Highlighting historic buildings and places where historic
events took place on campus, here are Michigan's official
registered historic sites around Albion
College.
S0212
ALBION
COLLEGE
Michigan Registered Historic Site
Methodists
obtained a charter for Spring Arbor Seminary from the
Territorial Council of Michigan in March 1835. Later the
institution was established in Albion on land donated by
Jesse Crowell, a leading Albion pioneer and benefactor. In
1841 the cornerstone was laid for the first building, and
in 1843 the institution opened as the Wesleyan Seminary. In
1861 the power to confer degrees was obtained and the
school named Albion College. Support from the Methodist
Church, a large endowment, and private sources have
contributed to its growth as a strong liberal arts
college.
Marker erected 1959
S0215
BIRTHPLACE
OF "OLD RUGGED CROSS"
Michigan Registered Historic Site
"The Old Rugged Cross," one of the world's best-loved
hymns, was composed here in 1912 by the Reverend George
Bennard (1873-1958). The son of an Ohio coal miner, Bennard
was a lifelong servant of God, chiefly in the Methodist
ministry. He wrote the words and music of over 300 other
hymns. None achieved the fame of "The Old Rugged Cross,"
the moving summation of his faith.
"I'll cherish the Old Rugged Cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown."
Marker erected 1959
S0216
BIRTHPLACE
OF FAMED SONG
Michigan Registered Historic Site
It
was in the spring of 1911 that two freshmen at Albion
College, Byron D. Stokes and F. Dudleigh Vernor, wrote the
words and music for a song they called "The Sweetheart of
Sigma Chi." The song made a hit with their fraternity
brothers, and requests of copies came in from other
chapters. Within a few years the melody and lyrics of "The
Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" had become familiar to people
around the world.
Marker erected 1959
S0566
THE
OBSERVATORY
Michigan Registered Historic Site
The
Albion College Astronomical Observatory was built in
1883-1884 at the urging of Dr. Samuel Dickie, who later
became president of the college. Dickie helped raise
$10,000 to build and equip the facility. The observatory
still harbors its original telescope, transit circle,
sidereal clock and chronograph. The building has housed
classrooms, a bookstore, faculty offices and the West
Michigan Methodist Conference archives. In 1984 it was
refurbished as the college Ethics
Center.
Marker erected 1985