Mackinac College
Encyclopedia
Mackinac College was a private liberal arts college
which opened on Mackinac Island
, Michigan
, in the fall of 1966 and closed several years later. The campus was later turned into a hotel, Mission Point Resort.
The college had troubles relating in part to its association with the Moral Re-Armament
/Up With People
movement. While the college was ostensibly an independent, non-sectarian institution, many of the founders and faculty were members of MRA. Many students were not aware of the connection until they were on the campus. There was much controversy among the students regarding how MRA was to be involved in the mission of the college. As a result, after graduating its first and only senior class in 1970, the first Mackinac College closed its doors.
to house and teach Indian children. A few years later, he established Mission Church
, one of the first Protestant churches in the Midwest. The southeast end of Mackinac Island thus became known as Mission Point. The mission was closed in the late 1930s and within a decade the originally school building was being used as the "Mission House" hotel, one of the first resort hotels on the island. The building was operated as a hotel until the Great Depression.
During the 1940s, Moral Re-Armament (M-RA) began holding conferences on Mackinac Island. M-RA was a multi-national group, who, led by Dr. Frank Buchman, promoted a philosophy of love, unselfishness, purity and honesty in a world-wide evangelistic campaign. Originally established in the 1930s in England and known as "The Oxford Group," it eventually had its headquarters in Switzerland. It was an ideological alternative to the post World War II spread of Communistic influence. It held conferences on Mackinac Island beginning in the 1940s at a variety of locations, ultimately purchasing the Mission House and adjacent properties. Groundbreaking ceremonies began in 1954 and construction soon began on what was to become the M-RA's World Conference Center.
The Theater was the first building constructed. Fifty foot truss
es made of Norway Pine from nearby Bois Blanc Island
supported the roof, and 45 tons of native stone formed the original building. Construction on what is now called Huron Court and the Main Lodge began in the Fall of 1955, with the large trusses for the Great Hall being raised in early 1956.
The Main Lobby is one of the most distinctive architectural structures on the island. Nine-ton trusses, converging at a height of 36 feet (11 m), resemble a 16-sided tepee. This structure is said to fulfill the Indian prophecy that "Someday, on the east end of the island, a great tepee will be erected. All nations will come there and learn about peace."
In 1957, the building which is now Straits Lodge was completed. Its lobby, known as Johnson Hall, exemplifies wood craftsmanship. Its focal point is a five-foot (1.5 m) marble-paneled fireplace.
The movie production Sound Stage was constructed in 1958. At that time it was the second largest of its type in the world. Universal Studios
leased the Sound Stage for the 1979 summer season to produce the motion picture Somewhere in Time
starring Christopher Reeve
and Jane Seymour
. The entire cast and crew were hosted at the resort, then "The Inn on Mackinac."
The MRA relocated its operation to Switzerland and deeded much of the property to an organization known as Mackinac College in 1966. Several new facilities, including a classroom building and library were constructed. This institution of higher education operated from 1966 until 1970. It developed programs in statesmanship and leadership, as well as more traditional curricula. The property was sold to televangelist Rex Humbard. It operated the facility as a "Christian family resort" and bible college. However, by the late 1970s he sold everything to a private resort company. The original Mission House building was sold to the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.
, who briefly resumed the use of the facility as a college and religious retreat(with no connection or identity with the original Mackinac College). The Mackinac property ceased to be used as a college in 1972; the college office was moved to Lansing, Michigan
, in 1973, where it continued until 1998. After 1972, the Humbard organization began to use the property as a vacation resort. In 1977, the property was sold to a Dallas-based management and investment firm, which changed the name to Mackinac Hotel and Conference Center.
The property was sold in late 1987 and renamed Mission Point Resort. The new name reflects back into history when this part of the island housed one of the first churches and the Mission House, a historical landmark which still stands on the property.
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
which opened on Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is an island and resort area covering in land area, part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The island was home to a Native American settlement before European...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, in the fall of 1966 and closed several years later. The campus was later turned into a hotel, Mission Point Resort.
The college had troubles relating in part to its association with the Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament was an international Christian moral and spiritual movement that, in 1938, developed from the American minister Frank Buchman's Oxford Group. Buchman, a Lutheran, headed MRA for 23 years, from 1938 until his death in 1961...
/Up With People
Up with People
Up with People is an international education organization founded in 1968 by J. Blanton Belk, building from roots in the similar "Sing-Out" program of 1965. Up With People is best known for their musical performances by international casts consisting of 70–100 students from, on average, 20...
movement. While the college was ostensibly an independent, non-sectarian institution, many of the founders and faculty were members of MRA. Many students were not aware of the connection until they were on the campus. There was much controversy among the students regarding how MRA was to be involved in the mission of the college. As a result, after graduating its first and only senior class in 1970, the first Mackinac College closed its doors.
History
In the early 1820s, Reverend William Ferry, a Protestant Missionary, built the Mission HouseMission House (Mackinac Island)
The Mission House on Mackinac Island is a historic structure owned by the state of Michigan. Built in 1825, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is operated as part of the Mackinac Island State Park.-History:...
to house and teach Indian children. A few years later, he established Mission Church
Mission Church
The Mission Church is a historic Congregational church in Mackinac Island, Michigan, United States. Built in 1829, it is the oldest existing church in the state of Michigan...
, one of the first Protestant churches in the Midwest. The southeast end of Mackinac Island thus became known as Mission Point. The mission was closed in the late 1930s and within a decade the originally school building was being used as the "Mission House" hotel, one of the first resort hotels on the island. The building was operated as a hotel until the Great Depression.
During the 1940s, Moral Re-Armament (M-RA) began holding conferences on Mackinac Island. M-RA was a multi-national group, who, led by Dr. Frank Buchman, promoted a philosophy of love, unselfishness, purity and honesty in a world-wide evangelistic campaign. Originally established in the 1930s in England and known as "The Oxford Group," it eventually had its headquarters in Switzerland. It was an ideological alternative to the post World War II spread of Communistic influence. It held conferences on Mackinac Island beginning in the 1940s at a variety of locations, ultimately purchasing the Mission House and adjacent properties. Groundbreaking ceremonies began in 1954 and construction soon began on what was to become the M-RA's World Conference Center.
The Theater was the first building constructed. Fifty foot truss
Truss
In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in...
es made of Norway Pine from nearby Bois Blanc Island
Bois Blanc Township, Michigan
Bois Blanc Township is a civil township of Mackinac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, Bois Blanc Township population was 71. The township is coterminous with Bois Blanc Island. The nearby, smaller and uninhabited Round Island is within the civil jurisdiction of the city...
supported the roof, and 45 tons of native stone formed the original building. Construction on what is now called Huron Court and the Main Lodge began in the Fall of 1955, with the large trusses for the Great Hall being raised in early 1956.
The Main Lobby is one of the most distinctive architectural structures on the island. Nine-ton trusses, converging at a height of 36 feet (11 m), resemble a 16-sided tepee. This structure is said to fulfill the Indian prophecy that "Someday, on the east end of the island, a great tepee will be erected. All nations will come there and learn about peace."
In 1957, the building which is now Straits Lodge was completed. Its lobby, known as Johnson Hall, exemplifies wood craftsmanship. Its focal point is a five-foot (1.5 m) marble-paneled fireplace.
The movie production Sound Stage was constructed in 1958. At that time it was the second largest of its type in the world. Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
leased the Sound Stage for the 1979 summer season to produce the motion picture Somewhere in Time
Somewhere in Time (film)
Somewhere in Time is a 1980 romantic science fiction film directed by Jeannot Szwarc. It is a film adaptation of the 1975 novel Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson, who also wrote the screenplay...
starring Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
and Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour was Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII. She succeeded Anne Boleyn as queen consort following the latter's execution for trumped up charges of high treason, incest and adultery in May 1536. She died of postnatal complications less than two weeks after the birth of...
. The entire cast and crew were hosted at the resort, then "The Inn on Mackinac."
The MRA relocated its operation to Switzerland and deeded much of the property to an organization known as Mackinac College in 1966. Several new facilities, including a classroom building and library were constructed. This institution of higher education operated from 1966 until 1970. It developed programs in statesmanship and leadership, as well as more traditional curricula. The property was sold to televangelist Rex Humbard. It operated the facility as a "Christian family resort" and bible college. However, by the late 1970s he sold everything to a private resort company. The original Mission House building was sold to the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.
Legacy
In 1971, the entire property was sold to evangelist Rex HumbardRex Humbard
Alpha Rex Emmanuel Humbard was a well-known American television evangelist whose Cathedral of Tomorrow show was shown on over 600 stations at the peak of its popularity....
, who briefly resumed the use of the facility as a college and religious retreat(with no connection or identity with the original Mackinac College). The Mackinac property ceased to be used as a college in 1972; the college office was moved to Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, in 1973, where it continued until 1998. After 1972, the Humbard organization began to use the property as a vacation resort. In 1977, the property was sold to a Dallas-based management and investment firm, which changed the name to Mackinac Hotel and Conference Center.
The property was sold in late 1987 and renamed Mission Point Resort. The new name reflects back into history when this part of the island housed one of the first churches and the Mission House, a historical landmark which still stands on the property.