The building plan was designed for an increase in enrollment to 500 students, but this soon became unfeasable.⁵ Increasing the class size would add significantly to available funds ― money that could be used to strengthen the college's academic program. However, by the time architects began working on the building plans, construction costs were rising and interest rates skyrocketed. In May of 1966 the Board decided to decrease Hinkhouse Hall's size to 100 students, partly due to the number of competing junior and community colleges that were to be built across the country. Even with this reduction, the Supreme Chapter decided to postpone the building program unless a government loan could be granted. While Cottey had applied for a college housing loan in 1965, it became apparent by the following year that the Department of Housing and Urban Development would not have sufficient money to fund all applicants.

Due to the uncertain loan situation, the increase in number of junior colleges, the rising costs of construction, and the leveling off in freshmen enrollment, the Board of Trustees decided to completely reexamine the building plan.⁵ Increasing Cottey's size to 500 students was postponed, and Hinkhouse Hall was nixed. The facilities most needed at Cottey were a student union, an infirmary, and a new swimming pool. Building an addition onto the backside of Neale Hall was still possible, but Neale was one of the oldest buildings on campus. After careful study, the Board decided that it made more sense to construct a whole new building for "health, physical education and recreation."⁵ Strangely, this new building was not yet coined "Hinkhouse" ― that was being reserved for Cottey's student union, the "Hinkhouse Student Center."¹⁰ This new athletic building would not be called "Hinkhouse Center" until after the architects finalized plans for it in 1968.⁹

Plan for Bowling Alleys, not Chellie Club

In 1968, the architectural firm of Linscott-McArthur and Associates prepared the final plans for the new health and physical fitness building.⁹ A new site had been chosen south of Reeves Hall, next to the newly graded and seeded playing fields. The new center was designed in a Colonial style like the rest of Cottey campus, with a two-story portico entrance outlined in four Roman Doric columns.⁶ On the first floor would be the main gym, an auxiliary gym, faculty offices, a classroom, service areas, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.⁹ A sun deck would sit on the roof above the pool, so students could sunbathe in privacy. In the basement would be a dance studio, locker rooms, a classroom, and space to fit four bowling alleys ― to be installed at a later date. On the second floor would be the Health Center, with exam rooms, two general wards, an isolation ward, staff offices, and a small apartment for the resident Director of Health. Cottey was still planning to build a student union west of P.E.O. Hall, so there were no social facilities (like Chellie Club) planned for Hinkhouse.⁸

It was hoped that the building could be completed by September of 1969, but this proved impossible. The contract was awarded in July of 1968 to George E. Baumann Construction Company, for a total cost of $875,848.49.⁶ (Baumann had also built Ross Memorial Library and Robertson Hall.) By October, the City of Nevada had given Cottey the two blocks of Arch Street between Hinkhouse and the rest of campus. Construction was well under way by the summer of '69, but projected completion was pushed back a month. However, Hinkhouse ended up needing more than an extra month, and was not completed until 1971.

Adding a Student Union

It was likely not till Hinkhouse Center was completed in 1971 that the Board of Trustees realized they couldn't build a separate student union. Instead, they decided to place a social center in Hinkhouse's basement. Cottey's eight-year planning process ended up conglomerating all its needed facilities into one building! This final decision came at the expense of the bowling alleys, though ― they were never installed. The space was rather divided into the Alumnae Student Lounge at the east (adjacent to the dance studio), and the Cottey Bookstore at the west. (The Bookstore was moved to the basement of Main Hall after Main's 1980 renovation. Its former home in Hinkhouse became the exercise room.)

The Alumnae Student Lounge

The Alumnae Student Lounge was funded by the Cottey Alumnae Association.² It was "paneled in birch and furnished in Country French style furniture which includes three sofas, three occasional chairs and three rockers, some of which are upholstered in brown and gold plaid and others in gold tweed. The lounge furnishings also include two oak game tables, each with four matching chairs upholstered in black leather."² During these early years of Hinkhouse, the student lounge and adjoining dance studio were used for dancing during the Christmas formal, with Chellie Club providing refreshments. During a later remodel of Hinkhouse, the Alumnae Student Lounge became an alcove off the new lounge (the former dance studio), accommodating table and board games.

Chellie Club

The formerly "unassigned" area of the 1968 floor plan was molded into the Chellie Club in 1971. (Chellie was originally housed in the basement of Reeves Hall, and was likely named after Chellie Stevens Wright, past President of the Supreme Chapter of the P.E.O.) Chellie Club was Cottey's "snack bar" in the '70s, originally styled in true '70s fashion, with "multicolor vinyl wallcovering in stripes of white, orange and pink. The leather upholstered booths and chairs are in shades of orange, lemon yellow and hot pink with table tops of lemon yellow."² These furnishings were funded by a donation from the Pennsylvania State Chapter of the P.E.O. in memory of Miriam H. Streeter. Today the club is more reminiscent of a coffee shop. One can buy various coffee and specialty drinks, as well as a limited assortment of food. Chellie's walls are painted to look like decaying brickwork ― likely a product of an early-'90s redecoration. The most enchanting aspect of Chellie lies beneath the glass tabletops of the booths, where collages of old Cottey photos have been carefully placed.

The Dance Department Moves Up

During the 1971 remodel, the dance studio remained as in the 1968 floor plan. In later years, however, Cottey's dance program proved too much for the single studio, and the decision was made to turn the auxiliary gym into two new studios. The walls between the basement dance studio, Chellie Club, and the old Alumnae Lounge were demolished, and this space became the new student lounge. Today the lounge contains couches, chairs, and a big-screen T.V. This area is still used for sampling hors d'oeuvres before Hanging of the Greens dinner each December.

Addition of "Suite Life" Statues

The iconic bronze sculptures in front of Hinkhouse Center were installed and dedicated during Founder's Weekend in 2000.⁴ The statues were created by Sandra West Van Zandt, class of 1968, and donated by Lois Watson Lee, class of 1944. The piece is titled "Suite Life" and features Cottey students hanging out, talking and reading. One of the figures peruses a copy of The Cottey Sisters of Missouri by Elizabeth McClure-Campbell.

The Future of Hinkhouse

Cottey's 2027 Master Plan proposes that Hinkhouse be enlarged with a 5,000 square foot addition, to modernize the center's athletic facilities and move classroom and recreational spaces out of the basement.¹ The 20-year plan also calls for a proper student union to be built, recommending a 25,000 square foot facility be placed near Hinkhouse. Most of Cottey's basement locales will be moved to the new union, including Raney Dining Room, the Cottey Bookstore, and Chellie Club. Since these social areas are rather randomly dispersed throughout the campus, moving them to a central location would be an improvement.

More Photos

The statues in front of Hinkhouse, all dressed for winter, 2005.	Hinkhouse on a rainy day, 2004.	Hinkhouse in winter twilight, 2005.
Hinkhouse gym during the faculty-student volleyball tournament, 2006.	Chellie Stevens Wright, c. 1937.	Hinkhouse basement, 2005. Chellie Club is at left.

Works Cited:

1. "Building a Model for Women's Education: Case for Support." Cottey College, May 2008. Web.
2. "Cottey Student Union Complex." The P.E.O. Record. Mar. 1972: 6-7. Print.
3. "P.E.O. Leaders To Arrive In Carbondale For Convention." Southern Illinoisan Family Living. Carbondale, IL. 11 June 1961. Ancestry.com. Web.
4. Reed, Steve. "Two Alumnae Commemorate Suite Life." The P.E.O. Record. Print.
5. Bail, Dr. Milo. "Cottey's Long Range Building Program." The P.E.O. Record. Jan. 1967: 16-17. Print.
6. "Hinkhouse Center Being Built at Cottey College." The P.E.O. Record. Oct. 1968: 2-3. Print.
7. Watson, Virginia. "Cottey Builds." The P.E.O. Record. July 1969: 2-3. Print.
8. "Miss Cottey Started Her School in 1884." The P.E.O. Record. Mar. 1969: 17-24. Print.
9. "Cottey Comments: Building Plans Move Forward." The P.E.O. Record. Apr. 1968: 5. Print.
10. "Cottey Comments: The Cottey Development Program." The P.E.O. Record. Mar. 1968: 7. Print.