ENMU celebrating 90 years

This week marks the 90-year anniversary of the administration building dedication on the Eastern New Mexico University campus.

On Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 23, 1933, about 7,000 people gathered to celebrate the opening of the building on the Eastern New Mexico Junior College campus. Gov. A.W. Hockenhull was the guest speaker. The historic event happened 6 1/2 years after Gov. R. C. Dillon signed the bill to locate the Eastern New Mexico Normal School in Portales.

Construction originally started on the administration building in 1930, with the cornerstone laid for the building on Dec. 19, 1930, by the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Mexico.

Due to the Great Depression, The building sat for three years unused with no maintenance and, according to the book “The Golden Years” by former ENMU President Floyd Golden, “The Administration Building had deteriorated so badly it was a disgrace. At least half of the windows had been broken, some of the outside doors had been broken or blown off their hinges, and livestock had used the building for shelter during the winter months and as a refuge from the hot sun in the summer.”

In 1933, funds from the public land dedicated to Eastern’s use had generated over $57,000, which allowed the administration building to be repaired and the grand opening to be held in 1933.

Since then, the ENMU administration building has been the landmark building on the campus. One of its trademarks is the WPA-era murals on its walls.

In 1937, Eastern New Mexico Junior College applied to the Work Projects Administration for a mural to be painted. Following approval of the application, a mural to represent the 12th chapter of Ecclesiastes in the Holy Bible was chosen. The Work Projects Administration employed Lloyd Moylan of Albuquerque and Taos as the artist. Moylan and his assistant scaled the walls in the center of the building for five months, painting the mural.

The Scripture is painted on the face of the pillars on the second floor. The government officials who inspected the mural after it was finished informed ENMU officials that it was “one of the most beautiful murals in any public building in the United States.”

“Buildings such as these on university campuses tend to represent the university itself, and ours is no exception,” said ENMU Chancellor James Johnston. “Portales worked and lobbied hard to get ENMU here, and the building remains a symbol of that effort. We are honored to continue such a rich history and tradition and look forward to the celebrations in 2024.”

The university itself is planning a 90th anniversary celebration on April 6, 2024. A celebration will also occur around homecoming in the fall of 2024 to celebrate with alumni.