14. Fiske Christian House

The building that is today known as the Fiske Christian House is not the same as the one that actually housed Albion's third president, Lewis Ransom Fiske. The original building was town down in 1883 and construction of the current building began.

As early as 1855 it is known that the Fiske House was used as the home of Albion's presidents. The first being Thomas H. Sinex, principal/president during the transition of Wesleyan Seminary to Albion College. His successor George B. Jocelyn, president from 1865-1868 and again from 1870-1877 is also known to have lived there. It is not known whether or not the two interim presidents, Jacob LaGrange McKown and William B. Silber lived there; though it could easily be assumed. The college's thirty-two year ownership of the house and surrounding property ended during the tenure of Jocelyn's successor, Lewis Ransom Fiske, president from 1877-1898.

In January 1883, the college sold the house and property to President Fiske's second wife, Helen M. Fiske. The Fiskes sold parts of the house for the building at 1100 Jackson Street, Albion (now also gone), before the remainder was torn down and construction began on the current structure in April of 1883.

The architect was Gordon W. Lloyd, also known for his designs of Trinity Church in Marshall, Traverse City Asylum, Saint Andrews Church in Ann Arbor, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Flint, Christ Episcopal Church in Detroit, and the David Whitney House, also in Detroit. A number of his buildings are now on the National Register of Historic Places.

President Fiske remained in the house until his death in 1901. Mrs. Fiske's daughter from a previous marriage, Mrs. Emma Thayer retained ownership until 1909, when she sold it to the Elias Wellington family. It was during Mr. Wellington's ownership that the Sigma Nu Fraternity used the house as their lodge (1911-12), and it is thought that this is when the home became generally known as "Fiske Lodge," a name that followed it for the next 30-40 years of its existence. In 1978, upon the death of Mrs. Darleen Wellington Miller, daughter of Elias, the property and existing buildings passed to Starr Commonwealth.

The house stood empty and neglected for a number of years before the College began to use it as an annex.

In 2006 it was renamed the Fiske Christian House, used as a residence for students from differing Christian traditions living together for the purpose of promoting understanding and facilitating events among the various Christian religious groups on campus. Residents will work together to sponsor campus wide programming, participate in weekly meetings, and perform monthly community service activities. Previously it was used as an upperclass female residence hall.

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