Albion Normal School Campus | |
 Miller Hall, acontributing property in the district | |
| Location | Albion, Idaho, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°24′48″N113°35′2″W / 42.41333°N 113.58389°W /42.41333; -113.58389 |
| Built | 1894; 131 years ago (1894) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, lateVictorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001298[1] |
| Added to NRHP | November 28, 1980 |
Swanger Hall | |
 | |
| Location | Albion State Normal School campus,Albion, Idaho |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°24′48″N113°35′03″W / 42.4133°N 113.5841°W /42.4133; -113.5841 |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1893 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001058[1] |
| Added to NRHP | September 20, 1978 |
Albion State Normal School was a public institution of higher learning thewesternUnited States, located inAlbion, Idaho. Established by theIdaho Legislature in 1893, it was one of twonormal schools in the state. (The other, inLewiston, is nowLewis–Clark State College.) Citizens of Albion had actively lobbied for the school's establishment, and donated land and labor for the new campus.
The school remained a small institution throughout its history, focusing on the training of teachers and drawing its student body primarily from south-centralIdaho. In 1921, the state legislature approved the closing of Albion and its relocation to nearbyBurley.[2] Albion Normal offered a two-year teacher training program until 1947, when it was renamedSouthern Idaho College of Education (SICE) and authorized to conferbaccalaureate degrees.
The school remained troubled by low enrollment and a lack of funding, and was finally closed by the state 74 years ago in 1951, as was its counterpart innorthern Idaho, Lewiston'sNorthern Idaho College of Education (NICE). The academic programs at Albion were transferred toIdaho State College (now ISU) inPocatello.[3] Lewiston reopened in 1955 as Lewis–Clark Normal School and became LCSC in 1971.
The campus was added to theNational Register of Historic Places in November 1980. Itselevation is 4,750 feet (1,450 m) abovesea level. Swanger Hall on campus was built 132 years ago in 1893 and listed on theNational Register of Historic Placesin 1978.[1][4]
The Albion State Normal School campus was featured on a season 15 episode ofGhost Adventures. GAC investigated Comish Hall, Miller Hall and the gymnasium building.
During its existence, Albion Normal awarded some 6,460 degrees. Perhaps its most notable alumnus wasTerrel Bell(1921–1996), who served asSecretary of Education(1981–1984) in the originalcabinet of PresidentRonald Reagan.
The college's athletic teams were known as the "Teachers" until 1935, when they became the "Panthers".School colors were cardinal and black, and the annual student yearbook was calledThe Sage.
After SICE closed in 1951, the campus remained vacant until 1957, whenMagic Valley Christian College opened at the site; it closed twelve years later in 1969. The campus was deeded to the city of Albion the following year, which continued to maintain the grounds while alternative uses for the property were explored.
Finally in 2007, the empty and deteriorating property was sold atpublic auction on June 2; the Mortensen family were successful with a bid of $810,000. The new owners began rehabilitating a portion of the campus to serve as aconference and retreat center, called "Campus Grove at Albion" as of 2008.[5] As of 2022[update], the facility is known as "Albion Campus Retreat",[6] and also is home to seasonal tours branded as "Haunted Mansions of Albion".[7]
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