Saints' Rest
Encyclopedia
Saints' Rest was the second building erected on the campus of the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan (now Michigan State University
). It was built in 1856 and served as the school's only dormitory
until 1870, when Williams Hall was completed. Along with College Hall
and a horse barn, it was one of three buildings completed when the college opened for classes in 1857.
As the campus's only residence hall, the building had no official name. Students had a variety of nickname
s for it including "the hall", "the boarding hall", "old hall", or "the house". It was only after the hall burned that it acquired the moniker "Saints' Rest", which came from the Puritan
devotional
The Saints' Everlasting Rest, written by Richard Baxter
in 1650.
The hall burned down during the December 1876 vacation despite the efforts of the Lansing
fire department
, which made the run all the way from Lansing in only 45 minutes.
On June 6, 2005, a team of Michigan State archeology professor
s and student
s began a six-week excavation on the site. The dig was part of MSU's 2005 sesquicentennial celebration.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
). It was built in 1856 and served as the school's only dormitory
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
until 1870, when Williams Hall was completed. Along with College Hall
College Hall (Michigan State University)
College Hall was the first building erected on the campus of the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan , and the first in the United States to be erected "for the teaching of scientific agriculture." Reputedly designed by John C...
and a horse barn, it was one of three buildings completed when the college opened for classes in 1857.
As the campus's only residence hall, the building had no official name. Students had a variety of nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s for it including "the hall", "the boarding hall", "old hall", or "the house". It was only after the hall burned that it acquired the moniker "Saints' Rest", which came from the Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
devotional
Devotional literature
Devotional literature is religious writing that is neither doctrinal nor theological, but designed for individuals to read for their personal edification and spiritual formation....
The Saints' Everlasting Rest, written by Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
in 1650.
The hall burned down during the December 1876 vacation despite the efforts of the Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
fire department
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
, which made the run all the way from Lansing in only 45 minutes.
On June 6, 2005, a team of Michigan State archeology professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
s and student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s began a six-week excavation on the site. The dig was part of MSU's 2005 sesquicentennial celebration.