# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S807
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

108 SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES

our oldest:dormitory, erected in 1910, of wood and brick construc-
tion, is protected only by fire hose, hand extinguishers, and a
warning system. The renewed request for a sprinkler system for
Bohm Hall is included in the overtures submitted through the
Board for Higher Education, and we are confident that Synod will
give sympathetic consideration to a matter so vital to the safety of
our students.
Property. and Buildings

In 1944 we were granted $80,000 by the Saginaw Convention
for a much-needed library, which was to be one wing of a new
educational building containing science classrooms and laboratories
and a large auditorium. Funds for the science wing and auditorium
were to be raised locally. However, despite the fact that the cam-
paign among our constituent congregations was blessed with suc-
cess, realizing approximately $230,000, it was found that building .
costs had risen to such an extent that the plans had to be modified
by’ omitting the erection of the auditorium for the present. It was
also-found that Synod’s appropriation for the library wing was
not sufficient, and, accordingly, this was increased by the 1947
convention to $125,000.

Final building plans were approved by Synod some two years
ago, and it is with sincere regret that we must report that actual
building operations could not be undertaken up to the present
time. Our school is located in a zone restricted by village law to
one-family residences. This requires us to apply for a variance
each time we wish to erect any building other than a one-family
residence and, in addition, to obtain the written consent of 80 per
cent of the adjacent lot owners before the building plans can be
considered by the Village Board. Under authority of Synod’s
Board of Directors we are now in the process of testing in the
State Courts the legality of these zoning restrictions as they apply
to a school such as ours. We are hopeful of a favorable settlement,
permitting the erection of our greatly needed educational building
in the near future.

In 1948 we were offered the opportunity to acquire a large
parcel of land comprising nine and a half acres directly across
White Plains Road from our campus, flanked on one side by the
property of Concordia Church and on the other side by our athletic
field. 'This property was purchased at a cost of $75,000, of which
$50,000 was made available by Synod, and the balance was as-
sumed locally. Known as the Gorman Property, it contains a siz-
able mansion and a smaller building, formerly used as a garage
and servant quarters, both in fairly good condition. Inasmuch as
the new educational building when completed will exhaust the