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Mackinac College and the missing library

In 1966, Mackinac College opened its doors in the former Moral Re-armament (MRA) campus on the east end of Mackinac Island. Today, that location is known as the Mission Point Resort.

While the College used the existing buildings and dormitories, the first (and perhaps only) building built specifically for the college was the Peter Howard Memorial Library.

The library was situated between M-185 and the shoreline - most likely in the area that today is occupied by the wonderful Adirondack chairs on the great lawn of Mission Point. Prior to visiting the Mackinac College website (http://www.mackiniaccollege.com) I had no idea this building existed. What once was a focal point for the college seems to have simply vanished.
Certainly someone out there knows the story of the missing library. Is it you?

Tags: college, library, mackinac, mission, point

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Comment by Mary Breddin on October 20, 2012 at 11:49pm: I remember the College and Library Building very well. As a student at the college I spent many hours using the library. The students also built a huge snowman and placed him on the steps. I have since finished college but by far the teaching I received at Mackinac was the most intense.

Comment by Ronald Paul Aragon on March 18, 2012 at 12:49am: Here is some information about Mackinac College -- scroll down to read about Rex Humbard's purchase of the school. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackinac_College

Here is some information on the Library -- scroll down to read. http://www.mintakadesign.com/Mackinac-College/About/campusfacilitie...

Comment by Mike Forrester on December 21, 2009 at 11:56am: Here's a note I received from Irene who lived on the island in Small Point Cottage - before it was moved to it's current location - regarding the library:

It was torn down sometime between '80 and '89. I think it was when Mr. Schufelt took over. Many fascinating lectures and discussion groups had taken place therein, as well as long nights of research and study (and - well- there was that deep window recess on the back stairway, and . . . we will be celebrating ...our 39th anniversary this month!) There was a constant battle between the elements (rising water table into the basement!) and the building and eventually, the elements won. My father had spent from '57 to '64 rescuing that field from the swamp it originally was.

Irene, thanks for sharing that information. You dad's legacy on the island is enjoyed every day!

Comment by Joyce K on December 21, 2009 at 11:06am: The library was probably still standing when my husband and I made our first trips with our two girls but we didn't venture out into the island then like we do now, so we never saw it, but I have to say thank goodness MPR took it down. It was an out of place building that's for sure. I love the greens and open lawn much better. :o)
Mary, that tower is there and still remains. It is a part of the MP musuem now. I thought I took a picture of MPR with the tower but didn't. Here's a pic I took from inside the tower though.

Comment by Pat Steele on December 20, 2009 at 6:18pm: All I know it the library was tore down (can't remember the year) since it had been abandoned for so long and it blocked the view of the lake from the resort.

Comment by Mary Byberg on December 20, 2009 at 11:29am: hey liz! i was curious, did there used to be a building near there too that was like a big lifeguard station...i remember some kind of tall structure with windows all around...or was that my late night tv watching of bad shark attack movies? by the way love your blog...i have one too somewhat oddly similar in name www.turtlecreekquilts.typepad.com

Comment by Mike Forrester on December 20, 2009 at 11:19am: Liz, ah ha! Should have figured you would know. Did Mission Point use the building for anything once they purchased the property? I'm curious as to if it was ever open to the public? I would imagine it was quite a task demolishing the building and hauling off all the debris! Thanks for the information!

Comment by Liz on December 19, 2009 at 8:51pm: Mission Point Resort tore it down sometime between 1989 and 1995 - I can't remember exactly when, I just remember being able to see it out of my bedroom window in the Mission House when I worked for the Fort. It stood where the golf course is now, on the Eastern end - though not all the way over to the gazebo and tennis courts. After MPR tore it down, but before they built the golf course, that area was the school's soccer field. That 1960s vintage building sure did look out of place!

Comment by Mike Forrester on December 16, 2009 at 8:50am: Mary,. I would dare to call the library 'the eyesore by the lake shore' as it was out of place on Mackinac! My first visit to the island was in 1998 and it was well gone by that time.

Comment by Mary Byberg on December 16, 2009 at 7:03am: i remember seeing this building when i was there in the 70's when 'somewhere in time' was being filmed. at the time i wondered why such a funky new looking building would be amung all the older cottages...when i was on the island in 2001 i thought ...wait did i imagine that building.
according to this site it was torn down in the 90's
http://www.mackinacisland.org/pdfs/nationalhistoriclandmark.pdf