Grundy College Explained

Grundy College was a secondary and post-secondary school that existed in Grundy Center, Iowa, United States, from 1916 to 1934. It was associated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America,[1] and was founded on October 4, 1916[2] by German speakers within that denomination.[3] Supporters of the college were called on when Dordt College was being formed in northwest Iowa. As of 1930, Grundy College was divided into (at least) Grundy Academy (a high school),[4] [5] Grundy Junior College,[6] and the Commercial Department.[7] [8]

As noted by William Katerberg, professor of history and curator of Heritage Hall at Calvin University, some within the Christian Reformed Church viewed Grundy College as competition to Calvin College in Grand Rapids:

In 1926, the college had a faculty of 10 and an enrollment of 94 students. At that time it had an endowment of $24,000 and property valued at $100,000.[9] Buildings included a main building and a dormitory. The college ceased operation in 1934 after enduring financial downturns caused in part by the conditions of the Great Depression, but also by rivalries with other institutions.[10] [11]

Timeline

1916 - College founded

1919 - supporting territory proposed to be expanded to include Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota and South Dakota.[12]

1929 - Grundy College's thirteenth annual commencement was held June 2, 3, and 4, 1929.[13]

1930 - commencement 28 May 1930

Grundy College's men's dormitory was in use as an apartment building in January, 1960.[14]

The southern portion of Grundy County Memorial Hospital was built over the site.[15]

References

42.3592°N -92.7629°W

Notes and References

  1. Book: Yearbook of American Churches: 1st -40th Issue; 1915-1972. Missionary Education Movement of the United States and Canada. 1922. 208. en.
  2. Web site: Christian Reformed - 1857 - 1957. 2021-04-13. migenweb.org.
  3. Web site: The Rest of Our Story. 2021-04-13. The Banner. 18 January 2011 . en.
  4. Web site: 13 April 2021. Lake County Teachers and Other Miscellaneous Records--CRA 478.pdf.
  5. Web site: Genealogie Familie van Roekel 17-620. 2021-04-13. roekelg.home.xs4all.nl.
  6. Web site: Lyon County Reporter October 22 Page 3. 2021-04-13. lyc.stparchive.com.
  7. Web site: Grundy College Graduates 1930. 2021-04-13. iagenweb.org.
  8. News: 1930-05-17. Clipped From The Courier. 15. The Courier. 2021-04-13.
  9. Book: United States Bureau of the Census. Religious Bodies, 1926: Separate denominations : statistics, history, doctrine, organization, and work. 1929. Norman Ross Pub.. 978-0-88354-685-7. 1243. en.
  10. Web site: Waddilove. Alan. 2001. Grundy College; Undying Legacy or Broken Promises, in Origins XIX No. 1. 13 April 2021.
  11. Web site: Zwaart. David. April 2012. Faithful Remembering: Constructing Dutch America in the Twentieth Century. ScholarWorks@WMU.
  12. Web site: IAGenWeb Grundy Co.: Schools: Grundy College. 2021-04-13. iagenweb.org.
  13. Web site: Grundy College 1929 Commencement . 2021-04-13 . Genealogy Today.
  14. Web site: Facebook. 2021-04-13. www.facebook.com.
  15. Web site: 1916 . Image 4 of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Grundy Center, Grundy County, Iowa. . live . https://archive.today/20240210033040/https://tile.loc.gov/image-services/iiif/service:gmd:gmd415m:g4154m:g4154gm:g026751916:02675_1916-0004/full/pct:25/0/default.jpg . February 10, 2024 . February 9, 2024 . The Library of Congress.

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