Home for the holidays at the K-State President’s Residence – history of a campus icon
For many Wildcats, the university campus feels like home, the spot that we all “love
full well.”
However, for K-State President Richard Linton and First Lady Sally Linton, campus
is home — quite literally.
Nestled within the Manhattan campus, the K-State President’s Residence at 100 Wilson
Court has been home to the university’s presidents since the early 1920s. Its native
limestone architecture offers timeless beauty throughout the seasons, whether it's
framed by falling leaves in autumn or snow drifts during the holiday season.
"We are thrilled to be living in the heart of campus in a residence of such historical
significance to K-State," the Lintons said. "It already feels like home, and we're
honored to live in a space that has housed so many great K-Staters."
Here’s a peek at some of the history behind this iconic campus building, along with
some photos from holiday seasons past.
The residence at 100 Wilson Court is actually the third house that has been constructed
on campus for K-State presidents and their families.
In 1866, President Joseph Denison moved into a house in a location that is now the
center of campus. It became the college hospital in 1920 until it was demolished in
1959 to clear ground for the original building of Lafene Student Health Center, which
is now the English building.
President George T. Fairchild moved into a second presidential home in 1885. Built
where Holton Hall sits today, it cost approximately $6,000. President Fairchild was
the only president to occupy the house as it was struck by lightning in 1895 and burned
down.
Between 1895 and 1923, university presidents and their families lived in private,
off-campus homes.
The three-story English country-style house that currently sits at 100 Wilson Court
was built of native limestone in 1923 for a cost of $31,000 — about $538,000 in today’s
dollars. The house was designed by Cecil Baker, former head of K-State's Department
of Architecture, and was created to look and feel like a family home but also blend
in with other campus buildings.
When construction finished, William Jardine ’38, K-State’s seventh president, and
his family were the first to take residence in the new home.
Over the years, the current home's interior has been renovated and redecorated to
meet the residents' needs and reflect the style of each presidential family. Jon Wefald
made significant changes to the residence in 1998 when a new, two-car garage was built,
and the old garage was converted into a family gathering room. Upon the recommendations
from Kirk Schulz and his family in 2016, the first floor guest bathroom was renovated,
kitchen space was expanded to accommodate catering and event-hosting needs, and the
HVAC system was modernized. Richard B. Myers ’65 and Mary Jo Rupp Myers ’64 decorated
and dedicated one of the second-floor bedrooms to General Dwight D. Eisenhower in
the fall of 2019.
On several visits to campus, Gen. Eisenhower stayed with his brother, Milton Eisenhower
’24, ’63, the ninth president of K-State. One of the more notable visits was after
General Eisenhower was named supreme allied commander during World War II and was
given leave five months before D-Day. He secretly visited Manhattan to spend time
with President Eisenhower and his family at the President’s Residence.
In addition to being home to the university's president and their family, the house
has also played host to a number of dignitaries and celebrities including comedian
Red Skelton and author Truman Capote, as well as numerous K-State alumni and friends
of the university.
"The President’s Residence has become much more than a residence for the chief executive and their families. The residence with its limestone rock siding, white trimmed windows, and backyard swing has become an inspiration of pride for the campus community for almost 100 years." – Office of the President
- Information compiled from www.k-state.edu/president/history/residence/
- Photos courtesy of K-State Division of Communications and Marketing