Platte County, Missouri Genealogy Trails

Copyright © Carolyn McHenry Elwess,’71, Park University Archivist March, 2003. Revised, January, 2004. All rights reserved.
 

Mackay Hall, soon after it was occupied in 1893.

The story of the origin and construction of Mackay Hall, the landmark building of the Park University campus, is an epic tale, full of hope, hardship, suspense, disappointment, and, above all, endurance. This unique structure, begun in 1886 and occupied in 1893, is the focal point of the campus and is probably one of the most photographed edifices in the State of Missouri.  It has also been the subject of countless drawings and paintings, many of which are exhibited in university offices and galleries.  Its image has appeared, among other places, on china plates, paperweights, license plate frames, the alumni association logo and university stationery.  The main tower has appeared on the official school seal and flag for many, many years.  Despite its exposure, its history is not well known.  

               

Park College [renamed Park University in 2000] was founded in 1875 by George Park and Dr. John A. McAfee, two staunch Presbyterians who believed that there was a great need for training young men and women “…through diligent Bible study, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to develop Christian Life, and prepare for the efficient Christian activity of the students.”[i]  George Park provided a building and some farmland and Dr. McAfee provided educational, religious and practical expertise. Classes began on May 12, 1875 with seventeen students; by 1879, four students, one man and three women, had completed college work and graduated on July 1^st.

 

                         Figure1 (left) "Old Number One," the first college building

From 1875 until 1893, almost all Park College activities took place in “Old Number One,” the 1850s era hotel that George Park built near the river in Parkville and later donated for the use of the college. The large structure stood on the site of today’s city fountain, a bit west of the train depot and provided space for classrooms, dormitory rooms, dining hall and chapel. The little college grew rapidly, thanks to President John A. McAfee’s “Family Work Program” which allowed students to offset the costs of their educations by performing the work necessary to maintain the school. Enrollment soared from seventeen students in 1875 to 286 in 1884 [sixty-six enrolled in the college and 220 in the preparatory department]. The old hotel soon became too crowded and Dr. McAfee struggled to secure housing for the growing numbers of students and faculty. Until the original Copley Hall was completed during the 1884-1885 school year, “numbers of students and members of the faculty were housed in town, at a nominal rental or no rental at all until Copley Hall, though still unfinished, was habitable enough to supply defense against the roughest of the elements.” There was also a desperate need for a classroom and administration building.

Figure 2: Old Copley and unfinished Mackay Hall, circa 1891.

The early days of Park College were characterized by an atmosphere of abject poverty. Money trickled in, but seeking donors was a daily struggle. Students who could not afford clothing depended on donations of garments from churches and individuals. The Park College Record, (hereafter noted as Record), a weekly newsletter mailed to thousands of friends and potential donors, was full of heartfelt pleas for money, for farming equipment and for anything that would help maintain the college. Although Dr. McAfee firmly believed that “the Lord will provide,” there were many days that food was scarce, and, as one early student related, “ my most poignant recollection of Park College is of sour bread and burnt gravy.” Survival was a daily grind.

Figure3: Anna McAfee

Hope for a classroom building did not become reality until 1884. Anna Waddell Bailey McAfee, wife of John A., suffered from a lung condition that necessitated her leaving Missouri for drier climates from time to time. During the summer of 1884 she was convalescing in Manitou, Colorado when she became acquainted with a gentleman named Duncan Mackay. The story of his gift to build Mackay Hall begins as follows:

“Mackay building bears the name of Mr. Duncan Mackay, formerly of Morrison, Illinois. In 1884 Mrs. McAfee was in Colorado for her health. The room adjoining hers, separated by folding doors, was taken by Mr. Mackay, then a stranger to us. In the evening, as he thanked God for the mercies of the day, his rich tones reached her, and she recognized him as a man of rare spirit. The acquaintance begun there led to a full and minute investigation of the work [at Park College].”

Figure 4: Duncan Mackay

Anna McAfee was one of Park’s finest ambassadors and she no doubt convinced Mr. Mackay that the school was worthy of his attention. After her return to Parkville in August, 1884, John A. McAfee took over and corresponded with Mr. Mackay, eventually visiting him in Illinois at the end of December. When he returned in January of 1885, the Record carried this news:

“Our president came home on New Year’s Day with news that called for praise and thanksgiving to God. He had visited friends of Park College in Illinois. One of these friends, Mr. Duncan Mackay, of Morrison, authorizes us to proceed to procure plans and specifications for a College Building. He agrees to furnish the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars with which President McAfee is to build a building worth fifty thousand dollars. He feels assured that with the blessing of God upon him, he can so use student labor as to accomplish this work in five years.”

The bargain was finalized in May. According to an 1895 souvenir book about the college, “after careful consideration and repeated conferences with Dr. McAfee, Mr. Mackay decided to assist in the erection of a College Building. Among his private memoranda is the following:

May 1^{st, 1885, I entered into a verbal agreement with the Rev. John A. McAfee, of Parkville, Mo., to erect a suitable building for a college at Parkville, said building not to cost over $50,000.00. Rev. John A. McAfee and students are to pay one-half of what said building shall cost by labor, etc., and I am to pay the other half or $25,000.00 in cash as fast as President McAfee advances with their half of the work according to the architect’s estimate. Duncan Mackay”}

Figure 5: Dr. John A. McAfee

Dr. McAfee believed that he could complete his part of the bargain within the five years by adding one hundred, perhaps two hundred students who could help work on the building, but first he had to find a way to feed and house them- a daunting task for the struggling school. Copley was full and more dormitory space would be needed. In addition, “before these students were all called in, it was painfully manifest that there must be enlargement in places of worship and recitation [classrooms].” Even though these improvements would have to be made before he could proceed with Mackay, Dr. McAfee was sure that the Mackay Building was God’s will and he forged ahead. In late January, 1885, the trustees met on campus and discussed the location and plans for the structure.

There is no further mention of Mackay until an October issue of the Record. “At last the location of Mackay building has been fixed and the architect, Mr. Hogg [James Oliver Hogg] has been engaged to draw up his plans. The location is a good one. On the hill back of Copley Hall a little toward the East the committee found a place which is finely suited for such a house as they propose to build.” The article also reported that Mr. Hogg was touring other schools to “find the best manner of arranging and laying out rooms for the different branches taught here.” Fixing the location had not been as easy as it sounds, however.

There were those on the trustee building committee who wanted to locate Mackay on the lower level, approximately on what is now the chapel lawn. Another voice came from Dr. Happer, a visitor to the campus in 1885. When Dr. McAfee told him that he favored the site on the hill, Dr. Happer became quite upset. He said, “Think of having your daughters climb this hill every day without regard to monthly weakness. For young men it may do but not well for them even. By all means get Col. Park to give or sell the grounds first shown me; keep your buildings in places of easy access.” McAfee’s reaction was “…the Dr.’s manifest earnestness greatly affected me.” In fact, he was so “exercised in his mind” that he had decided that Dr. Happer was correct. This would require that George Park sell or hand over land on which his home stood.

Figure 6: Park House, far right, in its original location, overlooking the river, circa 1900

 

The Park House, now located near the main entrance to campus, originally stood on a small bluff near what is the front and center of the lawn, facing south. [The home was moved in 1967 when the highway was widened.] George Park and his family were strongly attached to the “homestead” which may have been a big reason that the hill site won.  McAfee decided to leave the decision up to the trustees and, although there is no mention of it in the board minutes, they obviously decided the hill site was a better choice even though extensive grading with mules and scrapers would be necessary to prepare the site. 

 By December, the architect, who now had a partner, Mr. Coddington, had completed his plans and presented them to Dr. McAfee.  The original plan called for a brick building, 150 feet wide by 93 feet deep, with a main entrance, two side doors in the wings and a tower over each door. There would be two 15 foot stories, a 10 foot basement and an 11 foot mansard attic (this original drawing cannot be found). According to the December 12, 1885 Record, the plan was to cover the required half of the expense by having the students make the bricks and build the walls.[i]  In early January, 1886, Dr. McAfee took the plans to George Park in Illinois and reported that he was well pleased. 

 Mackay Building took a back seat to the new chapel, however. As mentioned earlier, the college was in need of a larger Presbyterian meeting place that could accommodate  a dramatic rise in student population. Dr. McAfee decided to build it next, hoping that students could gain some construction experience before starting on Mackay.  Mr. Hogg began specifications for a chapel in January[ii]  and when Mrs. Cyrus McCormick gave the $6000 necessary to build it, work began immediately.[iii]

 Over the next few months, several masons were hired to supervise the student laborers but one after the other they gave up, unable to work with inexperienced young men.  One of these, James Breen, suggested that Dr. McAfee talk to his son Charles Patrick Breen (known as C.P.)  about taking over the supervision.  On August 26, 1886, Dr. McAfee traveled down the Missouri River to Quindaro, Kansas where C.P. was working and persuaded him to inspect the chapel job and consider taking over.  C.P. did examine the job and agreed to hire on if McAfee kept his father and brother as helpers.  This accomplished, the Breens and the students completed the foundation and walls of the chapel by Christmas.  Dr. McAfee’s part of the agreement was that if the Chapel proved satisfactory, he would promise C.P. all the work he could handle. C.P. was not only an expert mason but also a supervisor who had a special affinity for working with inexperienced young men. Dr. McAfee was, indeed, satisfied and offered C.P. the job of building superintendent, a position he held for the next 25 years. [iv]

[i] Students had been making bricks since March,1885.  In 1886 they used college brick to build the Threlkeld home. (Literary Monthly, March, 1886)  This house still stands at 504 Main, Parkville, MO.
[ii] Record, January 9, 1886.
[iii] Record, March 27, 1886.
[iv] Hand written memoir of Charles Patrick Breen.

Figure 7: C. P. Breen

Breen was hired during the time that Dr. McAfee was trying to recover from a “breakdown.” In fact, in his memoirs, C.P. Breen described him as “far from a well man.” In addition to bearing all the labor and worry needed to keep the college alive, McAfee had struggled with co founder George Park for several years. Mr. Park did not believe that the Park College Family was a viable organization and he repeatedly criticized McAfee for being so devoted to it. He believed that the college should start making money and constantly lobbied for more paying students. McAfee was just as inflexible; he believed his Family had been ordained by God. One reason for their difference of opinion may have been that they were a generation apart in age. In 1886, Park was seventy-five years old and McAfee was fifty-five. Mr. Park felt so strongly about this that he threatened to create a new department, separate from Park College and the Park College Family, for paying students only. In addition, he was slowly becoming more and more senile; even his own daughter, Ella, admitted she could not reason with him. “I regret these whims father has. He acts unaccountably often. Will get into a rage, & misconstrue everybody, every thing. His mind does not seem to be right.” Worn out from unceasing labor along with the emotional and mental strain of dealing with Mr. Park, Dr. McAfee became alarmingly ill.

He had sought medical help in all parts of the country and had been diagnosed as follows by a Dr. S. Weir Mitchell of Philadelphia, a physician who was well known in the treatment of “nervousness:” “Dec. 31, 1885, Dear Sir, You have a form of congestion of brain which makes it clear that a year more may end your power to work at all. You will never again be able to do as you have done.” [indeed, Dr. McAfee never did fully recover] He prescribed arsenic and phosphoric acid, sponge baths and “cool showers to your head.” Dr. Mitchell also told him to avoid all care, all intellectual work and business talk. His final recommendation was “read novels & fish & dawdle & lie in the sun.”

After the diagnosis, Dr. McAfee was forced to cut back on his activities, but he could not avoid worrying about Park College, the project to which he had devoted his heart and soul. By June 1886, he was too ill to attend commencement and he and Mrs. McAfee left for two months in Colorado. They returned briefly in August, the month he hired C.P. Breen, but were forced to leave again and spent at least the next six months away from the school. Although he still maintained ultimate authority over college matters, John A. McAfee was forced to rely more and more on his sons during the last few years of his life. During his absence, one of his sons, Howard B. McAfee, took over the job of “pushing forth the building [of the chapel].”

McCormick was located on the terrace below old Copley Hall, near the location of the present Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel.

Figure 7: McCormick Chapel, Copley visible at the left.

McCormick, like so many other new college buildings, was in use before it was finished. The class of 1887 insisted on having its commencement exercises there even though there was no decent furniture, no lighting fixtures and no plaster on the walls. In fact, interior work continued for at least another two years.

Other afflictions beset the college. The Record of March 19, 1887, summarized some of the problems that occurred during the exceptionally bitter winter of 1886-1887. “A long and very severe siege of sickness in the College Family and the severity of a portion of the winter kept the work back.” Several students died of this unnamed disease despite the best efforts of physicians both from Parkville and from Kansas City. The same issue reveals the desperation that nearly overwhelmed the school. “No year in the history of this institution has seen so many trials. Early in the year we were almost overcome by financial straits. Then came that heavier scourge. The sickness, which for weeks amazed us and which took from our number several students.” To make matters worse, the newest dormitory, built on the north edge of Parkville in 1885, burned to the ground on January 26, 1887. This building, called “Number Three,” housed the young ladies of the newest “Family Number Three,” a new addition to the increasingly popular work program. No one was hurt, but this disaster complicated the housing situation. Finally, the college community was further saddened by the death of a student, Walter Pickell, who was struck by a train on March 12, 1887. While this may seem relatively unrelated to the other major problems, the college community was so closely knit that Walter’s death deeply affected everyone.

Regardless, the college continued to grow and the work had to go on. By 1889, Dr. McAfee had regained some of his stamina and was literally begging for money to erect a dormitory for students enrolled in the Park Academy. The Academy had been created in 1885 and served as a college preparatory school. It had grown rapidly and its student population often outnumbered those enrolled in the college. During the 1891-1892 school year, 113 students were enrolled in the college and 235 were attending the Academy. Most of the Academy students entered the college program; in many cases, students spent a full eight years at Park. Aware of this need for another building, Duncan Mackay mentioned it to a friend, James Snyder, also of Morrison, Illinois. Mr. Snyder was old and ill and his family “[were] opposed to nearly all his benevolence.” Despite this opposition, Dr. McAfee secured $5000 from him, hired professional masons to build the walls and, with the help of student labor, completed Snyder Dormitory in 1891. Snyder housed 38 young ladies and had a kitchen and dining room that could handle 100 hungry students.

Figure 8: Snyder, far left and Mackay, next right, under construction

During the years 1884-1891, Park students constructed or helped to construct five dormitories, Copley in 1884-1885; Number Three in 1885; Bergen in 1887; Sherwood in 1889 and Snyder, in 1889-1891. They also worked on a chapel that could seat nearly 1,000 people, built a new barn and erected three houses and a store building in Parkville. One must realize that all of this was accomplished in addition to the regular work necessary to sustain the school. Each year school was closed for one week in the spring and another in the fall to allow the young men to prepare and plant the fields and then to harvest crops. Among other tasks, the male students made bricks, baked bread, dug wells, quarried stone, gathered fuel, cleared land, worked in orchards and vineyards, milked cows, butchered meat, made sorghum and constantly made repairs on buildings and furniture. The female students cooked, cleaned and washed clothes for the rapidly growing population. Each of the ladies’ dormitories had a kitchen, dominated by huge wood ranges, and a dining area; those young women prepared and served three meals a day, seven days a week to at least 300 people. All of these factors, exacerbated at times by sickness, floods and severe weather were reasons that initial work on Mackay Hall was delayed and all of these contributed to the many work stoppages during the seven years of its construction.

Figure 9. Snyder kitchen circa 1906.

One must also realize that in addition to working three to three and a half hours each day, students also attended classes and received rigorous religious training. Regardless, life on campus was not all work and no play. Until 1895, when the club system was modified, social life was dominated by three coed Literary Societies, Cheever, Bullard and Park, and competition among them was fierce. They held inter- club debates, acted in plays and among other events, participated in musical programs. By far the most popular diversions were “feeds,” or picnics held at various locations throughout Park’s several hundred acres of woodlands. All events were, of course, chaperoned by adults. Considering the levels of energy needed for work, classes, chapel and social events it is a wonder that a building as large as Mackay was even contemplated.

Ground was finally broken for the basement of Mackay Hall in 1886 and the foundation was ready for a cornerstone by June, 1887. According to some reports, many commemorative items were placed inside or under the stone. Mr. Mackay was asked for his picture but declined stating: “I have no suitable pictures that I want under the corner stone. Anything you see proper to lay there please do so and I will be satisfied – and will send you whatever it costs.” The stone was laid on commencement day, June 9, 1887. Surprisingly, no program for the ceremony can be found.

Soon after the foundation was begun, however, “…there being some well founded objection to the quality of our brick, it was decided to use stone in the construction of the building. The stone in our hills is of the finest quality.” However, “Dr. McAfee found the change in the material used rendered it impossible for the students to do half the work.” “It [Mackay] is of native stone taken from quarries on our own land – gray trimmed with white—range work showing natural rock face. The white stone trimming is dressed. Extreme length [of the building] 137 feet, depth 84 feet, covers 9,000 square feet. Four floors. First 10 feet 6 inches high half basement. Fourth 12 feet 6 inches, mansard. The main entrance is to be surmounted by a clock tower 132 feet high. The 164 windows will afford abundance of light. The building is upon good foundation – solid rock. The style of the inside finish is not yet decided upon and must be determined by the amount of money we have for that purpose.” According to a handwritten caption in a circa 1889 photograph album, at least some of the stone was quarried from the hillside across from Old Labor Hall, on the north side of the campus.

Contrary to university folklore, Mackay was not built entirely by student labor nor were the large stones rolled up ramps to the higher levels. As stated earlier, John McAfee had realized early on that the untrained students could not build the immense stone walls. Professionals were contracted to do the stonework and to do the dangerous roofing and metal work. Students did, however, quarry and haul the stone and as will be shown later, did almost all of the carpentry. Over three hundred student laborers contributed hard work to the building during the seven-year project and, miraculously, none was seriously injured. Although no photographic evidence exists, the stones for the walls were most likely raised by a block and tackle arrangement suspended from floor joists or were lifted with a “mobile A frame.” The latter was an “A” shaped structure that could be moved up as each course of stone was completed. The stones were lifted from the basement or ground by ropes pulled through pulleys on this frame. The ropes were harnessed to horses or mules. Both methods were commonly employed in those days, according to Dan Atkinson, superintendent of the current roof project. It is possible that ramps were used by hod-carriers who transported the mortar in wheelbarrows and that this was translated over the years to include the stones as well.

Despite the change from brick to stone, Mr. Mackay followed through and funded the work as it progressed. Students continued to quarry the stone, but McAfee was forced to hire masons to build the walls, which increased expenses significantly. By April, 1889, the walls had risen to above the basement story level and the members of the class of 1889 commissioned a class stone, engraved with their class year, to be placed in the wall. C.P. Breen supervised this massive project in his usual calm, methodical manner and work progressed until Mr. Mackay’s death on September 5, 1889. At the time, he had advanced only $15,400 of the promised $25,000 and after forwarding only $2,600 more, the executors of the estate decided that there were legal questions in the way of further advancement of money. Laborers had just finished putting in the joists for the third floor but despite McAfee’s heartfelt pleas to his heirs, Mr. Mackay’s funds were not released, and the work stopped for nearly a year.

Figure 10: Mackay under construction, 1889

This was the status when the college suffered another blow with the deaths of both founders: George Park on June 6, 1890 followed by Dr. McAfee on June 12, 1890. Contrary to what one may expect, chaos did not follow. After a short period of suspense and consternation, Dr. McAfee’s sons, under the leadership of their mother, Anna, assumed the responsibilities of running the college. The McAfees were determined to continue John A’s plans for Park College and forged ahead. Second eldest son Howard B. McAfee took over as business manager; one of his responsibilities was to oversee construction of campus buildings.

Benefactors took note of the school’s struggle and one, Mr. T.G. Sellew of New York City, came to the rescue of Mackay Hall with a gift of $7500.00 in August of that year. “This generous and timely gift enabled us to resume the work and before it was exhausted the remainder of Mr. Mackay’s estate was available so that the fall of 1891 found the building under roof and presenting a beautiful and symmetrical exterior.”

Details of the roofing work were provided in the February 21, 1891 Record.

“Rapid progress has been made lately in the completion of the roof of Mackay. But [only] one workman has been hired, the work being done by students. Many of the students have used saw and hammer as professional carpenters for the first time. The superintendent [C.P. Breen] has given his undivided attention to it. Almost all the woodwork on the roof [sheathing] will be completed before this issue of the RECORD [sic] is read. The first section of the tower on the east end is visible over the roof, while the scaffolds of the other sections tower high above. As the material is all cut and jointed before it is put on the scaffold, a few days of such weather that has been given us will suffice to see it a finished structure. [by this time the west tower had been completed but the main spire and east tower were incomplete] Many of the young men who now spend their best energies in putting heavy timbers in place or out on a scaffolding putting on the finishing touches will return someday and point with pride to what was put in place by their energy and skill. The galvanized iron, slate and tin work are done under contract with a Kansas City firm.”

The A.K. Sweet Manufacturing Company of Kansas City had won the roofing contract with a bid of $4145.00. The company “… agreed to furnish the material for and do the work and labor in putting on the galvanized iron work, tin work and gutters on exterior of building herein mentioned and doing tin and slate roofing on such building known as the Mackay Building now being erected at the college grounds.” Their work included all the fancy tinwork, including the finials that graced the tops of the three towers. The July 18^{th, 1891 Record carried this report:}

“Yes the highest point has been reached. A gilded ball, fourteen inches in diameter is held up almost 150 feet above the ground. All the upper part of the scaffold is down, and by the way, it is an occasion of thanksgiving that the work on those high scaffolds has been attended with no injury. Great care and many nails were used in building them. We breathe freer now that the most dangerous part is over. The outside work on the building is almost done and the money is also almost spent. The inside work should go forward. How anxious we are to make use of those large airy recitation rooms next winter. The stars and stripes waved triumphantly from the incomplete tower on the 4th of July. We felt patriotic and truly glad to see it.”

Figure 11: Mackay without windows or clock, 1891

Hopes were high, but by September, 1891 there was no money for window sash or for materials to finish the inside of the building; almost two more years would pass before Mackay could be occupied.

Benefactors again came to the rescue. In early winter, 1891, Mr. Sellew provided $300 which paid for lumber for the rough flooring; Caroline Willard gave $250 for lath and Mrs. Frances Achey donated $1000.00 for the plastering. The student carpenters laid the floors during the winter and spent two more months nailing on lath. Plastering began in late June, 1892.

“The contract for plastering Mackay Building has been let and the work is well underway. The contract calls for $725 and is less than 10 cents a yard for the actual plastering to be done. This does not include openings and wainscot and is a very moderate price in view of the height of the ceiling and the labor of scaffolding and moving from room to room. Mr. C.R. Huntington of Kansas City Mo., is the contractor and is giving personal attention to the work.”

Windows were another story.

“The sash for Mackay Building has been ordered and are almost ready for delivery. There are 178 windows [more than originally planned] in the building and the sash glazed, will cost over $600.00 and the freight from Kansas City to Parkville. More than one mile of sash cord will be required to hang the windows and almost five tons of weights. These weights will cost a cent a pound in Kansas City or $22 a ton delivered in Parkville. 60 dozen pulleys will cost 35 or 40 cents a dozen.”

Within one month more donors came forth and enabled the college to purchase almost all the material needed to finish the interior of the building, but difficulties with Kansas City lumber suppliers caused even more delays.

“We are not able to report as much progress as we hoped would have been made by this time. Extensions, jambs, stools and casings must all come from planing mills and we find them very busy, so that we have suffered more delay on this account. However, we hope this difficulty is now overcome. During the week we have received two car-loads of flooring and wainscot which will enable us to push this part, and we have the promise of Mitchell Planing mill of Kansas City who have the contract for furnishing the mill work, that it shall be shipped by Wednesday of next week.”

For once, lack of money was not the reason for delay, but that did not lessen the disappointment of not being able to use Mackay at the beginning of the fall term.

When the materials did arrive, a flurry of activity ensued “about the building.” In September, work began laying the finish floors, hanging windows, installing wainscot, casings and mouldings. But even that wasn’t enough. Winter was approaching and the building could not be used until it had a heating system. All the money had been spent and there was none left for furnaces.

The heating system problem was serious. College officials had constructed Mackay using specifications for heat and ventilation provided by Mr. E.C. Condit of the Ruttan Iron works, who apparently had made a verbal agreement with John A. McAfee in 1885. He had offered his system of four coal fired, hot air gravity furnaces at his cost of $2,025.00, and was willing to keep his promise as late as 1891. Unfortunately, before Mackay could be completed, Mr. Condit had sold his business to the Isaac Smead Company. The Smead Company had no responsibility to honor Mr. Condit’s offer and required $4000.00 to do the job -- $3500 for the furnaces and $500 for “dry closets.” After all, seven years had passed. The proposed contract specified that “…one third of the cost was due when the furnaces were delivered, one third when they were set up and one third six months from [after] completion.” Improvements made in the furnaces necessitated alterations in the building’s venting system. Besides having to raise twice as much money for the furnaces, over $300 more was needed for the alterations.

H.B. McAfee did not want to sign a contract with Mr. Smead until he had at least one third of the money in the furnace fund and he began a series of appeals through the Record.

“The liberality of friends who have given the money to complete the building is an assurance that other friends will speedily be found who will furnish the money for furniture and equipment of the building for school purposes. Most conspicuous of these needs and the one which we feel should be supplied first, is furnaces for heating and ventilation. We cannot but doubt that it is the Lord’s will that we should have these or other furnaces, but we dare not involve ourselves or the Institution in debt.”

Figure 12. Mackay from the rear, showing the huge chimneys.

Figure 13: Architect's drawing of Mackay Hall

This same issue of the Record contained a copy of the architect’s drawing of Mackay

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