Posted on Friday, March 10, 2023
Buildings that hold meaningful connections to our past may not last forever, but our experiences there will always remain. As the farewell for Henry Hall draws near, LC alumni have been sharing stories from their time in the dormitory.
“For my last three years at LaGrange College I called Room 103 my home,” said George Wheelock '75. “Being on the first floor was a definite advantage because only the west side of the building had rooms. To keep order was our “house mother” Mrs. Alvia Hitchcock, who was a saint.”
He said the occasional hijinks in the hall kept former Dean of Students John Love very busy during the evening.
“One night, some fraternity brothers found a Billy goat and brought him over to a fellow’s room,” Wheelock said. “Another instance involved some guys moving the Coke machine into the elevator. Dean Love not only kept us in line but would also go to bat for us if he thought it would make a difference.”
Adrianne Brown Cantrell '08, a one-year resident of Henry Hall, said she enjoyed socializing with many of her Phi Mu sisters who stayed on her floor.
“It was fun being around friends,” she said. “Sometimes we would people-watch from the balconies.”
Riley Hammett '22, who was a senior Resident Advisor at Henry Hall, said the building had beautiful views of campus.
“Everyone who had the opportunity to live in Henry or visit Henry could see the lovely view from the back and front of campus,” she said. “You could always see students enjoying themselves on the quad, making the climb up the steps to main campus, or entering the library or café."
Hammett said a great vantage point on campus was Henry Hall’s rooftop.
“The access to get on the top of the building is locked to students for safety, but a group of RAs and I had the chance to sneak a peek of the rooftop,” she said. “After a long hard day of Resident Advisor training, we enjoyed the best birds eye view of campus.”
Henry Hall, once named “New Dorm,” was built in 1970. The five-story co-ed building had air conditioning, carpeted bedrooms, phone jacks and a master antenna going to each room.
In 1980, LC named the residential building after Dr. Waights G. Henry Jr., who served as president of the college from 1948-1978 and as chancellor from 1978 until his death in 1989.
The facility housed generations of students until its closure in 2021.
The college, which is in the process of updating its master plan, has been working with an architectural firm to assess the existing condition and functionality of facilities, including Henry Hall. After a thorough examination, it was decided that the 50-year residence hall would be slated for removal this summer.
“Unfortunately, Henry Hall could no longer be adapted for the future needs of our growing student population,” said Dr. John Head, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Experience. “The building’s renovation, including new electrical, water and HVAC systems, would have cost nearly the amount of a new structure.”
Various options are being discussed for the space and how to meet future residential needs.
In celebration of the longtime facility, the college will host a farewell gathering on Thursday, April 20, at 6 p.m., at Caswell Plaza, overlooking Henry Hall. Guests are encouraged to dress up in '70s attire.
Anyone interested in attending the event should respond to Jennifer Booker at 706-880-8244 or jbooker1@lagrange.edu by April 13. For more on the event or making a gift, visit www.lagrange.edu/henry.
Alumni are encouraged to make a gift in honor or memory of a roommate, resident director or assistant, housemother or friend.
Saturday – Student-run car wash from 9 a.m. to noon, at Mike Patton Auto, 1406 Lafayette Parkway. All donations will go toward funding student scholarships.
Monday – Balloon auction, 11 a.m., Caswell Plaza. Students can pay a donation for a chance to pop a balloon and win a prize.
Tuesday – Class of 1972 bench dedication, 11:15 a.m., Caswell Plaza, where attendees can honor the class’s 50-year commemorative gift.
Wednesday – Philanthro-pop, 11 a.m., Caswell Plaza. Students can get popsicles and make a gift.
Thursday – Community Spirit Night event from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at The Villa (formerly Pizza Villa), 1603 Vernon Road, Suite 1200. Twenty percent of all sales during those times will go to the Class of 2023 Give Back Campaign.
Friday – Donor appreciation event, 11 a.m., Caswell Plaza. Students will write St. Patrick’s Day-themed thank-you notes to donors.
Check LC Connect for Virtual CE events and instructions
Monday, March 13
Blue Nation Pow Wow
6 p.m., Residential Quad
Tuesday, March 14
Panel of Womanhood
11:15 a.m., Corn Auditorium
Tuesday, March 14
Class of 1972 Bench Dedication
11:15 a.m., Caswell Plaza
Tuesday, March 14
Jimmy Carter on Peace and Conflict Resolution
11:30 a.m., Dickson Assembly Room
Tuesday, March 14
SGA Town Hall Follow-Up: Student Center
8 p.m., Corn Auditorium
Wednesday, March 15
Philanthro-Pop
11:15 a.m., Caswell Plaza
Thursday, March 16
Philanthropy Celebration Week: Pizza & Panthers
5 p.m., The Villa (formerly Pizza Villa)
Friday, March 17
Donor Appreciation
11:15 a.m., Caswell Plaza
Spencer King worked at the Chick-fil-A Fayetteville Dwarf House while attending LaGrange College. He continued with the company after graduation, using the technical and business skills he learned at LC to work his way up the corporate ladder. Today, Spencer is the Principal Team Leader for the Digital Transformation and Technology group at Chick-Fil-A Inc. He maintains a relationship with his alma mater by serving on the Alumni Executive Committee as president elect, keeping up with his Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity brothers, and supporting student scholarships through the LaGrange College Fund. "Giving back," Spencer says, "allows me to express my gratitude for my undergraduate years at LaGrange College.”
Join Spencer in supporting the LaGrange College Fund.
Spring Activities Fair 2023 with Karli Whittaker
LaGrange College students take advantage of over 40 on-campus clubs and organizations. Learn more by visiting the Spring 2023 Activities Fair accompanied by graduate student Karli Whittaker.
Golf
The Panthers began their spring season with a first-place finish during the first round of competition at the Port City Invitational on Monday, March 6, in Savannah, Georgia. On Tuesday, the Panthers won the championship in the final round of competition. Leading the way was freshman Jeremy Edmunds, who notched rounds of 72-72-76-220 to finish 3-of-92 and earn All-Tournament honors – coming in just one stroke behind the leaders.
Freshman Jeremy Edmunds was named the Collegiate Conference of the South Men’s Golf Rookie of the Week. His performance at the Port City Invitational earned him the highest finish among any Collegiate Conference of the South student-athletes in the field. He finished seven spots ahead of the closest competitor.
Softball
LaGrange’s doubleheader at the Triangle Softball Classic resulted in a 6-0 loss against Mary Baldwin and a 5-4 loss against Randolph on Saturday, March 4, in Raleigh, North Carolina. In the final two games of the tournament, the Panthers shut out Salem with a 11-0 win and took a 11-0 loss against Eastern Mennonite on Sunday. In their match against Salem, freshman Kelsea Moody led the hit parade for LaGrange as she went 3-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and a run scored, while freshman Isabelle Herren was 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs. In the circle, freshman Claire Chamberlain was nearly unhittable as she allowed just one hit as she delivered the shutout with eight strikeouts over five innings. She moves to 4-4 on the year.
Freshman pitcher Claire Chamberlain earned Collegiate Conference of the South Softball Pitcher and Rookie of the Week honors. She delivered an impressive performance over three starts this past week, posting two wins and a 2.21 ERA along with six earned runs and 16 strikeouts against no walks in 19 innings. She was also named the conference’s Rookie of the Week on February 21.
Beach Volleyball
The Panthers dropped a pair of 5-0 decisions to Nicholls State and New Orleans on Day 1 of the Clash on the Cajun Bayou on Friday, March 3. Freshmen Morgan Martin and Alexis Childers rounded out the top performances as they fell 21-13, 21-16 to Nicholls State. On Saturday, LaGrange pushed a pair of sets to the limit as it fell 5-0 to Louisiana-Monroe and Loyola New Orleans on the final day of the Clash on the Cajun Bayou. Senior Bailey Moss and freshman Zentrina Choice posted one of the closer matches at No. 1, falling 21-10 and 21-6. The Panthers fell by a 5-0 score at Huntingdon on Wednesday, March 8. The most competitive match of the day would come at No. 3 and feature a set victory from freshmen Morgan Martin and Alexis Childers.
Baseball
LaGrange started the weekend with a 12-3 loss and a 4-3 win in a doubleheader against North Carolina Wesleyan on Saturday, March 4. Sophomore Jorge Fragoso led LaGrange with a 2-for-5 day that included a homerun, RBI and run scored, while freshman Curt Bonner was 2-for-2 with the game-winning RBI. On Sunday, the Panthers came out on top with a 15-9 victory over the Battling Bishops. Senior Rhett Mixon delivered a 2-for-4 day that included a double, four RBIs, two walks and a run scored to lead LaGrange. Unfortunately, the team suffered a 10-9 loss against Wittenberg on Monday, March 6.
Freshman pitcher Eduardo Peralta and freshman catcher Curt Bonner earned Collegiate Conference of the South Baseball Pitcher and Rookie of the Week. Peralta dominated in his one start this past week as he defeated Adrian (2/28) by a 12-3 score. He threw 5.1 innings, allowed no earned runs and just two hits and one walk while ringing up an impressive 10 strikeouts. Seeing the first sustained action of his young career, Bonner produced in a pair of wins over previously 8-1 North Carolina Wesleyan (3/4-5). On the week he went 5-for-5 with two runs, three RBIs and three walks.
Men’s Tennis
The Panthers delivered a 5-4 win over Truett McConnell on Saturday, March 4. LaGrange would claim No. 1 doubles as seniors Al Robertson and Luke Griffin notched an 8-4 victory over Truett McConnell before sending the next two sets to extras. From there, however, freshman Nic Bodin would lock up the match with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Truett McConnell’s Ethan Carlson at the fifth spot.
Senior Al Robertson and freshman Nic Bodin earned Collegiate Conference of the South Men’s Tennis Player and Rookie of the Week. Robertson delivered an impressive undefeated performance that led LaGrange to a 5-4 victory over Truett-McConnell (3/4) in their one outing this past week. Bodin came through in the clutch as he authored an undefeated performance as the Panthers’ pulled out that narrow one-point victory over Truett-McConnell.
Women’s Tennis
LaGrange dropped a 9-0 decision to Truett McConnell on Saturday, March 4. Junior Leila Moss and freshman Nina Fischer pushed Truett McConnell’s Emma-Kate Kirkland and Margaret Smart at No. 3. They would force an extra frame with a 9-8 decision before falling 7-5 to give TMU a doubles sweep.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday, March 10 – Baseball vs. Centenary (La.), 11 a.m., Millington, Tennessee
Saturday, March 11 – Men’s Lacrosse vs. Carroll (Wis.), noon, Nashville, Tennessee
Saturday, March 11 – Softball (Home) vs. Meredith, noon and 2 p.m., LC Softball Complex
Saturday, March 11 – Women’s Tennis (Home) vs. Belhaven, 2 p.m., Greer Tennis Courts
Saturday, March 11 – Men’s Tennis (Home) vs. Belhaven, 2 p.m., Greer Tennis Courts
Saturday, March 11 – Baseball vs. Westfield St., 2 p.m., Millington, Tennessee
Sunday, March 12 – Baseball vs. Chicago, 11 a.m., Millington, Tennessee
Sunday, March 12 – Men’s Lacrosse vs. Capital, 3 p.m., Nashville, Tennessee
Tuesday, March 14 – Baseball at Oglethorpe, 6 p.m., Atlanta, Georgia
Wednesday, March 15 – Softball (Home) vs. Andrew College, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., LC Softball Complex
Category: Community, College, Events
Keywords: Dormitory, Philanthropy
