One hundred years of education and service will be celebrated in Emporia on Thursday.
Lowther South, now known as the Humanitarian Center, will have a special event as part of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours series. Humanitarian Center owner Steve Haught says Lowther South’s origins came from a national trend and the presence of Lowther North, then serving as Emporia High School.
Haught says the resemblance between the two buildings was intentional, with both buildings designed by the same architectural firm.
USD 253 Emporia began looking at selling both Lowther North and Lowther South over a decade ago, and had tentative plans to sell the property to a developer looking at turning the south building into apartments. Haught joined a local group including Skip Evans and the late John Mallon and Fred Spellman that ultimately bought both buildings, with funding help from Dale and Carolyn Davis. Plans to convert the north building into a hotel and convention center have not panned out, but Haught says the mission of the south building as a community service hub has worked out “beautifully.”
Activities go from 5-7 pm. One hundred ten passes have been available for teachers and students that walked the halls. Also, there will be door prizes, customized disc giveaways, drinks and food from Gourmet to Go.
