The house on the hill
An ideal location for meetings or special events is located on Old Main Hill. It was built in 1891 as a model farmhouse. Twelve university presidents have lived there, and for most of its existence it was the President’s Home. The building was later renovated to house the Alumni Association.
“There was a house – not like other houses, for no one person really owned this house – yet everyone owned it. They who remained and called it home for a time were loath to leave, and the meetings beneath its roof, the friendships with all who came, were a part of life itself,” said Alice Chase, USU’s First Lady from 1954-1968, in her book “The Story of a House.”
Today, there is a warm, serene, cozy feeling throughout the Alumni House. The blue flowered carpet and creme-colored walls offer a nice break for students who visit.
Weddings, wedding receptions and dinners, meetings, recitals and dances all happen at the Alumni House. The Alumni House has undergone various activities in the last century.
The first president to live in the house was Jeremiah Wilson Sanborn, who arrived in January 1890. He successfully lobbied the Territorial Assembly for construction funds. Once the house was built, he moved out of his old living quarters (a five-room suite) on the second floor of Old Main and into the new house. In 1891, the Sanborn family moved into the house, according to the David B. Haight Alumni House pamphlet.
On June 1, 1894 Joshua H. Paul was the new president. After one year, Paul chose not to live in the house, so it became a girl’s dorm during the 1895-96 school year. When Glen L. Taggart presided from 1968-1979, there were some renovations to the landscaping around the house. Trees were planted to provide more privacy on the south side of the house, according to the David B. Haight Alumni House pamphlet.
A century from when it was built, additions were made to the house. It was dedicated on July 11, 1991. The house was named in honor of David B. Haight, a civic leader, businessman and member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
President’s Conference, a conference where presidents can get instructions for running their chapters, is held at the house in the fall. Chapters have different events to raise money that often go toward scholarship funds, said Echo Stocks, secretary.
The Student Alumni Association, an addition to the Alumni Association, is in charge of alumni events and keeping in contact with the alumni. The SAA is in charge of the activities and traditions USU is best known for, like A-day, “True Aggie” night and Homecoming.
“Students don’t realize they are an alumni after taking 12 credits,” said Doug Horton, SAA student marketing.
Whether students are serving on SAA or just stopping by the historical house, “It’s your Alumni House. Come and visit,” Stocks said.