Not a lot
is known of the early Boarding Clubs and Boarding Houses
associated with Albion College. From the late 19th century
up until the construction of Wesley Hall in 1926, all of
Albion's students lived off-campus in boarding houses or
fraternity houses. Below is a list of some of the clubs in
which students lived:
•College
Hill Boarding Club
•Densmores'
Boarding Club
•Healy's
Boarding Club
•Mary's
Boarding Club
Mary
Heinbuch ran Mary's Boarding Club, also affectionately
called “Chow House” by the students, for 21
years, never raising the price of board and helping the
financially strapped student when she could, until bad
health forced her to retire. Mary made sure her 40-50
boarders ate well — “Have some more of this,
dear, it’s good for you” was often heard.
“Tradition still compares the pies of present
boarding clubs near the campus to the wonderful cream pie
‘that Mary used to make’” or her rich
fruit cake. She had hoped to leave the college a sum of
money upon her death “as an indication of her loyalty
and love for her ‘dear students’,” but
the failure of the local bank, where her savings were held,
destroyed that notion.
(Vandercook, Dell C. A colorful campus figure. Pleiad,
31(4): 4)
Mary's
Boarding Club
Cabinet Card, circa 1893
Albion College Archives
Mary's
Boarding Club
Real photo, circa 1912
Albion College Archives
•Osmuns'
Boarding Club
•Owens'
Boarding Club
•Mrs.
Pugsley's Boarding Club
•Spooner's
Boarding Club
Spooner's
Club
Albion '09
Real Photo postcard, unknown publisher
ALBION,
MICH
NOVEMBER
04, 1909
Note
on card- What do
you think of this? Have converted their grub into 8 lbs.
1/2 oz. flesh. Have neglected to send your nail-file. Will
do so tomorrow. Henry
Spooner's
Club
Albion College
8"x5" Photo, unknown publisher
Editor's
note- Picture
came out of a scrapbook with other items dated 1913.
"Votes
for Women" pennant the 3 men in the front row are
holding.