Albion State Normal School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Albion Normal School Campus | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
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| Location: | Albion, Idaho |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1894 |
| Architect: | Multiple |
| Architectural style(s): | Colonial Revival, Late Victorian, Other |
| Added to NRHP: | November 28, 1980 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 80001298 [1] |
| Governing body: | Local |
Albion State Normal School was an institution of higher learning located in Albion, Idaho at . The school was established by the Idaho State Legislature in 1893, as one of two Normal Schools in the state. (The other, in Lewiston, Idaho, is now Lewis-Clark State College.) Citizens of Albion had actively lobbied for the school's establishment, and donated land and labor for the new campus.
The school remained a small institution throughout its history, focusing on the training of teachers and drawing its student body primarily from south-central Idaho. Albion Normal offered a two-year teacher training program until 1947, when it was renamed "Southern Idaho College of Education" (SICE) and authorized to confer baccalaureate degrees. The school remained troubled by low enrollment and a lack of funding, however, and was finally closed by the state in 1951.
During its existence, Albion Normal awarded some 6,460 degrees. Perhaps the most notable alumnus of the college was Terrel Bell (1921-1996), who served as United States Secretary of Education from 1981 to 1984.
The college's athletic teams were known as the "Teachers" until 1935, when they became the "Panthers." School colors were Cardinal and Black, and the annual student yearbook was called The Sage.
After SICE closed in 1951, the campus remained vacant until 1957, when Magic Valley Christian College opened at the site. Magic Valley Christian, in turn, closed in 1969. The campus was deeded to the city of Albion the following year, which continued to maintain the grounds while alternative uses for the property were explored. Finally, the empty and deteriorating property was sold at public auction on June 2, 2007; a group of Idaho investors were successful with a bid of $810,000. The new owners initially stated that they would preserve the old college buildings, although the status of the buildings has since become less certain.
The campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
[edit] Notes
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
[edit] External links
- Albion State Normal School & SICE at AlbionValley.com
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