The Pink and Green

1893 The McMillan Chemical Laboratory is Finally Completed

The Central Building was originally where the college’s chemistry laboratory was housed. On January 6, 1892 a fire broke out in the chemistry lab of the building, causing minimal damage to the lab itself and the surrounding areas, but the threat of future incidents spurred the college on to build a proper facility for future chemistry studies.

A single donor, James McMillan, a United States Senator with no ties to Albion, presented the College in June of 1892 with the funds necessary to build a new Chemistry facility – a windfall that had been previously unheard of in College history. After legal squabbles concerning the feasibility of further western campus expansion, building of the McMillan Lab began in the winter of 1893. Construction of the Lab was completed by November, despite the difficulties Senator McMillan had with paying for the building as a result of the 1893 Depression.

Albion College Year Book 1892-93, pp.16, 21, 131-136892-93

Correspondence from Washington Gardner re: Senator James McMillan’s gift

Memo: “Albion’s McMillan Chemical Laboratory to be Razed”