6/18/2008 – News
Volume 125, Number
Liechtys donate $1 million to Jamestown College
Jamestown College has received a gift of $1 million from Reuben and Clarice Liechty of Jamestown. The funds will be used to renovate historic Taber Hall. Reuben Liechty was born and grew up near Brinsmade and Clarice Verke Liechty was born and reared in Churchs Ferry.
"Taber Hall has a lot of history," says Reuben Liechty, a member of the college’s board of trustees. "Almost any student who attended Jamestown College would have memories of that building."
The Liechty Center will include a new entrance on the west side of Taber, a renovated entrance on the east side, a new main floor lobby and a renovated lower level housing admissions and financial aid offices. Handicapped accessible restrooms, an elevator, new windows, furnishings and floor coverings will all enhance the lower level.
The project began shortly after the spring semester ended and will continue into the 2008-09 school year, but public areas such as the entrances and restrooms are expected to be ready when the fall semester begins.
"Clarice and Reuben’s generosity throughout the years has resulted in significant improvements in not only the college’s physical plant, but also in scholarship and programming at Jamestown College," says Polly Peterson, vice president for institutional advancement. "Taber Hall is a building that pulls at the heartstrings of nearly all of our alumni. To be able to renovate it in this way provides assurance that the building will be around for future generations to enjoy and for our alumni to reminisce. We are honored to be the recipient of this generous gift from Reuben and Clarice."
Currently housing the college’s administrative offices, Taber Hall was built in 1913 at a cost of $20,000. The building was financed by the widow of Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the reaper, and named for Henry M. Taber, who was instrumental in reopening the college in 1909 as chairman of the board of trustees.
"The story of Taber Hall is the story of Jamestown College," says Jamestown College President Robert S. Badal. "President Kroeze went to Mrs. Nettie Fowler McCormick, widow of the great inventor, to ask for the money to build it. She agreed, but only on the condition it would be built within one year’s time and on budget. Kroeze returned to Jamestown and asked Taber, the board chairman, to personally supervise the construction. A year later, Kroeze returned to Chicago with the receipts from the completed project and a check for what was not expended. No one had ever before brought a dollar back to Mrs. McCormick. Because of his stewardship and love of Jamestown College, she named the building for Mr. Taber.
"Now Reuben and Clarice Liechty continue in the same spirit as the original benefactor to keep this building alive for future generations of Jamestown College students. We are so grateful to be able to keep this building as a central part of our campus and our 125 year history."
The Liechtys are long-time supporters of Jamestown College and in recent years have made gifts toward the fine arts as well as the Unruh and Sheldon Center for Business and Computer Science. They have contributed toward the Larson Center and the front entrance to Jamestown College is also a gift from the Liechtys. Clarice Liechty, mayor of Jamestown, is a 1983 graduate of Jamestown College, and Reuben Liechty has served on the board of trustees since 1993 and previously from 1977 to 1983. Their son, Richard, is a 1990 graduate of Jamestown College. The Liechtys are engaged in farming and real estate.
"We feel the college is doing a great job of giving young people the education they need to succeed and doing so in a caring atmosphere," Reuben Liechty says.
The Liechtys believe Jamestown College is an important part of the city of Jamestown.
"We want to thank all who have invested in the college, as their gifts are also an investment in the community," Clarice Liechty says.
Reuben and Clarice Liechty gave a gift of $1 million to Jamestown College for renovation of Taber Hall on the campus of Jamestown College. Left to right are institutional advancement Vice President Polly Peterson, Clarice and Reuben Liechty and President Robert S. Badal. Churchs Ferry native Clarice Liechty is mayor of Jamestown. Reuben Liechty is a native of the Brinsmade area.
Fishing winners
Winners of the eighth annual Spirit Lake Marina Walleye Classic Open Tournament held June 14 and 15 on Devils Lake have been announced.
The tournament took place at the Spirit Lake Casino & Resort, hosted by the Spirit Lake Marina. Pictured are the first place winners of $10,000, Gary Maher of Menoken and Steve Maher of Mandan. Their total weight of fish for the two days was 51.11 lbs. The second place $5,000 winners were Scott Larson of West Fargo and Chris Reinhart of Fargo with a total weight of 48.82. Third place $3,000 winners were Ross Sensiba of Devils Lake and Merle Nelson of Glenfield with a total weight 45.21. Fourth place $1,500 winners were James Rusten of Devils Lake and Troy Sand of Portland with a total weight of 39.51 lbs. Fifth place $1,000 winners were Jeff Trana of Devils Lake and Rick Darling of Leeds with a total weight of 38.29 lbs.
New boat ramp at Minnewaukan
The ND Game & Fish Department poured a concrete slab June 11 which will be used for a boat ramp east of Minnewaukan. The steel boat ramp is still in place and that will be used until the concrete slab cures for about three weeks. Then the 15’x70′ concrete slab will be pushed into the water. The Minnewaukan Community Club is cost sharing in the ramp.
Open house set for Sheyenne depot
The Sheyenne depot will be on display during the 125th anniversary of the city July 4 and 5. The Northern Pacific Railway Co. depot, which used to be on Sheyenne’s Main Street, is now located on the Stanley and Marilynn Kruger farm.
The Krugers bought the depot from the railroad in 1975 for $500, a bargain, to be sure. But it cost a lot more than that to have Gerald Lutman of Carrington move it to their farm two miles north, two miles east and three-quarters of a mile north of Sheyenne.
The 18’x60′ building was used for storage until 2004, when the Krugers decided to turn it into a cottage, more or less. Stan added flooring in the waiting room of the depot and furniture is now in place for lounging. "We’ve had several gatherings here," said Marilynn, "and everyone enjoyed being in this building." A heavy cast iron wood-burning stove provides the heat, supplemented with electric heat. In December of 2004 they had their 40th wedding anniversary gathering in the building and everything worked out just fine.
By the time of the open house in July, the interior will have been painted. There will also be antiques on display, including a homemade wooden trunk which was brought from Norway by Marilynn’s grandparents.
Stanley is interested in photography and old and new photos will be on display. He’s putting together a computerized display of the photos. He is especially interested in panoramic photos and prints them out on a large ink jet printer.
One unique photo was taken in 1908 at the home which is now occupied by Peter and Patti Larson. It featured 25 Sheyenne women, several with babies, and one boy. This photo is featured on Page 71 of the Sheyenne Centennial Book, "Our Heritage." Stan thought this would be a good photo to replicate, so he took a photo of a group of women who live in Sheyenne in 2008. It is expected these two photos will be reproduced in the Farmers Press in the near future.
The Krugers are both retired teachers, having taught at Sheyenne many years.
They enjoy this well-built building, especially the original light fixtures. Just recently a light bulb in one of the four fixtures burned out. Stan replaced the 200-watt bulb with a 100-watt bulb.
"That’s the first bulb that’s been replaced since at least 1975," he marveled.
Marilynn and Stanley Kruger stand in front of the former Sheyenne depot, which is now located on their farm north of Sheyenne. The Krugers will hold open house at the depot during Sheyenne’s 125th anniversary celebration July 4 and 5. The depot was built in 1932 or 1933.
