Bowd-Munson Company (Lansing, Mich.)

In August of 1938, when the Michigan College of Mining and Technology's (now Michigan Technological University) enrollment stood at 800 students, the Board of Control gave approval to President Grover C. Dillman to build the first residence hall on campus. The Board filed an application with the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works for a grant to build a fully-furnished residence hall. On October 13, 1938, the Board learned that Michigan Tech had received a grant for 45 percent of the project cost, as long as work began before December 31, 1938, and was completed within fourteen months. The residence hall would cost $350,000 to build and furnish. Orlie J. Munson of Bowd-Munson Co. Architects from Lansing was hired to produce blueprints for the new building. In December, 1938, A. H. Proksch of Iron River was awarded the general contract for the new residence hall. In late spring, students wishing to live in the hall began to reserve rooms for the following fall and Donald G. McMillan was hired to manage the hall. Room and board were set at the following rates: $3.00 per week for a single room, $2.50 per week for a double, and $6.50 per week for board. All freshmen males were required to live in the residence hall for their first year. On September 26, 1939, the residence hall was opened to residents. The campus infirmary was located in the west wing of the hall with an adjoining nurse's room. The hall also contained a snack bar with soda fountain and a recreation area complete with billiards in the ground floor area. The residence hall was named Douglass Houghton Hall in memory of Michigan's first state geologist, Douglass Houghton, because he represented youth, vision, achievement, and courage. The hall was dedicated on June 7, 1940, at commencement by the chairman of the Board of Control, A. E. Petermann.