1944 |
Western acquires 155 acres of land to
the west of the Michigan Central Railroad tracks |
Mrs. Anna Carstens Kanley contributed
to the purchase of property in memory of her son, William Kanley, a
Western student. |
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Presidential Residence (The Oaklands)
acquired |
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The Oaklands and its grounds were, at
various times, a farm, a horse farm, and a golf course before being
acquired by Western. |
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Arcadia Brook Clubhouse acquired (club house for former golf course) The building would be razed in 1990 during planning of the Student Recreation Center. |
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1945 |
Western's
academic departments are organized into three Divisions:
General Education Teacher Education Vocational Education |
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1946 |
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1947 |
Four wooden buildings constructed from
WWII surplus supplies, near Waldo Stadium: English Hall, Business Education
Building, Farm Shop, and Music Building. |
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Maintenance Building added to north end of Industrial
Education Building (formerly Manual Arts Building). |
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A temporary "Annex" was converted for
program use, located next to the Industrial Education Building. |
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![]() Circa 1910, "Bridge of Sighs" |
![]() 1915 aerial photograph |
![]() 1998 aerial photo |
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1948 |
Arcadia Brook remodeled as Arcadia Cafeteria and Clubhouse |
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Hillside Apartments The Hillside buildings would be razed in 1990 during planning of the Student Recreation Center. |
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Initially constructed as faculty apartments, the
Hillside buildings would later house faculty offices. |
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Smith Burnham and Ernest Burnham Halls for Men |
Dr. Ernest Burnham served in the Department of Rural
Education from 1904 to 1940. Dr. Smith Burnham was chair of the History
Department from 1919 to 1939. |
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"Barracks" demolished. |
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1949 |
William McCracken Hall |
Dr. William McCracken was head of the Chemistry
Department from 1907 until his retirement in 1939. He also served as
Acting President during the 1922-23 school year. |
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Harper Maybee Music Hall Maybee Hall would be demolished in 1988 during plannning for the University Computer Center. |
Harper C. Maybee served as Director of Music from
1913 to 1946. |
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1950 |
Blanche Draper and Lydia Siedschlag Halls |
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Lydia Siedschlag was a long-time Art faculty (hired
in 1921) and Western interior decorator from 1936 to 1958.
Blanche Draper was Western's publicity
director from 1919 to 1951. |
1951 |
Kanley Memorial Chapel |
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Construction was made possible by a bequest from
the estate of William Kanley, a former student. |
1952 |
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"Rising from the ruins of a once beautiful
golf course, the design of Western Michigan's new administration
building makes admirable use of the rolling topography, presenting
entrances on three different levels." - Russell A. Strong, Publicity Director |
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1953 |