What stories do walls whisper? The walls of Mennith Hall have seen a lot in their time. This stately red brick building, nestled on the north campus of St. Thomas, isn’t just any hall. It’s a silent testament to over a century of change and evolution. Mennith Hall, the oldest building on the north campus, first opened its eyes in 1905. It wasn’t a place for lectures or studying then, but a haven for the ailing – the college’s infirmary. Students, both from the college and academy, sought solace within its walls for over six decades.
The year 1967 saw Health Services moving on to Brady Hall, leaving Mennith Hall to find a new purpose. The Catholic Digest magazine, perhaps drawn to the building’s air of quiet contemplation, made it their home. Then, in 2005, it became the Alumni Center, a place for memories and connections to be rekindled. By 2015, the Alumni Relations Department moved on, leaving the building to its quiet contemplation once more. The Marketing, Insights, and Communications team then moved in, brainstorming a new name, a name that echoed a piece of forgotten campus history: Mennith, a tribute to the now-vanished Lake Mennith.
You see, long before Mennith Hall stood here, this area was a serene oasis. In 1887, a swampy patch of land was transformed into a sparkling lake. Students would sail on it in the warm months and glide across its frozen surface in winter. It was named after Bishop Thomas Langdon Grace, a beloved figure who enjoyed peaceful walks along its shores. The lake was eventually drained in 1911, a casualty of the city’s growth and the construction of a massive sewer line. The name Mennith, however, whispered on the wind, eventually finding its way to the oldest building on the north campus. Mennith Hall stands as a tangible link to the past, a quiet reminder that even as time marches on, memories endure.