College Hall stands high on a bluff overlooking the Wabash River in western Indiana, the visual heart of a campus that has served the local community for generations. Today, it needs immediate repairs to ensure it remains standing for the next century.
Constructed between 1859 and 1863 for Union Christian College, the five-story brick building’s towering design spoke to the founders’ lofty aspirations as one of the state’s earliest places of higher education, offering both men and women the opportunity to pursue degrees. After the college closed in 1924, the Romanesque Revival-style building reopened as Merom Institute, a religious camp and meeting space. From 1941-1943, the campus served as a base camp for the Soil Conservation Service operated by the American Friends Service Committee, housing conscientious objectors who worked on area farmlands creating stock water ponds and drainage systems, constructing fences, building terraces, and planting trees.
College Hall continues to be the centerpiece of the Merom Camp and Retreat Center today, providing a gathering place for camps, retreats, weddings, reunions, and a variety of other events. The landmark remains in use, but repair needs exceed what the nonprofit organization can afford. The building’s deferred maintenance is causing more serious issues, including crumbling and collapsed masonry, leaky windows and plumbing, and failing mechanical systems. Camp owners hope that adding College Hall to the 10 Most Endangered list will help elevate awareness of the landmark and secure funding for its rehabilitation.
Tommy Kleckner
Director
Indiana Landmarks Western Regional Office
812-232-4534
tkleckner@indianalandmarks.org
Beth Reed
Board Member
Merom Camp & Retreat Center, Inc.
812-243-1827
beth.reed1018@gmail.com
