An architectual rendering of Cheney Normal School's Monroe Hall, which was named for former school board chairman Mrs. Mary Monroe.
One hundred years ago on Feb. 2, 1916, Monroe Hall, a women's dormitory at Cheney Normal School (now Eastern Washington University) was formally dedicated. It was named for Mrs. Mary Monroe, chairman of the Normal School's board of trustees.
Prior to this, all students boarded in private homes, boarding houses, clubs, and "light housekeeping" rooms around Cheney. Those people who made a living from providing room and board to students saw this new dormitory as killing private enterprise by the state. It begins the town and gown schism within Cheney as students had more of their needs met within the school campus and there was less inter-dependency between the town and school. Learn more about our area's history at http://www.cheneymuseum.org.
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