ALUMNI
CENTER, J. LLOYD STONE -- Built in 1902 as
the campus residence for the UND president, the historical
mansion now known as the J. Lloyd Stone Alumni Center
was almost razed. The house featured all the modern
conveniences of the time: speaking tubes, a dumbwaiter,
and the first indoor plumbing in Grand Forks and is
said to be the first building in Grand Forks wired
for electricity during construction.
The house served as home
for four successive University presidents (Merrifield,
McVey, Kane, and West) and hosted visits from President
Franklin Roosevelt and Crown Prince Olav and Princess
Martha of Norway . In 1955, President Starcher moved
into the new official residence and the building
then became a men's dormitory. It was renamed "Oxford
House" after the nearby street. Starting in
1963, the art department called Oxford House home
for seven years before the building was considered
a health hazard in 1971 and vacated.
In 1973, the
house was placed on the National Register of Historic
Places and restoration funded through private and
federal funds began. Restoration was completed in
1981 and the main floor restored to 1902 style. The
building now houses the UND Alumni Association and
Foundation and is named in honor J. Lloyd Stone, the
executive vice president of the UND Alumni Association
for 29 years.
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