Everyone from the college president to the new freshmen at Wheaton College spend time in Blanchard Hall. It is no wonder they fondly call it “Old Main.”
The castle-like building has been the central focus of the Wheaton campus since its beginning in the 1850s. In fact, according to college records, at one point “Old Main” housed the entire campus: classrooms, chapel, cafeteria, library and sleeping quarters.
Made of native Illinois limestone that was quarried in Batavia, it is named for the college’s founder and first president, Jonathan Blanchard, who patterned it after buildings he had seen at Oxford University in the 1840s.
But Wheaton College’s main structure was actually built in five stages. It was started in 1853 by Blanchard, the original center structure costing $2,000 to build. The center tower, an 80-foot, five-sided structure, was added to the middle in 1871. A three-story wing followed two years later on the west side, and then a four-story eastern wing in 1890.
In 1927 the building was completed with an addition to the east wing shortly after Jonathan Blanchard’s son, Charles Blanchard, finished his last year as the school’s second president.
Besides administration offices, and various academic departments, Blanchard is home to the feature many students may love most on the campus: the bell tower, considered the identifying symbol of the college. And the 100-pound copper-and-tin bell is inscribed with the school’s motto: “Christo Et Regno Ejus” which is Latin for “For Christ and His Kingdom.”
The bell originally served as an alarm, ringing at 5 a.m. to wake students, and at 10 p.m. for “lights out.”
Over the years, it tolled for various reasons. It rang in 1898 to announce the Spanish American War, in 1918 to mark the armistice of the First World War, and in 2011 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.
In 2010, the bell rang 150 times to celebrate the college’s sesquicentennial.
That’s a lot of muscle. “It’s a manual bell. You literally have to pull the rope and if you’re not strong enough, it doesn’t gong,” says Dr. Steve Ivester, dean for student engagements.
Ivester said years ago the bell was rung to spread news of a sports victory. One tradition that continues is sharing news of impending engagements and marriages.
Current students or young alums fill out a tower bell reservation form in the student activities office so they can go to the tower with family and friends for a mini-celebration. Over the years, they have also decorated the tower walls with their signatures.
The ringing of the bell is key. Three sets of seven rings announces an engagement on campus. Seven sets of three rings means a wedding. The bell is not rung on Sundays or during academic hours.
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Last year, Ivester said, 26 couples continued the tower tradition in Blanchard.
In 1979, the historic structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1990, “Old Main” was rededicated after a $6.3 million renovation was completed.
Joan Cary is a freelance writer.
Blanchard Hall
What’s in a name? Named for Jonathan Blanchard, founder and first president of Wheaton College
Building age: Built in 1853, and, after multiple additions was completed in 1927
Original use: Housed the entire Wheaton College
Current use: Administrative offices, classrooms and the bell tower
Did you know? Blanchard was part of the Underground Railroad. Escaped slaves were considered safe in the building.