The Willow Bowl: A Unique and Special Part of the College

More than 70 years ago, then President Dr. J.T. Anderson, 1935-1946, with the aid of a Works in Progress Act (WPA) grant, launched the plan to create the Willow Bowl on the campus of Wayne State College. The Willow Bowl, completed in 1938, evolved from what was originally a campus lake completed in 1922, which for two years allowed Wayne State students to ice skate in the winter and swim in the summer. Later, a cracked cement base ended these student activities and a mess was left behind.

 

The Willow Bowl was constructed using the broken cement from the pond and mortar to form the stage and seating of the amphitheatre. From this modest beginning, the Willow Bowl became not just a landscape feature on campus, but according to alumni, a place central to their hearts and minds. It is an icon, a representation of the college that is unique and special.

 

Alumni frequently share stories about the Willow Bowl: spring commencement, marriage proposals, a rendezvous with someone or just enjoying its beauty. It is one of the reasons Wayne State College was named most beautiful campus in North Central United States.

 

Alumnus Irv Hoffbauer '51 provided funds to hire the architect to develop the reconstruction plan. It will take the full support of Wayne State College alumni to come together to ensure the continued existence of our beloved Willow Bowl.

 

If we can secure the funds needed to reconstruct the Willow Bowl by May 2012, the work can begin in June 2012 and be completed by April 2013, just in time for spring commencement.

 

A Campaign to Restore the Willow Bowl

From a distance the Willow Bowl retains its unique beauty. A closer look, though, reveals crumbling concrete, missing stones, a cracking and leaning stage wall, and uneven and loose stairs. The firm of Bahr Vermeer Haecker Architects was retained by the college to develop a plan to restore the Willow Bowl. The plan is to reconstruct it for an 80 to 100 year fix using limestone and current technology to meet the following goals.

 

- Maintain original configuration - Improve existing utilities - Correct the freeze/thaw deterioration - Fully stabilize the stage wall - Address handicap accessibility

DONATION PROGRESS $888,302.11 $0 $811,000

 

Estimated Costs Item Estimated Cost 1. Program Planning $ 9,000 2. Professional Fees $ 64,378 3. Construction Costs - General Construction - Limestone Stage Walls - Limestone Amphitheater Seat Walls - Electrical Utilities - Parking, Drives, Roads and Walks - Landscaping and Fencing $ 656,467 4. Other Costs - Includes Testing, Geotec, Surveying $ 13,650 5. Project Contingency $ 67,012 Total Project Cost $ 810,507

 

 

Amounts Raised by Decade Click any decade to see breakdown by year 1930-1939 $500 Class Year Decade Class Rep Amount Raised 1930-1939 Jerrine Lucas $500 1940-1949 $8,082 Class Year Decade Class Rep Amount Raised 1940-1949 Florence Ferrin $8,082 1950-1959 $70,785 Class Year Class Rep Amount Raised 1950 Gene Willmott $1,433 1951 Irv Hoffbauer $40,700 1952 Mac McManigal $1,530 1953 Barbara Hypse $4,765 1954 Carol Bremer/Carole Petersen $3,775 1955 Dwain Petersen $1,449 1956 Dennis Thavent $5,673 1957 Jim Hummel $4,573 1958 Don Bremer $4,763 1959 Burdette Bremer $2,124 1960-1969 $67,895.40 Class Year Class Rep Amount Raised 1960 Gary Blakeman $6,646 1961 Dennis and Gale Korth $600 1962 Dick Keidel $3,483 1963 Bill Koeber $3,064 1964 Bill Reeg $7,189 1965 Mona Casady $18,148.40 1966 Linda Boles $4,300 1967 Ron Whitt $1,123 1968 Adrian Minks $19,743 1969 Jean Mueting $3,599 1970-1979 $204,545.34 Class Year Class Rep Amount Raised 1970 Terry McClain $8,844 1971 Don and Diane Soukup $11,578 1972 Cap Petersen $5,574 1973 Jana Steidinger $1,366 1974 Greg Allen $2,498 1975 Regg Swanson $102,158 1976 George Shuck $62,433 1977 Doug Goodyear $1,925 1978 Kirk Hutton $5,791 1979 Greg VanderWeil $1,865 1980-1989 $46,097.05 Class Year Class Rep Amount Raised 1980 Duane Polodna $5,593 1981 Jan Dinsmore $1,208 1982 Marge Holland $6,129 1983 Carolyn Murphy $20,641 1984 Glenda Gallisath $1,610 1985 Joyce Reeg $2,534 1986 Marge Heller $2,772 1987 Drew Walker $722.05 1988 Julie Paluka $3,799 1989 Ron Holt $957 1990-1999 $13,751.00 Class Year Class Rep Amount Raised 1990 Tracy Allgood $3,016 1991 Jeanne Ann Kardell $653.50 1992 Kevin Hill $800 1993 Brenda Carhart $626 1994 Lea Clausen $499 1995 Brian Lentz $383 1996 Bruce O’Neel $3,018 1997 Charles Janssen $3,416 1998 Brian Litchfield $211 1999 Kevin Armstrong $1,124 2000-2009 $3,056 Class Year Class Rep Amount Raised 2000 Brandon and Mollie Trease $344 2001 Brad Jones $421 2002 Kevin Lingenfelter $58 2003 Nick Muir $33 2004 Sarah Bates Brownell $132 2005 Norman Small $20 2006 Larry Moser $1,399 2007 Brian Wiese $116 2008 Amy Cech Hoferer $533 2009 Tamara Nash $-- 2010-Present $75 Class Year Class Rep Amount Raised 2010 Lukas Rix $75 2011 Joe Whitt & Lucas French $-- Faculty/Staff/Friends of WSC $473,305.32 Class Year Name Amount Raised Faculty, Staff & Friends -- $473,305.32

 

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