Visions of Growth, 1957-1967

Three of University of Portland’s campus buildings share the same dedication date — November 22. Holy Cross Hall (now Kenna Hall) and University Commons (now Bauccio Commons) were together dedicated sixty-five years ago. Mehling Hall followed five years later providing 60 years of service. (The beginning years are 1959 and 1964, respectively.)

War surplus building — St. Joseph’s Hall, War Surplus Materials, 1946-1968 (Edge of the old Pilot House on the left; Howard Hall in the center, St. Joseph’s Hall on the right — click to enlarge photo)

These structures are part of a building boom in the decade from 1957-1967, and are three of six major buildings which significantly altered the campus landscape under the administrations of Rev. Howard Kenna, CSC and Rev. Paul Waldschmidt, CSC. Once World War II ended, under the benefits of the GI Bill, returning veterans flooded college classrooms, and the University was able to offer more programs; attracting women and graduate students to campus. To meet the immediate demands for classroom and dormitory space posed by post-war enrollment, the University relied on war surplus temporary wood-frame buildings dotted across campus in a hodge-podge array.

President Makes Report to Alumni — **Alumni Bulletin**, August 1957, p.3 (Click to enlarge)

Father Kenna arrived in 1955, along with his second-in-command, Father Waldschmidt. The two priests, encouraged by the enrollment numbers, provided consistent leadership for developing new programs and campus growth. Sharing the plan with University alumni, (see attached exhibits, Alumni Bulletin, August 1957, pp 3, 4 and 5; click to enlarge and read), Fr. Kenna states “My colleagues and I have been peering into the future… we have tried to plan for the next ten years. It seems to us that the University is on the verge of what should be its greatest period of expansion. After careful study, we have concluded that within these ten years the University will grow to its maximum capacity of 2500 students. To prepare for this rapid increase in enrollment – a little more than doubled…”; he leaps breathlessly into his dream prospectus for the coming decade (“Ambitious? Certainly it is. Presumptuous? I do not think so.”), announcing an impressive wish-list projecting three men’s dormitories, one women’s dormitory, dining hall, new library (needed to retain accreditation), Fine Arts Center, Business, Liberal Arts buildings, and University Chapel (with Bell Tower!). And that’s not all: expanding already existing facilities with an addition to Science Hall, an enlarged Pilot House (Student Union!), and a new and enlarged gym.

Map of proposed campus changes — Fr. Kenna continued, **Alumni Bulletin**, August 1957, pp. 4-5
(Click to enlarge)

With the prospect of continuing growth in evidence, the University moved toward creating permanent structures for an expanding academic and residential campus. Circumstances did moderate ambitions, yes. Physical changes marking this stage in University history pushed out the boundaries on opposites ends of the campus and provide the framework for the academic buildings at the center of campus. Five of the buildings were financed through federal low-interest, long-term loans (a forty-year term, underscoring long-term planning): Villa Maria Hall (1957); Holy Cross (Kenna) Hall (1959); University (Bauccio) Commons (1959); Mehling Hall (1964) and Shipstad Hall (1967).

Milestones and anniversaries provide opportunities to pause and celebrate, to reflect on growth and change and the stages of flourishing through the years, in life and lives of children, self, friends, and even in the life of a University.