News you can use
News you can use
Debbie Vandeberg, from left, Lynda Taplin, Keith Doll, Gary Wilson, Becki Miller, James Limbaugh, Wade Bitz and Dan Ulmen pose Tuesday afternoon for a portrait with the new East Hall sign at Montana State University-Northern. The Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission got an informational plaque installed at the historic East Hall site.
The new plaque, seen next to the site of old East Hall.
In 1929, the college that is now Montana State University-Northern was growing. Eighty-one students were enrolled. Classes were held in Havre High School and the library was in the First Presbyterian Church basement.
Crowded, the college rebuilt the old city of Havre Park Pumping Station for classrooms and administration headquarters.
The groundskeeper had an apartment in the basement.
They renamed the structure East Hall — it was on the east side of the campus.
The college grew. Pretty soon, the administration took up the entire building. As years went by, structural problems developed. The building was abandoned except for storage, and in 1979, it was demolished.
Today the area where East Hall once stood is a picnic area. Benches are on the site, and soon picnic tables and a barbecue pit.
Becki Miller said the Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission she sits on thought it would be a good idea to have a plaque telling about the building’s history.
Tuesday, Northern Chancellor Jim Limbaugh joined other college officials and community leaders to dedicate the plaque, which is next to a large stone that was part of the building.
“It’s a very important building in Havre history,” said Gary Wilson, a commission member.
“We thought it was important to remember it.”
Reader Comments(1)
Willy writes:
This really is awesome, but there are two people who should have been with that group, Emily Mayor Lossing and Val Hickman.
10/16/2013, 11:49 am