Page:A history of the Michigan state normal school (now Normal college) at Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1849-1899 (IA historyofmichiga00putniala).pdf/40

 library and musettm on condition that the Board of Education would appropriate an equal amount.

These propositions were accepted by the Board, and the citizens of Ypsilauti were asked to raise fifteen hundred dollars of the required three thousand, “in consideration of the great local advantage to accrue to the community from the presence of such an agricultural museum.” The citizens readily pledged the amount asked, and arrangements were inimediately entered into for the erection of a building. This building was to be 70x40 feet, two stories above the basement, and was to have a large lecture room for the winter meetings of the agricultural society, and ample accommodation for the cabinets and libraries of both the society and the normal school. It was anticipated that ‘the proposed building would be completed at an early day; but various unexpected obstacles caused delay so that it was not enclosed and roofed over until late in the autumn of 1865. ‘Then still other obstacles appeared, and further delays occurred. The agricultural society lost its interest in the project, and after having expended $3,250, finally in 1868 assigned all its rights and claims in the building to the Board of Education. It should be stated, however, that the Legislature, by an appropriation in 1871, reimbursed the agricultural society for the money which it had thus expended. At its session in 1869 the Legislature appropriated $7,500 to complete the building and grade the normal school grounds. In January, 1870, the Board accepted the finished edifice and, by formal vote, changed its name from “normal museum” to “‘new normal school building.” The original plan and purpose of the building had been lost during the years of delay, and until the year 1882 it was devoted to the use of the Training School. Since that time it has been occupied in part or in whole by the Conservatory of music. In 1886 the hall in the upper story was fitted up by the Board of Education and set apart for the use of the Students’ Christian Association. The association continued to occupy this room until the completion of “Starkweather Hall” in March of 1897.