Part
of the university since its inception, the East Lagoon situated at the
foot of the “Castle on the Hill,” has provided a peaceful
natural backdrop for contemplation, reading, or a midday nap after a night
of cramming for exams. The spot holds memories for many NIU alumni as
evidenced by the letters we received after featuring the lagoon as our
“Last Look” in the previous issue of Northern Now.
Some recall it as the setting for graduation ceremonies, hard-fought tug-of-war
competitions, and the final resting place for countless Frisbees.
Pomp
and Circumstance
Thousands walked onto the island as students, and walked off as alumni.
Why is NIU in DeKalb?
Perhaps it was a “Dam” trick.
Part of the legislation establishing the state Normal school that eventually became Northern Illinois University, required that it be located in an attractive natural setting, preferably near a body of water. The fierce competition for the new school finally came down to a fight between DeKalb and Rockford.
Rockford had the Rock River and DeKalb could offer only the Kishwaukee River and Dee’s Pond as the lagoon was then called.
According to Earl Hayter’s history of the early years of NIU,
Education in Transition, enterprising
citizens dammed the “Kish” out of sight of the selection commission
visiting the proposed campus and
released the water to raise the level of the river several feet just as
the commissioners were crossing the bridge.
Touchdown
= Splashdown
Following the Huskies’ win over Central Michigan in a driving rain on October 19, 1998, students carried the goalposts from Huskie Stadium to the East Lagoon where they continued celebrating the win that broke what was then the nation’s longest Division 1-A losing streak of 23 games.
A New Look
The East Lagoon has recently undergone a complete dredging and restoration as part of an $8.5 million drainage improvement project. Ornamental plants and grasses have taken root, new ornamental bridges complement the entry gates and outdoor lighting, and landmarks like the skating bench, and the graduation bridge have been rebuilt and restored.
NIU’s Honorary Student
William
Goose, a famous (infamous according to some) resident of NIU’s East
Lagoon for more than 15 years was a campus legend at the time of his death
in 1981. The cantankerous goose spent most of his time near the lagoon,
but also frequented Lowden Hall where the secretaries proved to be a soft
touch for handouts of bread and other food.
After many complaints about his personality and his droppings, he was temporarily removed to NIU’s Lorado Taft Field Campus in Oregon, Illinois. But a “Save William the Goose” campaign resulted in his return to campus in 1979.William was declared “NIU’s #1 Alum” by the Alumni Association and this designation permitted him to fly down to the football field during an NIU Homecoming game.
William met a tragic end when he was found dead under the College Street
bridge on April 13, 1981. Foul play was suspected and his death made headlines
across the nation. A student later confessed
that he had been meditating near the lagoon, was startled by William,
and struck the unofficial campus mascot with a stick. A memorial plaque
was erected near the lagoon on November 18, 1983, that reads – “William
Goose NIU’s Honorary Student.”
From Maypole dances to tugs-of-war, the lagoon has been
a
favorite gathering spot for NIU students for more than a century.
