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
Densmore’s
Boarding Club 201 N. Ingham
Street
Healy's Boarding
Club
Mary's Boarding
Club 706 E. Porter
Street
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 1001 E. Perry
Street
Spooner's
Boarding Club 401 E. Porter
Street
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.
Terril’s
Boarding Club 202 Park
Street
Terril’s
Club
Albion '09
Real Photo postcard, unknown publisher
BELLAIRE,
MICH
MARCH 12,
1942
Note on
card- Sorry not to see you,
Better luck next time. Mother P. Here is our old
gang.