Moving History Forward: Finally, a home of their own

When we closed the November installment, G.O. Kildow had been installed as the third president of the junior college, World War II had been fought and ended, the trustees had authorized the completion of the mechanical arts building and a plan had been created to add classroom space and administrative facilities to the Winton campus. 

After an enrollment low point of 50 during World War II, the spring and fall semester enrollment numbers for 1947 soared to a record-setting level of 330, spurring the board of trustees to fully focus on addressing a need for more classrooms. The first move was to contract for an expansion of the mechanical arts building on the Winton Park Campus.  

Walter M. Varnum was awarded the job, and a wing was added to the north side of the building to house laboratories for physics and chemistry classes and a dark room for the photography class. The winning bid was $40,520 ($573,575 in 2024). The money came from funds set aside earlier for the project. 

The board’s second action was to put a bond issue before the voters. It featured the classroom building first proposed in the failed 1939 levy vote as well as a gymnasium/auditorium structure. Respondents to a straw poll before the levy was set indicated that the gym auditorium was the facility the public most desired. 

On June 8, 1948, eligible taxpayers within the junior college district went to the polls to vote on a $496,000 ($6,574,980 in 2024 dollars) bond. This time, the measure passed with 69.88% of voters in favor. 

George Rasque & Sons Architects of Spokane designed the 45,000-square-foot light-colored masonry block building buildings. Halverson Construction of Spokane won the bid to build the building, and construction began in April of 1949, finishing in December of the same year. 

The completed buildings were dedicated Wednesday, March 8, 1950, with ceremonies full of pomp and circumstance. The event culminated with architect George M. Rasque handing over the keys to the three buildings to Board Chairman E.A. Seiter. It was also announced that the NIJC board of trustees had named the administration and classroom building “Lee Hall” in honor of Orrin Lee, the college’s second president serving from 1933 to 1944. 

The gymnasium would be named in honor of Perry Christianson at a rededication ceremony held in December 1978. Christianson had taught engineering and mathematics when he first came to the college. He had also served as the school’s athletic director and basketball coach. In 1939, he became dean of academics and was dean of students when the gym was built.  

Over the years, all three facilities have been remodeled and upgraded to meet the needs of the students. During the same period, the campus has grown well beyond its original 32 acres, situating itself as a leading academic and vocational institution in the region, fulfilling the dreams of those who proposed opening the school back in the 1930s.  

More about Perry Christianson as our story progresses in next month’s installment.

    During Christmas break in 1949, NIJC students, faculty, and community members came together to move the school’s books and equipment from its many locations to the new building. Pictured is the moving van that was provided by Stoddard Transfer and Fuel to transport the desks, chairs, and other equipment from the City Hall to the new classroom building.