual congregations of the synod, thus aiming now to raise the necessary funds, which will aggregate $225,000 for a new recitation hall proper. The initial cash donations thus collected are to be held over by the board of trustees until the next biennial meeting of the synod in 1927.

Auditorium and Gymnasium

It is probable that the synod at that time will authorize the erection of two more units, to be added to the new recitation hall, one of which will serve as an auditorium and the other to house the gymnasium. The total cost of these two additions would be approximately $135,000. Sentiment among synodical officials seems very favorable for the building of the two wings, and there is hardly a question but that they will be authorized at the synod meeting and erected at the same time the new recitation hall is built.

To Seat About 650

Tentative plans for the new auditorium provide a one-story, ground floor structure. The auditorium, as proposed, would have a seating capacity of about 650. The stage would accommodate a chorus of 200 people, in addition to the large concert pipe organ. The new auditorium would be used for daily chapel purposes, large concerts, graduating exercises and similar gatherings. This would relieve the present congested chapel and music hall entirely, so that the latter structure could be used exclusively for music practice purposes. It could then be partitioned into individual practice rooms and corridor, and house four or more practice pipe organs and about 20 pianos used to give students individual instruction and practice on the latter instruments. The present music hall now houses the large concert pipe organ and two high grade concert pianos, which occupy the stage.

The gymnasium wing, if constructed according to plans now pending, would be of two-story construction, the ground floor affording additional space for rooms much needed at the Institution.

Remodel Old Building

In conjunction with the erection of the new recitation hall, the present old structure, built in 1884 and now used for that purpose, would be entirely remodeled. It is planned to use the basement exclusively for storage purposes and refrigerator facilities. The kitchen and dining room, now occupying the basement, could be removed to the first floor, while the second story would be arranged into living quarters for the steward and his family, as well as rooms for the hired help, etc. Sick rooms, nurses’ quarters and general storage rooms would be accommodated on the third floor. While these plans are in the tentative stage, it is very likely that, with the erection of a new recitation hall, they will be adopted in one form or another.

Alleviate Congestion

The present need for more room in the girls’ dormitory of Dr. Martin Luther college will probably be alleviated in the near future. In case Bethany college at Mankato is eventually turned over to the Joint synod according to its stipulations, all prospective co-ed students residing out-side of New Ulm, and who desire to enroll for the preparatory course, will be required to enter Bethany college, hereafter. This arrangement will, however, not affect the present co-eds, who will remain here and complete their course at the local institution. Neither will this change affect those co-eds who take the two-year normal course, which latter will remain here for local, as well as non-resident young ladies. In addition thereto, young ladies residing in this city will always be permitted to take the preparatory course from the ninth to the twelfth grades-here.The two-year normal course follows the preparatory course.

If, as stated above, Bethany college is finally taken over by the Joint synod, then the present girls’ dormitory of Dr. Martin Luther college would provide adequate facilities for the out-of-town young ladies attending the two co-ed normal classes. But, in case the negotiations for the purchase of the Mankato institution by the Joint synod, which are now pending, fail to materialize, something definite will have to be done in the future to alleviate the need for more room in the local girls’ dormitory.

105 Co-ed Students

As an experiment, the Joint synod, a few years ago, decided to provide for a girls’ dormitory as one of the features of Dr. Martin Luther college. The former director’s residence on the campus was remodeled for this purpose. The innovation immediately increased the number of young ladies who were willing to become teachers in parish schools of the synod, and at the present time, the number of co-ed students here is 105. The present girls’ dormitory can, however, accommodate only 30 students, the others now being obliged to seek quarters in private homes in the residence districts of the city. This, however, is not an ideal arrangement, and steps will sooner or later be taken to remedy it, in order to give non-resident young ladies the full benefit of the institutional training.

Pouring Concrete

McGough Bros. of St. Paul, who were awarded the general contract for the erection of the $45,000 addition to the boys’ dormitory at the college here, last Wednesday, as announced in the Journal last week, commenced excavations for the basement, Friday morning. The work has progressed so favorably that it is planned to start pouring concrete the latter part of this week. If propitious weather conditions continue, the basement walls and first floor concrete slab will be completed as planned, and it is possible that construction work on the superstructure will be carried on through the balance of the winter and finished early next spring.

Brown County Journal,

November 6, 1925

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