Gatehouse

Eastern University’s Gatehouse is nestled between McGraw Lake and Fairview Dr. The Gatehouse was originally known as the Entrance Lodge, built for the Walton Estate in 1914 to greet visitors at the main entrance, and it was the final building to be erected on the estate. The building has gone through many changes over the years, and has had several residents and purposes. Now, the Gatehouse holds the Office of Advancement and Alumni department.

Eastern University’s Gatehouse is nestled between McGraw Lake and Fairview Dr. The Gatehouse was originally known as the Entrance Lodge, built for the Walton Estate in 1914 to greet visitors at the main entrance, and it was the final building to be erected on the estate.

The Gatehouse had a bell and pot that hung from the tower to represent an early English feudalistic era tradition. The tradition of the “noon-time bell” was to ring and signal where the noon meal would be served, so it was installed to symbolize a sign of welcome. The building continued to serve as the first to greet campus visitors at the previous main entrance once the property became a college.

The building has gone through many changes over the years, and has had several residents. Charles S. Walton’s son, Charles Jr., lived in the Gatehouse with his wife, as well as his daughter Virginia, the future Mrs. John A. Baird, Jr. From 1952-1954, the building served as the home of the first Eastern Baptist College Dean, Lyle O. Bristol and his wife.

While the Gatehouse is the building’s current title, it was once known as the Fine Arts Building. In 1954, it was dedicated as such during a time when the college’s music department was growing rapidly. It was said that “drifting across the lake just behind [the building] can be heard solos and harmony of many kinds.” The music department eventually moved in 1972, but by then, the Fine Arts Building name had already been replaced by the Gatehouse.

The building has served several purposes since then, such as student housing, undergraduate honors students, MBA students, and even a group of 15 undergraduate men who had an entire article written about their friendship. Nursing had occupied the Gatehouse for many years, even resulting in a bench outside the building overlooking McGraw Lake being dedicated by the Korean Nurse Alumni Association in 2015. During the COVID pandemic, the Gatehouse was used as quarantine housing for students as they returned to campus for hybrid learning.

Another purpose that the Gatehouse served in 2001 was being the headquarters for the Institute for Global Engagement, or IGE. This was an initiative led by former United States ambassador and former Eastern College president, Robert A. Seiple, whose mission was to resolve religious conflicts and promote religious freedom globally. Seiple was invited to establish the Institute on campus by Eastern University’s former president, Dr. David Black, who had known Seiple for many years. IGE was relocated to Washington, D.C. in early 2004.

On August 23, 2007, the Thomas Drive exit by the Gatehouse was officially closed. This was done in agreement with Radnor Township in order to construct new campus buildings, and so the Eagle Road entrance became the only access point to the main campus (it had already been the main entry to the campus for ten years prior). The building now houses the Office of Advancement and Alumni department.

The Log. 1956. https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=fcbb0d2d-74da-448f-927c-69011da4c0cd/easa0000/20240807/00000005

"Meet the Guys at Gatehouse." The Waltonian. Vol. 1, Issue 4, February 23, 2000. https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=fc939b89-3753-40ae-8e8c-1b3f77ac7a27/easa0000/20110817/00000623&pg_seq=3&search_doc=&query1_modifier=AND&query1=gatehouse&query1_field=ALL

Gatehouse folders from Eastern University Archives, St. David's, PA, 19087.