The building of Old Main was not without controversy. During a power struggle in 1892, between Governor Eli C.D. Shortridge and the Board of Directors of NDAC and the Agricultural Experiment Station, Shortridge tried to oust three board members (H.F. Miller, James B. Power, and A.M. Tofthagen) by claiming, among other things, that they had arranged a sweetheart deal with contractors that resulted in the construction of a shoddy and overpriced College building. Accusations were made that they directed college and station business to their personal firms without advertising for bids, and having no vouchers to account for over $15,000 in expenditures. "By our standards the board members were corrupt, but by the standards of their time we can only say that the fact of their corruption was not established." (Our Purpose Is To Serve, Danbom, p.23)
Old Main circa 1894
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University Archives, 701-231-8914 Published by the University Archives, NDSU Last Updated: 8/27/04 |