The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-10-22
PICK THE HILL SITE.
LOCATION OF LADIES' SEMINARY
is NOW DECIDED.
Original Location on the Elevation
Overlooking City; Deeds to Prop
erty Have Been Secured; Reasons
for Acceptance; Trustees Feel
Grateful to Mr.. Dukes for Kind
Offer; Work on Buildings at Once.

The McAlahan hill location has now
been definitely decided upon for the
ladies' seminary and conservatory of
music to be erected in this city by
the Evangelical Lutheran Educational
association. Deeds to about twelve
acres have been secured, and it is hoped
later to acquire about six acres more,
further east.
The site thus far secured comprises
all of the land between Elm street on
the north, McAIahan street on the
east, Marsh street on the south and
the alley between Sixth and Seventh
streets on the west, except few
lots at one corner. The location is a
magnificent one, and affords plenty
OF level land on the brow of the hill
for the buildings, and runs down the
hill far enough to afford a fine front,
and to prevent any distractions to
the view ever being erected.
Feels Grateful to Mr.. Dukes.
The association feels very grateful
toward A \. Dukes for his generous
offer of site, but it was felt by the
trustees that this could not be ac-
@epted. They were sorry that the offer
was not made before, when it might
have been possible to arrange so as
to accept it, but at this time if the
location was to be reconsidered there
was grave fear felt that Mankato might
lose the location entirely, as different
Is
they would like to press. What in
duced the majority of the committee to
decide upon Mankato was the McMa-
han hill, which all considered by far
the most slightly place in the city.
Look Back Into History.
There is thing about the McMahan
hill that is not generally known. Some
half century ago Rev. Thompson,
then pastor of the Presbyterian church
selected the hill as the site for a la
dies seminary, sad e. we'd a large
building there, ant conducted tie school
for a time. This building is now the
only one on the tract purchased by the
Lutheran Educational association, and
it Will be torn down. Rev. Thomp
son was the father in law of A. n.
Dukes.
Blatterman & Dietl have been award
cd the contract for the excavating
and foundation, and are now at work
clearing the ground of the trees and
brush, and will begin to excavate as
soon as possible. If the weather will
permit, masonry work will be begun
this fall, and completed in the spring.
j. R. Thompson was busy today,
stalking out the ground for the loca-
ton of the buildings.
Work to Be Pushed Rapidly.
Prospects are bright for work on
the buildings to be pushed rapidly to
completion. Two solicitors have been
put at work. Rev. H. L. Woltman
of st. Paul: formerly superintendent
of the Evangelical Lutheran Children's
Aid association of Minnesota and Da-
kota, has been assigned to the work
an Minnesota, and Rev. j. r. Bauman
of Red Wing will solicit in Wiscon-
sin. Both have entered upon their
work with enthusiasm and will raise
the funds with which the institution
will be built.
1t is hoped to have the seminary
completed so that it can be occupied
next fall, but there is some doubt
about this, owing to the unexpected
obstacles that have been encountered
and caused delay before they could be
overcome. II was at first planned to
start Sept. l.
When the seminary has been COM
pleted it will occupy so slightly To-
cation that it will be seen for miles
up and down the river valley and will
be seen from the trains. Mankato will
be proud of it.