Alma in Gratiot County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Alma College
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Old Main Fire
Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 1, 2024
1. Alma College side of marker
Alma College. On October 26, 1886, the Presbyterian Synod of Michigan accepted gifts of thirty acres of land from Ammi W. Wright of Alma and $50,000 from Alexander Folsom of Bay City to establish Alma College. The Synod resolved: We will, with Gods help, establish and endow a college within our bounds. The college received its state charter on April 15, 1887. It opened on September 14, 1887 with a religious service and welcome from the President, Reverend George F. Hunting. There were thirty-five students: nineteen men and sixteen women.
Old Main Fire. On the morning of March 10, 1969, Old Main, one of Alma Colleges first academic and administrative buildings, caught fire and burned down in about an hour. Students and faculty evacuated the building but reentered to carry out equipment and records until firemen stopped them. The fire destroyed classrooms, faculty offices, manuscripts, research documents and other records. In 1974 the college built an Academic Center just north of here, near the site of Old Main, and named it for Robert Swanson, Alma Colleges president from 1956
this page online
Erected 2018 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. Registered State Site. (Marker Number 181.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is March 10, 1969.
Location. 43° 22.75′ N, 84° 40.228′ W. Marker is in Alma, Michigan, in Gratiot County. It is on West Superior Street west of Maple Ave, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 614 W Superior St, Alma MI 48801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Mid-Michigan. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of Old Main (a few steps from this marker); Site of Folsom Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Michigan Masonic Home (approx. 0.6
Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 1, 2024
2. Old Main Fire side of marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. Alma College (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This link is to the marker that was replaced with this marker.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 1, 2024
3. Alma College / Old Main Fire Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 418 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 9, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
