|
Location Description
The building itself looks like an old mansion out of a
ghost story. It is surrounded by grassy plains and a few
trees here and there. There Is a water tower that sits
off to the left side, in the back of the building. There
is a baseball field that sits off to the right. In the
back of the building there is a garage where buses and
materials are kept. In front of the building there is a
field with lots of weeds in it. Down on the far right is
the church’s private cemetery.
History of Site
On June 14, 1891, the newspaper in Denver told of an
event that would turn a small farm community into a
college town. The "Princeton of the West" was
to be built on top of Crown Point, overlooking the area.
Mr. Henry J. Mayham purchased part of the land. He then
convinced Reverend T. H. Hopkins, D. D., of Denver, that
this was the perfect place to put the Presbyterian
University.
The Denver Presbytery approved the action made by Dr.
Hopkins and the Board of Trustees, for the planned
University, on October 7, 1891. It was stated In the
newspaper that the Presbytery had bought 640 acres for
the site of the University. The estimated cost for this
land was about $400,000.
The Idea of having a University near Harris, which is now
Westminster, was considered a good plan. The University
would not only bring in additional money, but would also
bring educated people and a little sophistication to the
farming community of Harris.
[30]
The Construction of the Building
Westminster University’s main building was designed
by architect E. B. Gregory in 1891. Construction began
and, the following year, the cornerstone was laid at the
top of Crown Point. The panic of 1893 tightened the
University funds and construction had to be delayed. By
that time the estimated construction cost had risen to
$1,000,000.
Mayham continued to finance the plan but had the building
redesigned by Stanford White, a New York architect.
White’s design consisted of a three floor structure,
with parlors, classrooms, offices, and a tower. White
decided to use red sandstone instead of grey, which
Gregory had intended to use.
In 1899, rumors were going around that the Westminster
University plan would have to be abandoned, but funds
were raised in the East and construction was able to
continue. The University also received donations from
Colorado residents. Maxcy Tabor gave $106,060 from the
estate of his mother, Augusta Tabor, who was the first
wife of H. A. W. Tabor.
On September 14, 1907, classes were reopened. A year
later coed classes were started in the main building.
About sixty students were enrolled. High salaries were
paid to the faculty but, for some unknown reason, every
one of the teachers left the University in April. There
were no records found explaining why the faculty
disappeared. A new group of teachers was hired for the
1909—1910 school year.
By April 1912, the school’s debts were paid off. In
a short time, however, more financial problems arose. The
University couldn’t get enough money to pay the
teachers. The faculty continued to work, trying to keep
the school from closing.
[31]
In 1915, the Board of Trustees decided to change the
school to an all-male University. This change was not a
very wise move. World War I was starting and most of the
students were drafted. In 1917, the University was forced
to close.
For the following three years the building was rented to
a farmer who ran a chicken house and a granary in the
basement.
Pillar Of Fire
In January 1920, the building was purchased by Pillar of
Fire Church for $40,000. Included in the purchase was a
two-story dormitory building and forty acres of land.
Pillar of Fire found the building badly run down. Six
hundred dollars worth of windows had been broken. Farm
machinery had been left on the first floor of the main
building. There were cracks in the stone walls, broken
plaster, and the base of the tower was cracked and ready
to collapse.
By September 1920, the building had been restored. It was
reopened and was known as Westminster College and
Academy.
Five years later the name was changed to Belleview
College. Reverend Ray B. White became President of the
college and served until his death, in 1946. His brother,
Dr. K. White, then became President. Ray and Arthur were
the sons of Mrs. Alma White who founded the Pillar of
Fire Church.
Early in 1928, part of the main building was converted to
a radio studio. On March 9, 1928, KPOF went on the air
with five hundred watts. This radio studio is the oldest
radio station on the air with its original call letters.
Since the beginning of KPOF, the power of the station has
been increased to five thousand watts. It operates all
day, carrying news, educational programs, classical
music, and religious services.
[32]
Belleview College is still in operation today and has
coeducational classes ranging from kindergarten through
college. Robert B. Dallenbach is the present President of
Belleview College and is also the general manager of
KPOF.
The building itself is maintained by tuition from
students that can afford to pay a tuition. It is also
maintained by donations that people give, because they
like what the organization is doing at the school and
radio station.
The future plan for the school is to restore the building
as a monument or historical site. They also plan to
expand the college to a regular size campus. This will
include things such as an administrative building, a
gymnasium, dormitories, classrooms, and recreation
fields.
During the summer of 1975, the main building of Belleview
College was nominated to the National Register as an item
of historical and architectural significance. We will
probably see this historical and unique building standing
for many years to come.
Acknowledgements
Carl Jacobson
Robert B. Dallenbach
|