National Register of Historic Places

Old Lenox College

Hopkinton, Delaware County, Iowa
Listed
December 19, 1974
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
74000781

About this property

Lenox College was a college in Hopkinton, Iowa that operated from 1859 until its closure in 1944. The institution was initially known as Bowen Collegiate Institute. The name was changed to Lenox Collegiate Institute in October 1864 and to Lenox College in 1884. The school was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. Several buildings that were part of the former college campus are on the National Register of Historic Places and are maintained by the Delaware County Historical Society as the Delaware County Historical Museum Complex. The college campus and the community of Hopkinton are also designated as stops on the Delaware Crossing Iowa Scenic Byways. The former building of the Hopkinton Reformed Presbyterian Church is located next to the campus, although it was not a part of the college's sponsoring church. The centerpiece of the campus is the Civil War Monument, dedicated 17 November 1865. The monument at the center of the campus was the first monument on a campus dedicated to the American Civil War. The majority of the young men of the college with the dean of the college as their captain signed on for military service shortly after the war began, causing the school to close temporarily. The monument is dedicated to them. Construction of Old Main began in 1856. The Victorian style east wing was added in 1875. Clarke Hall, the dormitory for girls, was built in 1890. Doolittle Hall, constructed in 1900, contained the Library and Literary Societies. Finkbonner Hall (the gymnasium) was erected in 1916. Other buildings in the complex include the Hopkinton Depot, which was moved to the present site in 1969. The Reformed Presbyterian Church, with its remarkable Bavarian stained-glass windows, was dedicated in 1901 and donated to the Society in 1969. The one-room school was purchased and moved to its present location - next to the church - in 1971. A Farm Machinery Hall, which houses displays of horse-drawn farm equipment, was added in 1973. A second Farm Machinery Hall was built in 1982. Dr. W.L. Roberts was selected as the first president, but resigned on December 12, 1859. Rev. James McKean, Fall, 1863 until resignation May 6, 1864; entered army as a captain and died at Memphis, TN on July 9, 1864. Rev. James D. Mason, July, 1864 until formal resignation October, 1865. Rev. Jerome Allen, served from November, 1864 until June, 1866. Rev. Samuel Hodge, served September, 1866 until 1882. Rev. Alexander G. Wilson, served 1888 until fall 1894. Rev. Hugh Robinson, first alum (1888) to serve as president, 1894-1896. Andrew G. Wilson, alum (1880), became president in spring 1896 and served until spring 1902.

Location

Hopkinton, Delaware County, Iowa
42.34850, -91.24436

Categories

MILITARYEDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Ely's Stone Bridge
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6.4 mi
Bay Settlement Church and Monument
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7.4 mi
Farwell, S. S., House
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7.8 mi
St. Luke's Methodist Church
Industrial
8 mi
Odd Fellows Hall
Industrial
8.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old Lenox College listed on the National Register?

Old Lenox College was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 19, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Old Lenox College?

Old Lenox College is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Old Lenox College?

The period of significance for Old Lenox College is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Old Lenox College?

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