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smustatesman wrote:As I recall, it was said in 1970 that SMU had the largest air conditioning plant/structure in the world. Almost all of the buildings on campus are connected with AC underground ducts. The water cooling towers for the system were over (at that time) on the northeast end of campus, and took up a block. Sneaked into the Derek and The Dominos concert at McFarlin Auditorium in the fall of 1970, through the air ducts.

Yes - that's Patterson Hall. Still there. And it still takes 3 days to cool things down and 3 days to warm things up in every building on campus…

How much land has the university acquired since '68? Would the university ever try to "buy out" the houses located between SMU and Central all the way from SMU Blvd to Daniel? How much did the university pay (if they didn't own ) to acquire the houses that used to be located on SMU blvd where the bush parking lot is now.

Thanks for the memories. I graduated in '68

NewAgeMustange wrote:How much land has the university acquired since '68? Would the university ever try to "buy out" the houses located between SMU and Central all the way from SMU Blvd to Daniel? How much did the university pay (if they didn't own ) to acquire the houses that used to be located on SMU blvd where the bush parking lot is now.

SMU has also sold off a ton of land. The original gift from the Caruths was a much larger footprint than the present.

Wow!!! Never thought of that!

Wonder when the land was sold off - prior to the 70's?

Never like buying the same real estate twice - always more costly - even in warfare. I believe ol' Georgy Patton said that one.

It was in the early days, depression era

From a D-Magazine article on the Caruth family:

" McReynolds replied flatly that all it needed was a few acres to build the thing on.
Caruth said he thought he might be able to take care of that, and proceeded to give the group 100 per cent interest in 200 acres (now on the east side of the SMU campus), and unrestricted half interest in another 600 acres bounded by Lovers Lane, Preston, Northwest Highway and Airline Road. The latter proved to be a prophetic stroke of generosity, for during the Depression, Southern Methodist University sold off most of the latter acreage simply to survive."

If in the depression era, it probably kept the school afloat like it said. Wow! Just think what it could have been???

Yeah, pretty nice chunk of land now.

Wow! What could have been - now!!!

that's a huge plot of land, a little off of where the university is. just looking at a map it is impressive.

From my house, I'd have been able to cross the street to be on campus if we'd kept all that land.

NavyCrimson wrote:Wow! What could have been - now!!!

Navy, just read your signature. made me laugh. Thanks.

couch 'em wrote:From a D-Magazine article on the Caruth family:

" McReynolds replied flatly that all it needed was a few acres to build the thing on.
Caruth said he thought he might be able to take care of that, and proceeded to give the group 100 per cent interest in 200 acres (now on the east side of the SMU campus), and unrestricted half interest in another 600 acres bounded by Lovers Lane, Preston, Northwest Highway and Airline Road. The latter proved to be a prophetic stroke of generosity, for during the Depression, Southern Methodist University sold off most of the latter acreage simply to survive."

There is a map of all of that land on a plaque in the Dallas Hall stairwell

Interesting, never noticed it.