We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Many residents across the Hi-Line can claim an affiliation to MSU-Northern, either as a former student, as an employee, or as a benefactor of the economic benefits that come from a college town. Given those common connections, all can celebrate the institution's 90th Anniversary on September 24.
Northern actually had its beginnings in 1913 when the Thirteenth Legislative Assembly of Montana established Northern Montana Agricultural and Manual Training School to be located at Fort Assiniboine. Although the bill passed on March 8, 1913, no money was appropriated until sixteen years later when the Twenty-First Session of the Legislative Assembly authorized funding for the operation of the Northern Montana School.
According to archival records, the funding amount of $40,000 was made available after the 1927 Legislature amended the original act to allow certain academic subjects to be taught in the city of Havre. Much of the credit for the passage of both acts can be attributed to the efforts of four men: State Representative Florian Carnal, Senators William Cowan of Box Elder and D.S. MacKenzie, Sr., and E.C. Carruth of Havre, a longtime member of the State Board of Education.
Northern first opened its doors for business on September 24, 1929 with five faculty members and 80 students. Formal ceremonies launching the school were actually held on September 30 of that year. Among those pioneer faculty members was Dr. G.H. Vande Bogart, who had been appointed president of the school. In commemoration, MSU-Northern's library today bears his name: Vande Bogart Library.
The entire college was initially located in temporary quarters leased from School District A 16. The space consisted of all three floors of the west section of what was then Havre High School, which was located between 4th and 5th Avenues and 7th and 8th Streets.
In 1931, the word "college" was substituted for "school," and the common use of "Northern Montana College" came into existence. That same year, the first commencement ceremony took place on June 9 when twenty-three diplomas were granted to candidates who had completed the requirements for the authorized two-year programs.
In 1932, four departments moved to East Hall, the earliest building on the present campus. Growth, construction, and progress continued. The Commencement Class of 1994 was the last to graduate in May under the name Northern Montana College, as the campus officially became Montana State University-Northern. This name change resulted after the Board of Regents established a system-wide core curriculum and re-structuring plan in 1993 to align the smaller campuses with the two University campuses in Missoula and Bozeman.
Now, 90 years later, we can celebrate the many milestones people have achieved to bring us the facilities and programs offered today. According to University Relations official, Jim Potter, "During the year, we will explore many of the highpoints in our history. To remind us that this is our 90th year, a new 90-year celebration logo will be introduced to the community on the Northern Alumni Foundation float during Havre's Festival Days parade. The logo will also appear during our upcoming homecoming game on September 28. We invite communities across the Hi-Line to join us in celebrating 90 years of academic excellence. If you have a favorite memory of your time at Northern, please share it on social media and use the hashtag #90YearofNorthern. Who knows? Your story may be featured."
