Eaton Chapel

"The laying of the cornerstone of the Chapel took place in April 1891. In January 1892, a new, Romanesque, cut limestone chapel, designed by Patton and Fisher of Chicago, was dedicated. It was not officially named "Eaton Chapel," however, until 1930, when College officials decided that President Eaton should be recognized for his keen and continuing interest in preserving the Chapel. Mason, who is now writing a sesquicentennial history of Beloit College, describes the Chapel as having, "an Old World charm." Especially beautiful, he said, were the ceiling panels added in 1937. The panels, designed by Chicagoan Nickolai Kaisarhoff, dramatically depicted Bible scenes in vivid color. Students relied on the Chapel as a town meeting hall of sorts. Robert Irrmann, former archivist and emeritus professor of history, describes the Chapel as an integral factor on campus. "It was the thing that brought the entire student body together as one."