Memories of the presidents' houses

On July 31, 1942 "Momma and Daddy brought me to Houghton College. We drove 277 miles. Got here at about 6:30." (from my diaries) Arrangements had been made by my father and Dr. Paine for me to go to the Paine's house (number four) the first of August to help when their third baby was to be born. I was also to be a student at the college. I was to stay in the house until school started, then move to Gaoyodea. The rest of the school year, my duties were to be housekeeper, laundry lady, cook and baby sitter. The house was a two-story duplex. There were three bedrooms, living and dining room, kitchen, dinette and bathroom and an attached garage, plus a basement. I ironed, canned beans, baked cookies and cleaned the house. When Dr. Paine signed my Boulder he wrote, "Best wishes to our other girl."

The president's house was replaced by the Paine Science Center. I cherish the memories of the gracious and loving Paine family in their home.

Helen (Willett '46) Tschantz
Massillon, OH

My heart is prompted to comment on President Paine's house in picture number two, though my perspective will be that of a child. Memories ooze from that photograph that take me back to the late 1940s and early 1950s. My father built our family home (now owned by the Bruce Brenneman family) on the lot next to the Paine's. We moved into our house shortly before the Paines moved into theirs. Dr. Paine's daughter Mimi became my best friend and school chum.

Their home was immense and magnificent: two floors with very large rooms and very large windows, and a basement. When you entered the house, you could see part of the kitchen out of the corner of your eye, but the aromas that wafted from there could overtake any visitor. Many times my unspoken wish was granted and I was invited to stay for dinner. Family prayers always followed the meal. Dr. Paine would select a chapter from the Bible, which everyone but me would recite, and that was followed with prayer. (Later I realized that the family hadn't memorized the whole Bible, as I had presumed— only selected chapters.)

The dining room holds the most sobering of memories, for this is where Margie Paine, the oldest child, was given 24-hour care as she struggled with polio. Margie's bed was set up in the dining room so she had a spectacular view of their backyard landscape to "the point" (the end of the property, which then plummeted to the road). Her caregivers were endlessly cheerful and patient in this corner, (as was Margie), and to this eight-year-old, a subtle lesson was taught and learned: God can be ever present in tragic circumstances.

From the beginning, our family knew what an important man Dr. Paine was. Even so, outside chores and mowing the lawn was not beneath him. I would watch him push that mower over the huge expanse of their yard; it seemed like an exhaustive job. It was not unusual for him to stop in his tracks when he saw me emerge from my house, and approach me with kind, thoughtful attention—heady stuff for this youngster.

A few years before Dr. Paine died I returned. With slowing step and a racing heart, I reached the Paine threshold. Suddenly the door opened and there they were, Dr. and Mrs. Paine, still cheerful in countenance, and welcoming. Nothing had changed; even the kitchen aroma was the same, except there was something different. It took just a moment to try to accept it…everything was exactly as it should have been, but, oh, so much smaller. Even outside, the huge and expansive yard I could have easily mowed. And the Brennemans—so gracious to let me wander through the rooms of my own home—had also managed to alter the sizes of the familiar, loving rooms my dad built. Everything, everywhere had shrunk.

With somber and hallowed respect I considered the importance of what had remained; the immenseness and magnificence of the souls and spirits of those who had lived here—those who had influenced my life profoundly; values that were mentored to me from these homes had found their mark and taken root. No need for earthly largeness here, only the acceptance that the "Father's love is vast beyond all measure."

Gerrie (Evans '65) Raw
Huntsville, AL 2 4

In the summer '07 issue of Milieu I was surprised to see a picture of the house I lived in while attending Houghton (1939-1942)—number four, the Paine house. My uncle and aunt, Harry E. ("H. E.") and Emma Rosenberger, were childless, but God laid it upon their hearts to offer opportunities for college to their nieces and nephews and other young people they knew. They lived on the second floor of the Paine house; the students had bedrooms on the top floor.

It wasn't only a matter of providing us with room and breakfast in exchange for doing tasks like cleaning, and, in my case, ironing men's shirts. It was a matter of the intellectual and spiritual inspiration and guidance. H.E. taught philosophy, psychology, church history, ethics and had a deep interest in history. Emma had an interest in literature. Oh, the conversations we had about all those subjects! It is no wonder that I majored in American history and literature, even at the graduate level.

I cannot say enough about the value of the spiritual benefit of the college. It provided the environment in which I became a Christian, profiting under the ministry of such men as E.W. Black. Oh, yes, house number four brings back many memories for me.

Lois Craig '43
Ft. Dodge, IA

In September 1924 Ruby Moor and I registered as freshmen and spent our first night at the president's home (number 4), because our reserved room at Gao had been taken. We spent our freshman year at "the Ice Box." Those wonderful memories are a blessing for me now.

Edith (Davis '29) Densmore
Franklin, IN

In last issue's Picture This ("The President's Houses"), the house labeled number one was where President Chamberlain and his family lived during the early years of his tenure. In addition to the Chamberlain's many children, at least one alumna shared a room at that house during her college years. The house is now owned by Ben King—Professor of Voice; Director, School of Music and Associate Dean for Music—and his family. House number two was the Paine's house after they moved from house number four, which, as Tschantz noted, was razed to make room for the Paine Science Center. The house remains in the hands of a Paine family member: David and LuAnne (Miller '90) Brubaker'90 and their children live there. LuAnne's mother is Carolyn (Paine'60) Miller, daughter of Stephen Paine. House number four had served as the president's house for several earlier presidents, and had other residents as well, as Craig remembered, including the family of "Pop" Mills. House number three is the current president's house, occupied by the Chamberlains upon its completion in the late 1990s and now home of President.

Shirley Mullen '76. —Editor

Alumni Presidents

I read with interest the summer 2007 issue of the Milieu, especially the materials on Shirley Mullen, but I had one question. In the interview with Mullen, the interviewer addresses her with the comment, "You're the first member of the alumni to become president of Houghton College." My father, Wilber T. Dayton '38, was an alumnus and president for a term in the 1970s. Am I missing something here?

Don Dayton '63
Monrovia, CA

No, we missed it. The late Dr. Dayton, president from 1972-76, graduated from Houghton magna cum laude in 1938. We apologize to the Dayton family for making this error. —Editor

For the Record

I am honored that someone submitted information to "Milestones" on my behalf, however, there were some significant errors in what appeared. First, I am chief resident of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University at Buffalo, not for the entire university. Second, there is no trauma center at Women's and Children's Hospital of Buffalo (WCHOB); my primary responsibilities are in the emergency departments at the Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo General Hospital and the WCHOB. Finally, I am not the youth pastor at my church; I am one of the volunteer youth leaders and the organist and director of music.

I love the Milieu and find the articles to be both intriguing and entertaining. I have very fond memories of my time at Houghton, and still feel a sense of excitement whenever I am on campus. Thanks for keeping the alumni connected in this way.

Jeff Thompson '01
East Aurora, NY