Residents took a trip down memory lane, or rather memory hallway, Thursday evening thanks to the 100th-anniversary celebration of what is now known as the Emporia Humanitarian Center.
Opened in 1924, the Humanitarian Center, then Lowther Junior High, played home to students in 7th to 9th grade, and later sixth grade, until 1994 when it was renamed Lowther South Intermediate School housing fifth-grade students only. Both Lowther South and Lowther North, formerly Emporia’s high school, were named after longtime Emporia Superintendent L.A. Lowther.
In attendance for Thursday’s event was Lowther’s great-granddaughter Becky Lowther Doan who attended school at both locations and says while she enjoyed her time there, she did feel there was a certain “expectation” of her given her family lineage.
While speaking with KVOE News, Lowther-Doan noted being in the building brought back a great deal of memories. She recalled a very “sweet” memory in particular.
When asked her thoughts on the celebration itself, Lowther-Doan stated she felt a great deal of pride seeing the turnout Thursday evening and only wished her father, Jim Lowther, could have been alive to see it.
The building’s time as a school came to an end in 2011 following which time USD 253 Emporia was looking to sell both Lowther buildings. A local group which included current Humanitarian Center owner Steve Haught, Skip Evans and the late John Mallon and Fred Spellman ultimately bought both buildings, with funding help from Dale and Carolyn Davis.
Aside from its current use and time as an educational building, Lowther South has also played host to a range of events and activities over the years including graduations, theatrical productions, the Lyon County Spelling Bee and more.
