Remembering Old Main

Several hundred people gathered in Lee Hall auditorium on Thursday night, Jan. 22, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the conflagration of Old Main Dormitory. Alumni from that time period were in attendance, surrounded by current students, employees, and friends who joined in remembering the structure's demise on Jan. 23, 1959. With a maximum capacity of some 1,500 students, the facility was reputed to be the nation's largest collegiate dormitory under one roof. The anniversary event, which included an alumni reception, was hosted by the MSU Alumni Association and University Libraries.