Scientist Emil O. Deere
(Deere's & Lydia's Bethany -- Lydia's Photography,1906-1925)
- To remember this Swedish American "Bethany College Building" is to remember the "Bethany Family" of its era. -
" We are crowded beyond our capacity, and the school cannot develop without more buildings. " --Swensson *
It was designed by ... Swedish Lawrence Gustuv Hallberg of Chicago who patterned the middle part of the roof after Stockholm’s Grand Central Hotel.
" ...the largest building of its kind...west of the Mississippi. ... 'the biggest and best' in Kansas . "--Swensson
(Deere's & Lydia's Bethany -- Lydia's Photography,1906-1925)
- To remember this Swedish American "Bethany College Building" is to remember the "Bethany Family" of its era. -
" We are crowded beyond our capacity, and the school cannot develop without more buildings. " --Swensson *
It was designed by ... Swedish Lawrence Gustuv Hallberg of Chicago who patterned the middle part of the roof after Stockholm’s Grand Central Hotel.
" ...the largest building of its kind...west of the Mississippi. ... 'the biggest and best' in Kansas . "--Swensson
Bethany College "Old Main"
1887 - 1968
Fourth Swedish American Bethany College President Emory Lindquist in his 1975 book, Bethany in Kansas, a history of a college on page 12 writes:
"The growth of the school created problems that required early solutions. Swensson described the situation in 1884-85 by pointing out that fifty-six students had been "packed" in the dormitory, [first for men, the Ladies Dormitory] thirty-six lived in rented rooms arranged by the College, and the rest had to make arrangements as best they could. The largest classroom was an old blacksmith shop that had been cleaned up and adapted for instructional purposes. The chapel service was conducted in the enlarged former public school house [Bethany Academy] where students sat in four rooms and listened to the speaker who stood in the corridor. Swensson warned the members of the Conference:
' We are crowded beyond our capacity, and the school cannot develop without more buildings. '
"The response of Swensson and the board of directors was to plan expansion of facilities. A farm was purchased in 1885 adjoining the campus and was laid out in lots. In October and November, at a public auction in which J. O. Sundstrom, Lindsborg businessman, served as auctioneer, lots were sold to the amount of $17,000.00 with 122 lots to be sold later. At a meeting of the board in December, 1885, architectural drawings of L.G. Hallberg, well-known Chicago architect, were accepted with only slight changes. At the meeting of the Kansas Conference, March 10-14, 1886, construction of the new building was authorized. It was an important day in Bethany's history when Swensson, A. Lincoln, and J. O. Sundstrom selected the exact place for the construction of the new building. The site was the former Lindsborg cemetery. When the four bids for construction were opened, all were rejected. Arrangements were made to engage the Reverend John Holcomb, Topeka pastor, an experienced builder, as superintendent. Nels Ross, St. Mary's, Kansas, was chosen to be foreman. Swensson later estimated that this arrangement produced a saving of at least $8,000.00.
"The growth of the school created problems that required early solutions. Swensson described the situation in 1884-85 by pointing out that fifty-six students had been "packed" in the dormitory, [first for men, the Ladies Dormitory] thirty-six lived in rented rooms arranged by the College, and the rest had to make arrangements as best they could. The largest classroom was an old blacksmith shop that had been cleaned up and adapted for instructional purposes. The chapel service was conducted in the enlarged former public school house [Bethany Academy] where students sat in four rooms and listened to the speaker who stood in the corridor. Swensson warned the members of the Conference:
' We are crowded beyond our capacity, and the school cannot develop without more buildings. '
"The response of Swensson and the board of directors was to plan expansion of facilities. A farm was purchased in 1885 adjoining the campus and was laid out in lots. In October and November, at a public auction in which J. O. Sundstrom, Lindsborg businessman, served as auctioneer, lots were sold to the amount of $17,000.00 with 122 lots to be sold later. At a meeting of the board in December, 1885, architectural drawings of L.G. Hallberg, well-known Chicago architect, were accepted with only slight changes. At the meeting of the Kansas Conference, March 10-14, 1886, construction of the new building was authorized. It was an important day in Bethany's history when Swensson, A. Lincoln, and J. O. Sundstrom selected the exact place for the construction of the new building. The site was the former Lindsborg cemetery. When the four bids for construction were opened, all were rejected. Arrangements were made to engage the Reverend John Holcomb, Topeka pastor, an experienced builder, as superintendent. Nels Ross, St. Mary's, Kansas, was chosen to be foreman. Swensson later estimated that this arrangement produced a saving of at least $8,000.00.
"On November, 1885, the board of directors of the Lindsborg Cemetery Association had voted 28 to 3 to convey by warranty deed to Bethany Academy twenty acres of land, namely, the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of Section 67, Smoky Hill Township. The board of the Academy agreed "to pay the cost of the removal of all bodies now buried in the present burying ground . . . and the removal of all head stones, fences, enclosures, and fixtures of any kind . . . and to move and re-establish them at the new burial ground.
"The Smoky Valley people responded enthusiastically to the new building project. Many men offered their services in digging the foundation, hauling stone, doing carpenter work, and related activities. Original plans provided for three full stories, a mansard roof for the top story, and a basement. When Reverend Holcomb assured Swensson that the foundation would support another story, the board of directors at a meeting in September, 1886, authorized this addition. The work progressed satisfactorily with the result that a portion of the building was occupied on January 12, 1887."
Lindquist continues on page 14 where we read:
"The new building loomed large on the landscape of the Smoky Valley and in the minds of Bethany faculty, students, and friends. It was advertised as the largest and best in Kansas. It was an imposing structure rising 85 feet in height in its five stories, with a length of 154 feet and a width of 60 feet. The middle part of the roof was designed in the same style as the Grand Central Hotel in Stockholm. The basement contained the museum and natural science department, three large recitation rooms, and a large dining hall [where all dined comfortably with tables covered with linen cloths]. Six recitation rooms, the commercial exchange for the courses in business, the library, and the president's office were provided on the first floor. The chapel extended through the second and third stories with a seating capacity of 850 persons [and it was equipped with a fine pipe organ, costing $5,000]. The four upper stories provided space for 103 student rooms. The response to the new building was a great increase in enrollment from 161 in the academic year 1885-1886 to 339 in the following year.
"The Smoky Valley people responded enthusiastically to the new building project. Many men offered their services in digging the foundation, hauling stone, doing carpenter work, and related activities. Original plans provided for three full stories, a mansard roof for the top story, and a basement. When Reverend Holcomb assured Swensson that the foundation would support another story, the board of directors at a meeting in September, 1886, authorized this addition. The work progressed satisfactorily with the result that a portion of the building was occupied on January 12, 1887."
Lindquist continues on page 14 where we read:
"The new building loomed large on the landscape of the Smoky Valley and in the minds of Bethany faculty, students, and friends. It was advertised as the largest and best in Kansas. It was an imposing structure rising 85 feet in height in its five stories, with a length of 154 feet and a width of 60 feet. The middle part of the roof was designed in the same style as the Grand Central Hotel in Stockholm. The basement contained the museum and natural science department, three large recitation rooms, and a large dining hall [where all dined comfortably with tables covered with linen cloths]. Six recitation rooms, the commercial exchange for the courses in business, the library, and the president's office were provided on the first floor. The chapel extended through the second and third stories with a seating capacity of 850 persons [and it was equipped with a fine pipe organ, costing $5,000]. The four upper stories provided space for 103 student rooms. The response to the new building was a great increase in enrollment from 161 in the academic year 1885-1886 to 339 in the following year.
Knowing from Lindquist's description that the middle part of the Old Main roof was similar to Stockholm’s Grand Central Hotel, I took this photograph of the Hotel when I was there in 2016. Although, I admit that, I did not see the similarities for which I had hoped. Yet, most likely, the Hotel's roof must have been replaced once or twice since the building of Old Main in 1887.
- Grand Central Hotel, Stockholm, 2016 -
"The dedication of the building took place amidst great festivities on June 2, 1887. Ministers read "rare and appropriate texts from the Bible" for about an hour. Several five minute speeches were presented in Swedish and English. The principal speakers were Dr. R. F. Weidner, well-known Lutheran church leader, and Carl Swensson, whose topic was "God is not the God of the dead but of the living." The dedicatory service was concluded by the entire assembly singing the great Reformation hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." The Smoky Valley News reported that 3,000 people attended the dedication. Special trains were run from several communities in Kansas.
"Swensson reported to the Kansas Conference in 1887 that the cost of construction of the new building was $45,000 plus $6,000 for the heating system and $4,000.00 for furniture. The debt was $39,000.00 but there was $13,000.00 in outstanding pledges which would be considered as potential assets."
"Swensson reported to the Kansas Conference in 1887 that the cost of construction of the new building was $45,000 plus $6,000 for the heating system and $4,000.00 for furniture. The debt was $39,000.00 but there was $13,000.00 in outstanding pledges which would be considered as potential assets."
- A Floor Plan of Old Main -
From Basement to Fifth Floor
Source: Found on pages 339 - 352 of Dr. Leon Lundstrom's 1990 History of Science and Mathematics at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas
Go HERE for Lydia's and Emil's Old Main Apartments, 1920 - 1940.
*Source: Bethany College President Emory Lindquist in his 1975 book, Bethany in Kansas, a history of a college, page 12.
* * *
To remember the "Bethany College Buildings" that are gone is to remember the "Bethany Family" of their era.
So let us remember them!
* * *
"Let Us Celebrate Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
To remember the "Bethany College Buildings" that are gone is to remember the "Bethany Family" of their era.
So let us remember them!
* * *
"Let Us Celebrate Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
