HANNIBAL — Two of Hannibal-LaGrange University’s historic dorms are being renovated and will reopen for the 2024-25 school year for an anticipated rise in enrollment.
Pullium Hall, built in 1929, is one of three original buildings on the university’s campus. Crouch Hall was added in 1956. Both dorms were closed in 2019 due to declining enrollment.
However, the last two years HLGU has seen more students coming to campus.
“This year, we had 129 new students,” said Robert Matz, president of Hannibal-LaGrange University. “I would anticipate this coming year, it’ll be closer to 155 to 160 new students due to the number of students we’ve Had deposit, so put money down to say they’re coming to Hannibal-LaGrange.”
Pullium Hall and Crouch Hall were the chosen dorms to renovate due to being the most ready to work on. Matz hopes to work on more buildings in the future, especially dorms as the needs arise.
While an increase in enrollment was a big push to renovate the dorms another aspect was an organization called Campers on Mission, an organization associated with the Missouri Baptist Organization.
“These are high skilled individuals, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, general contractors, all kinds of folks in those kinds