Cowles House (East Lansing, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cowles House |
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| Former names | Faculty Row No. 7 |
| General information | |
| Type | President's House |
| Architectural style | Eclectic |
| Location | Michigan State University, West Circle Drive |
| Coordinates | 42°44′00″N 84°29′04″W / 42.7334°N 84.4845°W |
| Named for | Alice B. Cowles |
| Completed | 1857, 1950 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | J.J. Scott (1857) Calder (1950) |
The Alice B. Cowles House is a very old and important building at Michigan State University (MSU). It used to be called Faculty Row House Number 7. This house is the oldest building still standing on the MSU campus. But only its foundation and two outside walls are from when it was first built in 1857.
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The Cowles House: A Historic Home
The Cowles House has a long and interesting history. It has served many different purposes over the years. Today, it is the official home for the president of Michigan State University.
Early Days of the House
When it was first built in 1857, the house was meant for professors. Back then, the town of East Lansing didn't even exist yet! The first people to live in House Number 7 were early university presidents. These included Joseph R. Williams and T. C. Abbot.
Later, a new house was built for the president. This new house was at Faculty Row Number 1, but it is no longer standing. After that, House Number 7 became the home for the Professor of Botany. A famous professor named William J. Beal and his family lived here for 39 years. That's a very long time!
Home to Professors and Students
As East Lansing grew, professors started moving into homes in the new town. So, the Cowles House was used for other things. It became offices for the Education Department. It was also used as a women's dormitory, which is a building where students live.
The President's Official Home
Since 1941, the Cowles House has been the official home for MSU's president. The first president to live there was John A. Hannah. He had the house completely updated and changed to make it suitable for a president's family.
A New Name for a Special House
In 1950, the house was renovated again. A former student named Frederick Cowles Jenison paid for this work. He wanted the house to be named after his mother, Alice B. Cowles. That's how the house got its current name! Frederick's grandfather, Albert Cowles, was also special. He was one of the very first students at the school. He even helped carry bricks when the house was first being built.
Presidents Who Used the House Differently
After President Hannah, a few presidents chose not to live in the house full-time. These were Walter Adams, Lou Anna Simon, and Satish Udpa. They preferred to stay in their own homes in East Lansing. Instead, they used the Cowles House for important university events. They would host formal dinners and other official gatherings there. The house was also being renovated for much of Satish Udpa's time as acting president.
