History
Kansas State University Housing and Dining Services Historical Timeline
An appreciation for history and tradition is something all Wildcats have in common. The Department of Housing and Dining Services is proud of its success in making K-State a "home away from home" for students since 1948, and we'd like to share with you a list of notable events that occurred in the decades since.
1920-1950
1926
Van Zile Hall was built as an all-female hall
It became coeducational in fall of 1968.
1946
Military barracks are converted to a temporary dining service, nicknamed “Bessie’s Beanery,” after Bessie B. West
West was head of Kansas State Agricultural College's Department of Institutional Management for its first 28 years, until 1956. She co-authored the first college text in institutional management, Food Service in Institutions, which was published in 1938. She also co-authored Food for Fifty, a guidebook on preparing food in large quantities.
1946
Memorial Stadium and military barracks provided accommodations for an influx of veterans returning from the war
West Stadium housed 150 single men, East Stadium housed 66 and the barracks, named Moro Courts, housed 300.
1947
The department’s first maintenance shop opened
1948
Housing and Dining Services was founded
Its name at the time was the Department of Housing, which changed to Housing and Dining Services in 1990. The office was located in Anderson Hall.
A. Thornton Edwards was the first director of the department (1947 – 1974), followed by
- Thomas J. Frith (1974 – 1990)
- Charles Werring (1990 – 2011)
- Derek Jackson (2011 – present)
1950-1960
1951
Northwest Hall (Boyd Hall) opened
It was renamed “Boyd Hall” in honor of Mamie Alexander Boyd on January 14, 1960. Boyd was the first woman president of KSU's Alumni Association, 1930-1932, and the first person to receive K-State’s distinguished service award in journalism (1957). She was named Kansas Press Woman of the Year (1957), and was the first woman to receive the William Allen White Award for Journalistic Merit (1967).
1952
Southeast Hall (Putnam Hall) opened
It was renamed “Putnam Hall” in honor of Dr. L. Irene Putnam on January 14, 1961. In 1955, Putnam established the Henry J. Putnam memorial scholarship at K-State in honor of her late husband, and in 1958 she funded the Maitland E. Smith Scholarship House in honor of her brother.
1955
North Campus Courts opened
It contained 52 spots for mobile homes.
1957
Jardine Apartments were built
The complex contained eight buildings: A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H.
1959
Eleven buildings at Jardine Apartments added
1960-1970
1960
Goodnow Hall completed
It was named after Isaac T. Goodnow, founder of Bluemont Central College, in 1965.
Kramer Dining Center completed
It was known as Kramer Food Center, which was named after Martha M. Kramer, assistant dean of home economics, 1945 to 1960.
1961
Smurthwaite Leadership/Scholarship House for women opened
It was named for Georgiana Hope Smurthwaite, Home Demonstration Leader, 1937-1955.
1962
Bessie B. “West” Hall was completed and became part of the Derby Complex
1963
Five more Jardine buildings were added
1963 – 1965
Jardine Apartments’ Buildings Q and Y were residence halls for women
1964
Marlatt Hall was completed
Along with Goodnow Hall and Kramer Dining Center, it became the Kramer Complex in 1965. Marlatt Hall was named after Washington Marlatt, principal of Bluemont Central College, 1860-1863.
1965
Moore Hall, part of the Derby Complex, was completed
Moore was named in 1967 after Helen Moore, dean of women, 1940-1957.
Derby Food Center opened
It was named after Grace Derby, librarian, 1911-1951.
Thomas Frith became the first residence hall program director at K-State
His task was to develop and coordinate all residence hall social and educational activities.
1967
Ford Hall, part of the Derby Complex, was completed
It was named for Kenney L. Ford, Alumni Association Secretary, 1928-1961.
Haymaker Hall, part of the Derby Complex, was completed
It was named for Herbert Henley Haymaker, professor of botany, 1917-1963.
Pittman Building, the main office for Housing and Dining Services, was built
It was named for Martha S. Pittman, department head of Food Economics and Nutrition, 1923-1946.
1970-1990
1970
123 spaces were developed within the current residence halls
1985
Jardine Building L became the Child Development Center
1987
Associate Director John Pence won the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association Silver Plate Award
1990-2000
1990
Charles J. Werring became director
Frith Community Center was built
It was named for Thomas J. Frith, director of housing and dining services, 1974-1990.
1995
Williams Place was established at Jardine Apartments
In 2006 it became known simply as “standard renovated apartments.”
1999
Wiley Apartments were established within Jardine Apartments
In 2006 they became known simply as “standard renovated apartments.”
2000-2010
2006
First renovated building at Jardine Apartments opened (Building W)
Jardine Apartments P and Q were renovated and reopened
2007
Feb. 1: Jardine Apartments Building 9 opened
Justin and Janette Moldrup were the first residents to check in to the new apartments.
Jardine Apartments Buildings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11 and 13 opened
Jardine Apartments Buildings 1A, 6 and 12 opened
Jardine Apartments R and U were renovated and reopened
2008
Jardine Apartments Building X was renovated and reopened
Summer: Jardine Apartments office moves to the Tower building
Fall: Jardine Apartments Building 8 was opened
2010-2020
2010
Jan: Jardine Apartments Building D, the first highly renovated apartments, opened
The Jardine Marketplace was established
It includes a retail area soon that contains JP’s Sports Grill (2011), CornerStone Coffee and Bakery and Quik Cats convenience store.
Dormsplash listed K-State’s residence halls and resident assistants among the top ten in the United States
2011
Derek Jackson succeeds Charles Werring as director of the department
Aug: Jardine Apartments Building L reopened for Living Community residents
These apartments are run in a residence hall style, rather than apartment-style living.
2012
The Princeton Review ranked K-State’s dining services among the nation’s top 15 in the 2012 edition of “The Best 376 Colleges”
May: Mary Molt, associate director, received the prestigious Gold Plate Award
It was presented by the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association for her contributions to the advancement of the foodservice industry (after receiving a Silver Plate Award for excellence in non-commercial foodservice earlier that year).
June 1: K-State gains access to the LC on Claflin apartments in response to the increasing demand for housing
July: Jardine Apartments Building E, the second highly renovated apartment building, opened
Aug. 1: Jardine Apartments Buildings 14, 15 and 16 opened
Oct: K-State’s top-of-the-line living facilities and resident assistants are recognized on the Today Show by the organization IvyWise.
Oct: Michael Crow joined the staff as our first associate director for administrative services
2013
Feb: “Quik Cats Cliffside” opened on the south end of the Chester E. Peters Recreational Complex
April: HDS announced that Honors House will open in August 2013
Honors House was opened as a coed residence hall west of campus for students in the University Honors Program.
2015
Dining center renovations and a new residence hall to house 400 additional students are scheduled for completion
2016
Wefald Hall and the new Kramer Dining Center were completed in the fall of 2016, after construction began in 2014
2018
Union Station by JP's Gastropub opened in the K-State Student Union
The creation and construction of the restaurant was part of the overall Union renovation project.
2020-
2021
Jan: Derby Dining Center reopened for service following a year-long renovation
The renovation included a new entry on the southeast corner of the building, updates to the first floor, a new single staircase entry to the food service area, and a new open dining experience on the second floor. Updates to the heat and air systems as well as the fire safety systems occurred as well.
March: The Bakery at Derby Dining Center reopened following a year-long renovation in Derby
The Bakery added a new customer service counter, in addition to the online and phone ordering services popular across campus and throughout the Manhattan community.
2024
Honors Housing moves into Strong Complex
Reopening after four years of being closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Strong Complex reopened Putnam and Van Zile Halls to create a new Honors Housing community.
2026
Boyd Hall Reopens
After being closed due to the pandemic and renovations, Boyd Hall reopens as part of the Honors Housing community. Renovations include traditional bathrooms reconfigured into "bathroom pods," larger lounge areas on each floor, and a physical home and community space for the University Honors Program.