Topic: Albert Lea College 1915
started by: n0esc
Posted by n0esc on Feb. 05 2005,10:11 pm
Across from Lakeview School... At least some of it still looks the same.
Posted by gill4688 on Jun. 09 2005,9:30 am
This is the building that stood where Lakeview School is today. The Science Hall which is not in this picture was across the street and is what still remains today (The Abbott Condo's)
Posted by cheeba on Jun. 09 2005,9:47 am
Wow I never knew that. I would have thought that the picture was of what is still there. Well I guess you do learn something everyday!
Posted by Counterfeit Fake on Jun. 09 2005,10:40 am
Why were the buildings torn down? Anyone know?
Posted by Scurvy Dog on Jun. 09 2005,12:31 pm
I live in the Abbott. In the lobby there is a picture with the history of the buildings. I'll give it a read and post what it says here.
Posted by ICU812 on Jun. 09 2005,1:09 pm
What number, I might be hungry some night.
Posted by Replicant on Jun. 09 2005,9:42 pm
The buildings in this picture sat in the area where Lakeview School is now. They were torn down and for many years the Albert Lea football games were played there, before Hammer Field was built.Scurvy Dog can fill in the details. But I do know that the first year of classes at the new Lakeview School was the 1968-69 school year. During Christmas break in 1968 there was a natural gas leak causing an explosion which heavily damaged the library and offices.
The Cargill Science Hall was used by the district for storage for many years, eventually was sold and became the Abbott Apartments.
Added 6/18 - The Presbyterian Church established the Albert Lea College for Women in 1884. It closed in 1916. Interesting to note that it lasted for over 30 years.
Posted by Scurvy Dog on Jun. 18 2005,1:24 pm
RUSSELL BIGELOW ABBOTT(Educator; Clergyman; Founder, First President and Chief Supporter of Albert Lea College for Women)
R.B. Abbott was born August 8, 1823, in Brookville, Indiana, and after serving in teaching and administrative capicities in Munice and New Castle, Indiana; Whitewater, Anoka, and St. Paul, Minnesota schools was ordained into the Presbyterian ministry in 1857.
At the dedication of the First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea August 15, 1869, Rev. R.B. Abbott was installed as pastor. In his position here as pastor of the church, he never lost sight of educational matters and never missed an opportunity to exert a wholesome influence in this direction. During his pastorate here, the local Presbyterian Church became the leading church of this Presbytery and with a devout and spiritual atmosphere prevailing, 350 converts were added to the membership.
Dr. Abbott resigned in 1884 to organize the Albert Lea Presbyterian College for Women.
NOTE: Spelling and punctuation errors are part of the orignal text. With the exception of this note, the text here appears exactly as the sign on the wall of the Abbott.
Posted by Scurvy Dog on Jun. 18 2005,1:37 pm
Albert Lea College for young ladies was founded in 1884. Rev. R.B. Abbott, a local clergyman, decided that Albert Lea should have a Presbyterian women's college.The first money was donated by the church synod and Albert Lea Citizens. By September 8, 1885, the school was built and the students were ready to meet their classes.
It was located on a high bluff overlooking Fountain Lake, commonly known to us as Abbott Hill, in the prettiest part of the City. Its campus was a beautiful tract of land with many magnificent shade trees. The school stood at the head, among the best institutions of the State. The moral influences of the school were excellent. If it did not contribute one dollar to the wealth of the City, the value it conferred on a residence there and the elevation of character which it created at home and abroad, amply repaid the expenditure of time, of labor and pecuniary efforts which were made in the great cause of education by the public spirited men who built it up to its eminence.
The school was built up as the years passed, first by a dormitory addition erected in 1887, and then by a Science Hall in 1901, which was a gift of W.W. Cargill. Mr. Cargill was one of the early grain men in the City and his Science Hall later became Abbott School. James J. Hill, the railroad baron, donated a central heating unit to the school.
The college was a four-year college leading to a bachelor's degree; preparatory course, Department of Music, Art, Elocution and Pedagogy.
The school turned out classes of young women for 30 years but finally it found it had its back to the wall financially.
As the years passed, the Presbyterians in the State found it hard to support two colleges, the Women's College and Macalester College in St. Paul. Because Macalester College was the larger of the two, being coeducational, they decided to maintain it at the expense of the Women's College. So, the first women's College in the county closed its doors.
The main buildings of the school stood vacant for many years until 1923 when they were taken apart, piece by piece, and the materials were used to erect a warehouse and garage in the southern part of the city. The building was owned by Freeborn County and used as a County Shop. All that remains is the old Science Hall, formerly Abbott School and recently remodeled into the beautiful Abbott Apartments.
NOTE: Spelling and punctuation errors are part of the orignal text. With the exception of this note, the text here appears exactly as the sign on the wall of the Abbott.
NOTE: I am estimating this document to have been written around 1975, as that is listed as the date built on the warranty deed to the unit I live in. Also, the units are now condominiums. Most are tenant-owned, though I believe there are a few renters in the building.
Posted by Liberal on Jun. 18 2005,1:40 pm
I posted a picture of the building back in Feb.| Quote (Liberal @ Feb. 13 2005,6:32,pm) |
| This was known as Abbott school when I was a kid and it was burned out. I went to school at Lakeview across the street and I heard 5-6 different stories of why it burned. It's a nice apartment building these days. Anyone know how it really burned? |
Posted by Scurvy Dog on Jun. 18 2005,1:45 pm
| Quote (Liberal @ June 18 2005,1:40,pm) |
| I posted a picture of the building back in Feb. [quote=Liberal,Feb. 13 2005,6:32,pm]This was known as Abbott school when I was a kid and it was burned out. I went to school at Lakeview across the street and I heard 5-6 different stories of why it burned. It's a nice apartment building these days. Anyone know how it really burned? |
Ask Ed Shannon. He loves writing about things like that. He does plan his columns and articles quite a bit ahead of time, though.
Posted by Botto 82 on Jun. 18 2005,4:12 pm
| Quote |
| James J. Hill, the railroad baron, donated a central heating unit to the school. |
Imagine a member of the Uber-rich donating anything to a school nowadays...
Posted by hairhertz on Jun. 21 2005,9:59 pm
Where was Albert Lea Jr. college located? It closed about 1940 and was relocated to Austin. Austin had a 2 year U of Minnesota campus at one time, too. There is one building remaining from that campus, it is on about the 800 block of 2nd avenue southwest.
Posted by jimhanson on Jun. 22 2005,9:56 am
| Quote |
| Imagine a member of the Uber-rich donating anything to a school nowadays... |
According to Philanthropy today, last year individuals gave $212 BILLION dollars to charitable organizations--and education is one of the chief beneficiaries.
Corporate philanthropy was not listed as a total amount, but most large corporations have philanthropic endowments.
Here's an article from AP
| Quote |
| The richest man in the world gave the largest charitable donation ever this weekend. The $6 billion gift, given by Microsoft CEO Bill Gates to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, brings the assets of that foundation to a lofty $17.1 billion. As reported previously in WinInfo, Gates plans on doling out the majority of his wealth during his lifetime, focusing on gifts that will solve global health and education problems. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation receives the majority of these gifts. "Bill and Melinda have made a gift of about $5 billion every quarter," says Foundation chairperson Patty Stonesifer. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the second wealthiest in the world, temporarily surpassed only by the Wellcome Trust, in London, which has assets of $19.2 billion. |
One local company I'm familiar with--Larson Manufacturing--is the largest philanthropist in South Dakota. They also give generously to the schools and communities in Lake Mills--and in Albert Lea.
Interesting fact--The Chronicle of philanthropy ranked the generosity of the top 100 metro areas in the U.S. --according to household income vs. charitable giving. Minneapolis came in third, behind Salt Lake and Grand Rapids. The East Coast, as a whole scored low.
Posted by Botto 82 on Jun. 22 2005,2:39 pm
I stand corrected.
Posted by Liberal on Jun. 22 2005,2:57 pm
| Quote |
It's easy to attack "the rich"--that's cynical. I typed in "Philanthropy" on Google--received over 9,000,000 hits. Searching within catagory under "education" still produced a million hits. According to Philanthropy today, last year individuals gave $212 BILLION dollars to charitable organizations--and education is one of the chief beneficiaries. |
We spent more money than that killing Muslims last year. And what's with using google responses as a reference? If you type in moron you get nearly 2 million hits but the first one is always linked to Bush, what does that tell you?
< http://www.google.com/search?....q=moron >
Posted by Ole1kanobe on Jun. 22 2005,3:22 pm
| Quote |
| Anyone know how it really burned? |
By fire?
LMAO
Sorry, someone had to do it.
Posted by Scurvy Dog on Jun. 22 2005,3:35 pm
Deleted.