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Sensing a need for higher education among the young people of the Smoky Valley, Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson held the first classes of what was to become Bethany College in the sanctuary of Bethany Church in October, 1881. To accommodate its growing enrollment the college's 5-story Old Main building was first occupied in 1886. Old Main provided space for the college's administrative offices, classrooms, dining hall, chapel, and men's dormitory. To maintain proper decorum female students were housed in a separate dormitory building, Lane Hart Hall, located about a block from Old Main. Old Main served the college until it was razed in 1968 to make room for today's Wallerstedt Learning Center. Presser Hall has housed the college's music department, administrative offices, and the famed Easter week Messiah Festival since its construction in 1929. Prince Wilhelm of Sweden participated in the groundbreaking ceremonies. |
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Old Main served the college and its students between 1886 and 1968. The five story structure at one time was the tallest building between Kansas City and Denver. |
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Dr. Swensson wanted a larger building for the annual Messiah performances. The Ling Gymnasium was built entirely of donated wood and served not only as home of the Messiah Chorus, but was the college's athletic and physical education facility as well. Messiah performances were given in the building until the 1929 season. On a Sunday morning in March, 1946, Lindsborg's volunteer firemen were called out of church as the Ling Gym was on fire. Even with help called in from neighboring towns the blaze overwhelmed the firefighters and the wooden structure quickly burned to the ground. Within a year Lindsborg had erected a water tower and purchased a second fire truck to be better prepared for such fires in the future. |
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The original wing of Lane Hart was built in 1883. The basement of the steam-heated building housed the dining hall and classrooms. Dormitory rooms for male students were provided on the first and second floors. When Old Main was completed in 1886 Lane Hart provided dormitory space for female students. The building was expanded and a third floor was added in 1899, providing housing for almost 90 women students, a public reception area (shown to the right), and 14 music practice rooms. Lane Hart continued in use as a women's residence hall even after the demolition of Old Main in 1968, but was ultimately deemed unsafe without major renovations, closed, and torn down. It was located in the space between Alma Swensson Hall and Messiah Lutheran Church. |
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Presser Hall, home of the college's administrative offices, music department and the annual Messiah Festival since 1929. Here Presser is seen as the classic ivy-covered hall of the mid-1900's and as part of the Campus Green project in the 2000's. |
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After the death of college founder Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson in 1904, funds were raised for this statue which was sculpted in Italy. The life-sized statue was originally placed in front of Old Main, then moved to the west edge of campus, and finally to its current home, atop a fountain in front of Presser Hall at the south entrance. |
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"A Swede is the best thing in Europe, an American is the best thing in the United States Carl Aaron Swensson to a Republican rally in Moline, Illinois. |
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