Fee Hall: A Historical Landmark at Michigan State University
Michigan State University (MSU) has a rich and evolving history, particularly evident in the development of its residence halls and campus facilities. Among these landmarks, Fee Hall holds a significant place, especially within the College of Osteopathic Medicine. This article explores the history of Fee Hall and the broader context of student housing and campus evolution at MSU.
Early Student Housing at Michigan State
When Michigan Agricultural College (M.A.C.), now known as Michigan State University, was first established, it was a small but growing institution. The need to house students led to the construction of the first dormitory, Saints' Rest (1856-1876). This four-story building, located east of where the MSU Museum now stands, included a kitchen, laundry, and community washroom in the basement. The second floor had a dining room, parlor, and living quarters for the steward and his wife, while the third and fourth floors housed the male students, with up to four men in each of the twenty-eight rooms.
As the student population increased, additional residence halls were constructed, including Williams Hall (1869-1919) and Wells Hall No. 1 (1877-1905). Williams Hall, located near Saints' Rest, stood four stories tall and could house 86 students. Wells Hall No. 1 was a men’s residence hall that housed 130 students. Initially, students were required to live on campus unless they received permission to live off campus. Food and board were charged "at cost" to those residing on campus.
The Boarding Club System
From 1883 to 1939, MSU operated under a boarding club system, which allowed students a measure of control over purchasing and meal quality. The system was formalized with rules and a constitution, and the individual clubs were known by letters as Clubs A through E. In 1883, the price of board under this system was $2.35 to $2.75 per week, compared to the earlier cost of $3.15. The college newspaper even reported that students were better behaved in the club rooms.
As campus changed, the boarding clubs evolved. In 1930, the Board of Trustees approved the Home Economics department to take over the boarding club in Wells Hall. The Home Economics department had already overseen the women’s boarding clubs since at least 1900 when the Women’s Course moved into its own building that included both classrooms and student housing. Merging the administration of the clubs allowed all the food for all dormitories to be purchased more economically and ensure the meals were nutritional. MSU continued to step away from the boarding club system when Mason Hall dormitory for men opened in 1938.
Read also: Explore Haas Hall Academy
The Evolution of Campus Life and Facilities
The early 20th century saw significant changes in campus life and facilities. The M.A.C. Dramatic Club, formed in 1910, held outdoor performances, notably in the "Forest of Arden Campus Theater." This location became popular for outdoor events, including senior class pageants with themes like "League of Nations" in 1919 and a "Pageant of Michigan" in 1921. However, the construction of the Band Shell in 1938 and the Auditorium in 1940 eventually offered better acoustics and shelter, leading to a decline in the use of the Forest of Arden.
From 1959 to 1964, Michigan State University had plans to build the Technorama, a year-round exhibit space showcasing modern agriculture technology and ideas. The Technorama started with an idea in 1953 by Arthur Farrall, head of the Department of Agriculture Engineering, to display farm machinery with financed exhibits. The idea gained traction after MSU’s Centennial of Farm Mechanization exposition in 1955. Although the Board of Trustees and administration continued their support in the early 1960s, the project was eventually discontinued.
Post-World War II Expansion
The period following World War II saw a rapid increase in student enrollment, largely due to the G.I. Bill. This influx of students necessitated a significant expansion of residence halls. Most of MSU’s currently existing residence halls were constructed after World War II.
In 1945, approximately 30 acres of a poultry plant next to the Michigan State Police Headquarters were cleared to make room for a village of 450 trailers. Brought in from various Michigan towns' emergency war housing projects, they were used to shelter the growing student enrollment. On the East side of Harrison Road, 104 steel quonsets were erected. In March 1950, as dormitories such as Shaw Hall were built for men wanting campus housing, the quonsets were abandoned.
Fee Hall and the College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fee Hall's significance is closely tied to the establishment and growth of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at MSU. In 1964, osteopathic physicians, working in cooperation with the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, were successful in obtaining a charter to establish an osteopathic medical college in Michigan. To comply with this legislation, the college charter was transferred to the Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, and the college was relocated to Fee Hall on the East Lansing campus in 1971.
Read also: Explore the history of Alumni Hall in Boone
The College of Osteopathic Medicine has a long-established network of community teaching hospitals throughout Michigan, known as the Statewide Campus System (SCS). Today, more than 300 osteopathic students graduate each year as part of our mandate to produce primary care physicians for the state.
Modern Residence Hall System
Today, Michigan State University Housing is a large and complex network of housing for students and faculty. With 27 undergraduate halls, one graduate hall, and three apartment villages, MSU boasts the largest residence hall system in the United States. Each hall has its own hall government, with representatives in the Residence Halls Association (RHA).
The residence halls of West Circle Drive are easily distinguishable by their collegiate style architecture and traditional structure. These buildings are some of the oldest and most historic dorms on Michigan State’s campus. The West Circle residence halls are named after six women who were influential during the early days of the university: Louise H. Campbell, Maude Gilchrist, Linda Landon, Mary Mayo, Sarah Langdon Williams and Elida Yakeley.
Neighborhoods
MSU's residence halls are organized into neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and amenities.
- North Neighborhood: Includes Red Cedar neighborhood and West Circle neighborhood, was designed by the Malcomson, Calder & Hammond Architectural Firm, and was built throughout the 1930s and 1940s.
- River Trail Neighborhood: Located south of the Red Cedar River near the Shaw Lane and Bogue Street intersection, near the Business College Complex, the MSU College of Law, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Human Medicine, the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Wharton Center for Performing Arts.
- East Neighborhood: Located just off of Hagadorn Road near the East IM and intramural fields, close to the Business College, the MSU College of Law, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Human Medicine, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Brody Neighborhood: A group of six student housing buildings as well as the University Village apartments located at the far northwestern corner of the campus just north of the Red Cedar River and bordered by Grand River Avenue and Harrison Road.
Key Figures in MSU History
Many individuals have played crucial roles in shaping Michigan State University. Some notable figures include:
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- Theophilus C. Abbot: President of Michigan Agricultural College (now MSU) from 1862 to 1885.
- Stevens T. Mason: Michigan’s first governor.
- Jonathan L. Snyder: President of Michigan State from 1896 to 1915, during which the school experienced significant growth.
- Louise H. Campbell: Instrumental in bringing the wealth of knowledge contained in Michigan State’s Home Economics program to women in rural areas of Michigan.
- Linda E. Landon: The college librarian from 1891 to 1932 and the first female professor at Michigan State.
- Sarah Langdon Williams: A women’s rights activist and wife of Michigan State’s first President Joseph Williams.
- Elida Yakeley: The college’s first registrar, beginning in 1908.
- W. G. Armstrong: Served on the State Board of Agriculture (now MSU Board of Trustees) from 1944 to 1954.
- Liberty Hyde Bailey: A Michigan State student in the Class of 1882 who founded and edited the Speculum, a student paper.
- Claude S. Bryan: Dean of Veterinary Medicine beginning in 1947.
- Kenyon L. Butterfield: Graduated from Michigan State in 1891.
- Lloyd C. Emmons: Worked to improve many aspects of Michigan State’s educational programs as Dean of the School of Science and Arts.
- Howard C. Rather: A graduate of Michigan State who served as a professor of Farm Crops after World War I.
- Albert and Sarah Avery Case: Albert was a captain of the football team in 1901, and Sarah was a beloved gymnastics instructor at the college.
- James and Lynelle Holden: James Holden was a Michigan State student from 1889 to 1891.
- Alfred G. and Matilda R. Wilson: Matilda was a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and the couple donated land for the creation of Michigan State - Oakland.
- Wallace and Grace Wonders: Wallace Wonders graduated from Michigan Agricultural College in 1902.
- Irma and Karl McDonel: Karl McDonel graduated in 1916 and worked for the MSU Extension Services.
- Floyd Owen: Graduated from Michigan Agricultural College in 1902 and was a benefactor to Michigan State University.
- Robert S. Shaw: A professor of agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture, who also served as president of Michigan State College.
- Sarah Van Hoosen Jones: Raised purebred Holstein-Friesian cattle and was the first woman named Michigan Master Farmer.
- Forest H. Akers: A student at Michigan State who later became Vice President of Chrysler Corporation’s Dodge Division and a member of the MSU Board of Trustees. He was a generous benefactor who donated money and property for the construction of two golf courses and the establishment of scholarships.
- John Clough Holmes: Had a significant role in the establishment of Michigan Agricultural College.
- Bela Hubbard: Considered one of the founders of Michigan Agricultural College.
- William J. Beal: Taught at Michigan Agricultural College from 1870 until he retired in 1910 and writing the first history of M.A.C.
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