Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-02-25
ENLARGED GYMNASIUM
AND AUDITORIUM AT THEl COLLEGE:
Luther College Gymnasium to be Tripled
in Size, and also Used for an
Auditorium.

1
In line with the contemplated con-
struction of new public buildings for
Decorah this summer comes the well
come announcement that the Luther
College gymnasium building will be
tripled in size, greatly adding to it's;
facility as gymnasium, ard also made
so as to be used for an auditorium
when occasion requires it. We hoped
to have cut of the building to accom-
pany this article, but it did not get
here so will have to wait until the
next Issue. When completed, { the
building will have seating capacity
that will accommodate an immense
crowd, and in fact will seat almost as.
large crowd as any similar building
in the state.
The current issue of College Chips,
contains the following description of
the new structure, which will be of
general interest:
Luther College has for some time
been badly in need of a larger gym
nasium. Our present gymnasium is,
used for several purposes; apparatus
work, class drills, concerts, lectures.
and as an assembly room for entertain
| ments This makes it necessary to,
constantly move the apparatus about,
which, besides being very incon-
venient, damages the apparatus Stilk
further, when the gymnasium is to be-
used as an auditorium, chairs must be-
carried from the main building to the
gym" and back again after the en-
tertainment. During the past years
there has been considerable talk of
enlarging the gym but it has:
never been realized, partly on account
of scarcity of funds. Now, how
ever, a plan with this purpose in view
is about to be carried into effect. The
Synod will meet at Decorah next sum-
mer and gathering of several thous-
and people is expected. The church
is large enough to receive the Synod
proper. but entirely roo small to ac-
commodate the large number who are
certain to be present on such an occa-
sion. 1t was. therefore. proposed to
enlarge the college gymnasium so that
this could furnish ample room for the
meetings of the Synod. This, OF
course, was an agreeable surprise, as
it will furnish US a gym nearly
three times as large as our present
structure. The old building is 75x42
feet; another of the same size will be
built 40 feet east of the present struc-
ture and parallel to it and will be
connected with the old gymnasium
by building 40x67 feet. A tower 16.
feet square will aid greatly i'll giving,
, it a good appearance. 1t is likely
that the present building (the west;
part of the new GYM will be used
| for apparatus, the east part for class
drills and other indoor practice, and
the center room will be fitted up with
chairs and used as an auditorium.
{ These rooms can be heated and used
separately, and when occasion re-
uuires, be thrown into one large audi
| torium.
Il 1t may interest former students Of
L. G. to learn how the funds will be
provided. The Athletic Association
D has voted $500 and the faculty will
S give $500, or more, out of the gymna-
I stun fund. Decorah is interested in
: entertaining the Synod royalty, and
0 her business men, some out of loyalty
to the Synod and College, others for
= business reasons, may contribute liber-
: ally. The different concessions OF
9 privileges granted for the time while
n the Synod is in session should under
Q favorable circumstances yield quite
o an amount. Last but not least, the
n Church Council has recommended that
the large jubilee offering on he.great
+ day of the festival, Sunday during
d the Synod, go towards paying for the
!, building This will without doubt
be a method agreeable to the Synod as
: it has before at times been obliged to
e expend considerable money in order tc
V secure suitable auditorium for Its
j. meetings. The trustees of the College
have granted permission to enlarge
the "gym" and have voted the neces-
# sary funds for lighting and heating:
@ This is easily done as we have oui
# own heating and lighting plant. No
S one body having authority to guaran-
l. tee the money needed foI the erection
& of the building, a number of men in
is and out of Decorah have guaranteed
y the sum. The architect is at work
l. on the specifications, and when this
IS reaches our readers, the contract will
e have been let, and the work will
Ie soon be under way.
The great theatrical success
David Harum" by splendid com