Notable moments in the history of Michigan State University and East Lansing, Michigan, from 1849 to 1933.
1849
Horace Bigelow and Augustus Sturges settle on two adjacent properties in Meridian Township and clear a path that is now Hagadorn Road; their houses are Landmark Structures
Michigan State Agricultural Society organized
1850
State legislature establishes the Lansing and Howell Plank Road
1851
Robert Burcham builds a log cabin on the future M.A.C. campus
Asa Proctor is commissioned to operate Tollhouse № 2 on the plank road
1852
1853
George and Elvira Towar settle on 400 acres near Lansing’s Pine Lake Road in the northwest corner of Meridian Township; their 3 children would all graduate from M.A.C.: Perry G. ’85, James D. ’85, and Jennie Ann ’86.[21]
Plank road reaches Howell, connecting Lansing with Detroit
1854
Hiram Willmarth dies, leaving the Willmarth Property to his brother Asa
1855
John C. Holmes arrives at Lansing on January 14 to petition the state legislature on behalf of the Michigan State Agricultural Society
“Agricultural College of the State of Michigan” is founded on February 12, making it the pioneer land-grant institution of the United States
1856
Joseph R. Williams appointed 1st President of the College, and its 3 initial buildings are constructed
College Hall
Dormitory
Horse Barn
1857
Agricultural College of the State of Michigan opens for classes on May 13
1st four houses of Faculty Row are built, including today’s Cowles House
1858
Smith farmhouse moved, rebuilt as farm foreman’s house
Students build first bridge over river
First apple orchard planted
1860
The Harrison family move to a 600-acre property along the road that now bears their name
Almond Harrison builds 1st Farm Lane bridge
John P. Marble purchases the Sturges property and donates land to establish the Marble School district
1861
The Reorganization changes the name to “State Agricultural College”
Seniors dismissed early to join Union army
1862
T. C. Abbot appointed President of the College
U.S. Congress passes the Land Grant Act, sponsored by Justin S. Morrill and based on the model pioneered by M.A.C.
1864
1st pear orchard
1865
Manly Miles receives a new title, the 1st of its kind at American colleges: Professor of Practical Agriculture
Built sheep barn
1st fruit from orchard
1866
George Hubbard and Lois Harrison Hubbard purchase the John Joy farm
Michigan State Medical Society established
George Thompson Fairchild appointed Professor of English Literature
1867
1st greenhouse erected
1868
Albert J. Cook ’62 appointed Professor of Zoology and Entomology
1870
Women are admitted for the 1st time—ten enter the agricultural course, but none would graduate
1872
2nd Horse Barn, 38×100 feet
Two weddings in November and December join the Burcham family with the Proctor and Marble families
1874
President’s house (Faculty Row № 1) completed, along with № 2 and № 3
2nd greenhouse and residence for the foreman
A. J. Cook ’62 appointed 1st Curator of the Museum
1875
Rolla Carpenter ’73 appointed Professor of Mathematics and Civil Engineering
2nd Farm Lane bridge
Manly Miles forced to resign
1876
Saints’ Rest burns, December 9
Union Literary Society is founded
Grand Trunk Railroad crosses farm
1878
Mississippi Agricultural & Mechanical College is founded; its board of trustees seeks advice on its operation from the Michigan Agricultural College and appoints Robert F. Kedzie ’71 and Frank A. Gulley ’80 as two of its 1st four professors
1881
1882
Horticulture separates from Botany; James Satterlee ’69 appointed Professor of Horticulture
1st addition to Chem Lab
1883
Mary J. C. Merrill ’81 appointed College Librarian, the 1st woman on staff[21]
Fountain (Gift of the Class of 1883)
1886
Mary J. C. Merrill ’81 earns the 1st M.S. degree by a woman at M.A.C.[21]
Artesian well drilled
1887
Collegeville platted by Professors Beal and Carpenter as the 1st subdivision in what will become East Lansing
1889
1st Bathhouse
Ray Stannard Baker (M.A.C. ’89) graduates, later to earn a Pulitzer; he and a cousin are the 1st of at least a dozen Baker family members to attend the College
1890
Botany Lab burns
Senator Morrill sponsors the 2nd Land Grant Act, requiring states to omit race as an admissions criterion, or to designate a separate land-grant institution for persons of color
1891
Linda Landon appointed College Librarian
Wilbur Hedrick ’91, Thomas Gunson, Herman Vedder, and Warren Babcock ’90 also join the faculty; all five stayed with the College for decades
1893
M.A.C. contributes exhibits to State of Michigan pavilion at Chicago World’s Fair
Dam rebuilt
Stone walks constructed
Apiary converted to become Faculty Row № 14
1895
Belle Sarcastic gives milk for 738 lbs of butter
Streetcar line reaches west entrance
Electric lights on campus
1896
“Women’s Course” established
Cooperative Book Buying Association founded
“White Elephant” and store built by Ping Harrison
1897
College Delta platted by the Board of Agriculture
Streetcar line extended onto campus, station built
Sarcastic Lad calved, October 18
1898
Thomas Gunson plants sandhill pine experiment
Phi Delta Theta loses its charter, leaving only local societies active at M.A.C.
1901
1st Dairy Building
Central School opens as the 1st school of today’s East Lansing Public Schools
1903
2nd Bathhouse
College Grove and Fairview platted
Dr. Herbert Landon moves from Lansing to become the area’s 1st local physician; Dr. Oscar Bruegel arrives a few months later
1904
College Heights platted by Chace Newman
2nd Boiler house
Sarcastic Lad wins Grand Champion prize at St. Louis World’s Fair
1905
1st Wells Hall burns, February 11
Hesperian Society rents the Hagadorn house, making it the 1st fraternity house
1907
City of East Lansing incorporated, with Clinton D. Smith, Dean of Short Courses, as mayor and Edward R. Blair, former Foreman of the College Farms, as city supervisor
Peoples Church founded
M.A.C. celebrates its Semicentennial
1909
Official name changes to “Michigan Agricultural College”
Thomas Gunson elected 3rd mayor of East Lansing
1910
Station Terrace converted to Post Office
1st Peoples Church dedicated
Delta Club founded
Ernst Bessey appointed Professor of Botany
1911
2nd addition to Chem Lab
Interurban line reaches Owosso
Hesperian Society buys the Woodbury house, in defiance of the Board
1912
2nd Dairy Building
Professor Hedrick reorganizes the cooperative Bookstore as a non-profit corporation
1913
Wildwood Tea Room opens in East Lansing’s 1st apartment building, the Wildwood Apartments
Avondale platted
1915
Six women’s dormitory annexes opened, including College Cottage
Bungalow Knolls platted
Observatory vandalized
1916
East Lansing State Bank founded
Engineering Building and Shops burn, March 5
Chesterfield Hills platted
1917
Newell McCune becomes pastor of Peoples Church
Delta Club closes
Legislature establishes “Cedar Banks” prison
1918
College Hall collapses
Edward H. Ryder elected 5th mayor of East Lansing
Student Army Training Corps
1919
Williams Hall burns, January 1
Memorial Grove and Cenotaph dedicated to WWI dead
Ardson Heights platted
College Bookstore moves to the bank block
1920
The old hospital building, in use by the Y.M.C.A., is rushed back into service during the peak of the influenza epidemic
1921
Rugg house relocated to Grove Street
1922
Jacob Schepers and Benjamin Faunce begin partnership
Jim Hays (M.A.C. ’11) joins the faculty
Wildwood Inn moves to the Hicks Building, Hunt Food Shop opens in the Wildwood’s old location
1923
1925
Official name changes to “Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science”
Horticultural Building and greenhouses
Wildwood Inn closes
Strathmore platted
Luther H. Baker elected 6th mayor of East Lansing
1926
East Lansing High School built
2nd Peoples Church dedicated
Glen Cairn № 1 platted by Dean Robert Shaw
Laboratory Row threatened with demolition
1927
2nd Weather Bureau station
East Lansing State Bank moves to “the Abbott” and the State Theatre opens
1928
North Street (aka Pine Lake Road) is renamed as Burcham Drive, arguably for Mary Marble Burcham
Michigan Avenue “Battle of the Boulevard” concludes
Henry B. Dirks elected 7th mayor of East Lansing
Rollo May is expelled
1930
1931
The Michigan State Bank at East Lansing, an intended competitor to the East Lansing State Bank, closes after just four years in business, November 6
1932
1933
J. D. Towar writes History of the City of East Lansing
Olympic Society house razed, replaced by “Old” Post Office