Milton College was a private college located in Milton, Wisconsin. Founded in 1844 as the Milton Academy, it closed in 1982. Its campus is now part of the Milton Historic District.
The college was founded as the Milton Academy (high school) by a group of early Milton settlers, including Milton House owner Joseph Goodrich. It eventually grew to encompass 16 buildings spread over 24 acres (97,000 m2). Its music department was renowned, and a high percentage of foreign students for the era kept the student body diverse. Although initially many of the students came from Milton, in later years alumni of the college would stay in Milton or return.[2]
Closing
On May 15, 1982, Milton College abruptly closed its doors. At the time, it was Wisconsin's oldest continually operating college.[2] The college's board of trustees had voted 18-2 to close the campus following a notification from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools that the college's accreditation would be dropped in the fall term; it had previously been on probationary status. The decision from North Central stemmed from the college's continual shaky financial situation, which culminated in a $4 million debt. Milton College had, in fact, been struggling financially since the Great Depression, 50 years earlier. Without accreditation, the college would not have seen any federal loans or grants, adding to an already difficult situation of decreasing student enrollment. Furthermore, it would have no longer been able to compete with schools in the Wisconsin State University System.
Some 135 students had been planning to come back to campus when the school closed, many with only a few credits left until completion of their studies. Officials negotiated with other campuses to accept Milton students.[3]
Milton fielded its first football team in 1899 and its last in 1981. No teams were fielded from 1904 to 1915 and from 1943 to 1945. During this time the college produced seven All-Americans and nine conference titles, in 1935, 1956, 1961, 1964, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, and 1981. The Wildcats played in 419 games during this time with a record of 194–207–18.[5] The school was a member of the Illini-Badger Football Conference from 1976 to 1982.
When the school closed, the buildings were turned over to the banks that kept it alive over the years. Most of the buildings have been converted to commercial or residential use.
Main Hall is maintained by the Main Hall Preservation Society, and serves as a memorial to the college. Portraits in the building commemorate faculty and alumni over the years.
The library is now the Shaw Community Center, owned by the City of Milton. It houses both city hall and the Milton Public Library.[2]
The dorms have been converted into apartment buildings.
The gymnasium is the home of a local church called The Chapel.
Ellsworth Snyder, American abstract painter, professional pianist, conductor and scholar[25]
References
^(PDF). www.miltoncollege.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ abcCarla McCann (June 24, 2007). . Janesville Gazette. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
^"Milton has its Black Friday". The Milton Courier(Milton, WI) 27 May 1982: 1, 20.
^"Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Milton" Milton Courier (Milton, WI) 10 January 2021
^(PDF). www.miltoncollege.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^"Milton College to celebrate homecoming". Hometown News LP. Retrieved Jun 4, 2020.
^. www.miltoncollege.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2005. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
^. www.miltoncollege.org. Archived from the original on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
^"BOLLES, Stephen, (1866 - 1941)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
^'Wisconsin Blue Book 1925,' Biographical Sketch of Hellen M. Brooks, pg. 664
^Siddall, John William, ed. (1917). Men of Hawaii. Vol. 1. Honolulu: Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. 95.
^"HOLMES, Adoniram Judson, (1842 - 1902)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
^"Dave Kraayeveld". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
^"Dave Krieg". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
^"LAWS, Gilbert Lafayette, (1838 - 1907)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
^"Issue 3 Fall" (PDF). Milton College Preservation Society. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
^'Wisconsin Blue Book 1885,' Biographical Sketch of Christopher J. Rollis, pg. 429
^"Term: Smith, Charles P. 1926". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
^"Francis "Borax" Marion Smith - The Borax King of Death Valley". Legends of America. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
^"Major general don s. wenger". US Air Force. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
^. UC Santa Cruz. Archived from the original on September 1, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
^"Term: Whitford, William Clarke 1828 - 1902". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
^The Sabbath Recorder. George B. Utter. 1917. p. 11.
^"Term: Searing, Edward 1835 - 1898". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
^"Ellsworth snyder". Jennifer Norback Fine Art, Inc. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
milton, college, private, college, located, milton, wisconsin, founded, 1844, milton, academy, closed, 1982, campus, part, milton, historic, district, typeprivateactive1844, 1982locationmilton, wisconsin, united, statescolorsblue, brown, before, 1964, blue, go. Milton College was a private college located in Milton Wisconsin Founded in 1844 as the Milton Academy it closed in 1982 Its campus is now part of the Milton Historic District Milton CollegeTypePrivateActive1844 1982LocationMilton Wisconsin United StatesColorsBlue and Brown before 1964 Blue and Gold after 1964 1 NicknameWildcatsSporting affiliationsNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Contents 1 History 1 1 Closing 2 Campus life 2 1 Athletics 2 1 1 Football 2 2 Greek life 2 3 Media 3 Campus adaptive reuse 4 Notable alumni 5 Notable faculty 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditThe college was founded as the Milton Academy high school by a group of early Milton settlers including Milton House owner Joseph Goodrich It eventually grew to encompass 16 buildings spread over 24 acres 97 000 m2 Its music department was renowned and a high percentage of foreign students for the era kept the student body diverse Although initially many of the students came from Milton in later years alumni of the college would stay in Milton or return 2 Closing Edit On May 15 1982 Milton College abruptly closed its doors At the time it was Wisconsin s oldest continually operating college 2 The college s board of trustees had voted 18 2 to close the campus following a notification from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools that the college s accreditation would be dropped in the fall term it had previously been on probationary status The decision from North Central stemmed from the college s continual shaky financial situation which culminated in a 4 million debt Milton College had in fact been struggling financially since the Great Depression 50 years earlier Without accreditation the college would not have seen any federal loans or grants adding to an already difficult situation of decreasing student enrollment Furthermore it would have no longer been able to compete with schools in the Wisconsin State University System Some 135 students had been planning to come back to campus when the school closed many with only a few credits left until completion of their studies Officials negotiated with other campuses to accept Milton students 3 Milton College transcripts are stored at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater located 13 miles from Milton Campus life EditAthletics Edit The college was a member of the NAIA and participated in the sports of baseball basketball and football The Milwaukee Bucks chose Milton College s gymnasium as its pre season training camp in 1968 69 Among the players was Lew Alcindor who changed his name to Kareem Abdul Jabbar in 1971 4 Football Edit Milton Wildcats footballMilton fielded its first football team in 1899 and its last in 1981 No teams were fielded from 1904 to 1915 and from 1943 to 1945 During this time the college produced seven All Americans and nine conference titles in 1935 1956 1961 1964 1974 1976 1978 1980 and 1981 The Wildcats played in 419 games during this time with a record of 194 207 18 5 The school was a member of the Illini Badger Football Conference from 1976 to 1982 Greek life Edit Fraternities Alpha Sigma Phi formerly Alpha Kappa Pi Sigma Pi formerly Delta Kappa and Chi Delta Rho Tau Kappa EpsilonNo fraternities or sororities were on campus after 1977 due to falling attendance 6 Media Edit The Wildcat Student newspaper The Blue and Gold Student newspaper Experimental Spectrum Student newspaper Milton College Review Student newspaper Fides The college yearbook WVMC AM College radio station 7 WMDF FM College radio station 8 Campus adaptive reuse EditWhen the school closed the buildings were turned over to the banks that kept it alive over the years Most of the buildings have been converted to commercial or residential use Main Hall is maintained by the Main Hall Preservation Society and serves as a memorial to the college Portraits in the building commemorate faculty and alumni over the years The library is now the Shaw Community Center owned by the City of Milton It houses both city hall and the Milton Public Library 2 The dorms have been converted into apartment buildings The gymnasium is the home of a local church called The Chapel Notable alumni EditStephen Bolles U S Representative from Wisconsin 9 Hellen M Brooks educator and Wisconsin State Representative 10 Ward Christensen inventor of XMODEM citation needed Kerry G Denson U S National Guard general citation needed Joseph Dutton Civil War veteran and later Catholic lay brother and assistant of Father Damien on Molokai 11 Lucy M Hall 1843 1907 physician writer Adoniram J Holmes U S Representative from Iowa 12 Dave Kraayeveld former NFL player 13 Dave Krieg former NFL quarterback 14 Gilbert L Laws U S Representative from Nebraska 15 Canute R Matson Sheriff of Cook County Illinois at the time of the 1886 Haymarket Square Riot in Chicago citation needed Kerwin Mathews former American actor 16 Christopher J Rollis newspaper editor and Wisconsin State Representative 17 Charles P Smith American educator who served as Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin 18 Francis Marion Smith American business magnate known as The Borax King 19 Don S Wenger U S Air Force Major General 20 Albert Whitford astronomer 21 Notable faculty EditWilliam Clarke Whitford American educator legislator and pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist Church from Wisconsin 22 Lorenzo D Harvey American educator who served as Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin 23 Edward Searing American educator who served as Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin 24 Ellsworth Snyder American abstract painter professional pianist conductor and scholar 25 References Edit Archived copy PDF www miltoncollege org Archived from the original PDF on 19 December 2015 Retrieved 17 January 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link a b c Carla McCann June 24 2007 Buildings memories are all that remain of Milton College Janesville Gazette Archived from the original on 4 December 2008 Retrieved 2007 06 24 Milton has its Black Friday The Milton Courier Milton WI 27 May 1982 1 20 Kareem Abdul Jabbar in Milton Milton Courier Milton WI 10 January 2021 Archived copy PDF www miltoncollege org Archived from the original PDF on 19 December 2015 Retrieved 17 January 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Milton College to celebrate homecoming Hometown News LP Retrieved Jun 4 2020 Milton College Memories www miltoncollege org Archived from the original on 15 May 2005 Retrieved 17 January 2022 Milton College Memories www miltoncollege org Archived from the original on 19 December 2015 Retrieved 17 January 2022 BOLLES Stephen 1866 1941 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved November 21 2013 Wisconsin Blue Book 1925 Biographical Sketch of Hellen M Brooks pg 664 Siddall John William ed 1917 Men of Hawaii Vol 1 Honolulu Honolulu Star Bulletin p 95 HOLMES Adoniram Judson 1842 1902 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved November 21 2013 Dave Kraayeveld Pro Football Reference com Retrieved November 21 2013 Dave Krieg Pro Football Reference com Retrieved November 21 2013 LAWS Gilbert Lafayette 1838 1907 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved November 21 2013 Issue 3 Fall PDF Milton College Preservation Society Retrieved November 21 2013 Wisconsin Blue Book 1885 Biographical Sketch of Christopher J Rollis pg 429 Term Smith Charles P 1926 Wisconsin Historical Society Retrieved November 21 2013 Francis Borax Marion Smith The Borax King of Death Valley Legends of America Retrieved November 21 2013 Major general don s wenger US Air Force Retrieved November 21 2013 Albert Whitford eminent astronomer and former director of Lick Observatory dies at 96 UC Santa Cruz Archived from the original on September 1 2014 Retrieved November 21 2013 Term Whitford William Clarke 1828 1902 Wisconsin Historical Society Retrieved November 21 2013 The Sabbath Recorder George B Utter 1917 p 11 Term Searing Edward 1835 1898 Wisconsin Historical Society Retrieved November 21 2013 Ellsworth snyder Jennifer Norback Fine Art Inc Retrieved November 21 2013 External links EditMilton College Preservation Society Milton College homecoming featuring former royals Milton College Collier s New Encyclopedia 1921 Milton College New International Encyclopedia 1905 Coordinates 42 46 28 N 88 56 33 W 42 77444 N 88 94250 W 42 77444 88 94250 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Milton College amp oldid 1130311345, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
