Dozens of people gathered Tuesday morning at Morrill Plaza, where 113-year-old Morrill Hall once stood, for a dedication ceremony and the unveiling of the new brick kiosk.
The kiosk, which contains salvaged brick from Morrill Hall, has four touch-panel computer screens containing information about the university’s distinguished past faculty. MSU officials said the information will be updated regularly.
Deb Kinney, landscape architect for MSU, said the plaza cost the university between $300,000 and $400,000.
Morrill Hall was built in 1899 and 1900. Nicknamed “The Coop,” it once was a dormitory for female students and also housed home economics classrooms. It was converted in the 1930s to classroom space and renamed in Morrill’s honor. It was demolished last year.
MSU officials said the plaza honor more than Morrill’s land grant efforts. It’s also meant to recognize the history of women and their role in the early years of the university.
Last year, the school’s Agriculture Hall was renamed the Justin S. Morrill Hall of Agriculture.
For the full article, see Paul Henderson, “Michigan State University’s Morrill Plaza honors history of university and demolished hall”, Lansing State Journal, February 11, 2014.
For another, see Morrill Plaza – Recalling the past and honoring the future