Memorial University
Memorial University
The Sons of Union Veterans at their national convention in Syracuse, N. Y., in 1900, voted to build a university "to commemorate the deeds of loyalty of our fathers and mothers."
They decided to build the "university' in Mason City, Iowa. This action by the convention was a triumph for a group of leading Mason Cityans who had worked on the project since A. L. Sorter four years before had thought of the fantastic plan of establishing a "Harvard of the West" here backed by the finances and membership of the powerful veterans affiliate.
A. L. Sorter, the senior vice commander-in-chief of the national officers, and junior vice commander of the Iowa Division is an old newspaper man of much experience, seven years, in fact. He is young in years, but stated that in his regiment he was captain of company A, 52nd Iowa of Mason City during the Spanish-American war. There were 90 out of 100 who were Sons of Veterans, although not affiliated with the Iowa Division. Mr. Sorter said also that he was chairman of the national military college committee, and concerning this proposition he had this to say:
"The most important thing that will come before the S. V. encampment during its present session will be action relative to Iowa's candidacy for the national military college, which will be located by vote of the national encampment, at Syracuse, N. Y., in September next. This is a memorial university founded by the order and dedicated to the memory of the soldiers of the civil war and the noble women of war times. Already about two million dollars are in sight as an endowment fund and a big fight on location is looked for at Syracuse. Iowa, however, is going in to win. "The western states are all for Mason City, Iowa, and it is highly probable that Iowa will win."
In the century of its existence Mason City has spent huge sums to provide the best possible school facilities, but Sorter's ambitious dream stands as the community's mightiest effort to achieve distinction in the field of education. Those who originated and launched the project were to have the heartbreaking experience of seeing their dream grow dim and fade away.
Assisting Sorter, who was himself a member of the Sons of Union Veterans, were his father-in-law, H. E. Francisco, James E. Blythe, already recognized for his political organization work, and many others of the town's leading citizens.
As soon as the Syracuse convention gave the "go" signal, incorporation papers were drawn up for the National Military College Association, with the following officers: J. E. E. Markley, president; Dr. T. T. Blaise, vice president; C. A. Dyer, secretary; and W. J. Reinke, treasurer.
Corporation Formed: The first action of the corporation was to purchase 160 acres south of the Milwaukee station. Forty acres were set aside for the university campus and the remainder divided into lots and sold.
Architects drew plans for buildings on the campus, stressing "solitary grandeur and somber impressiveness rather than beauty."
The college campus was to face north with a library and chapel in the center of numerous buildings. The library was to be in the shape of a Greek cross with a chapel in the rear.
Cornerstone Laid: "The Day of Jubilee is Here,"
hailed the Globe-Gazette on June 26, 1901, when the cornerstone was laid for the college's first building, a structure which today [1953] is the Roosevelt elementary school. The crowd was the largest ever seen in Mason City up to that time.
On Sept. 20, 1902, the widely heralded Memorial University opened its doors to the youth of America. Then came shocking disappointment and the haunting fear that the fanfare had been for naught. Only 40 students were enrolled, a considerable number of them from Mason City.
But Walter Doran, dean of the school, showed no pessimism when at the opening exercises he declared that the band of students before him "was small indeed compared to the thousands that will come." By the end of the first week hopes were renewed as some 100 students had arrived.
When the expected influx of students failed to materialize, the Rev. S. S. Wyant, president of the university, spent most of his time traveling in search of students and, even more important, in quest of money.
When Wyant failed to show progress in operation of the school, the trustees hired another president, Frederick Tucker of Minneapolis. By this time the dream of the "Harvard of the West" and a campus full of buildings was fading.
When Walter Patton was called from Wisconsin as president in 1906 he concentrated on raising funds, but found the interest of the Veterans organization was fast waning. Sectional differences played a part. Many of the members had wanted the school in the east.
The Class of 1903 had seven graduates. The graduating class of 1909 was the last group of students to receive degrees from Memorial University. The 1909-10 term closed in midyear for lack of funds. That was the last of Memorial University. Al Sorter's fabulous dream had come to an end.
When fire destroyed the Mason City High School in 1911, classes were moved to the former Memorial University building. A few years later the Most Rev. James J. Keane, archbishop at Dubuque, bought the building and land for $180,000. In 1918 the Mason City school system purchased the property for $75,000 and converted the building into the Roosevelt grade school.
The building was used as Roosevelt Elementary School. In the 1950's, the building became the home of Mason City Junior college and housed the junior college for twelve years. The building was torn down in 1979.
Today, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Memorial University, is intended to continue this noble cause and to encourage patriotism, good citizenship and provide a basic knowledge of the American Civil War.
In 2008, an education course for Junior and Junior Associates of the Sons of Union Veterans was developed by the SUVCW National Committee on Americanism and Education and made available through this web site.
In 2009, the curriculum of Memorial University was expanded with the development of an Officer Training Course for members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. This course was a vision of Commander-in-Chief David V. Medert and was achieved through the efforts of a Special National Committee on Education and Leadership established by the 127th SUVCW National Encampment.