In Memory of the Historic John V. Bennes Grand Staircase 1929-2024 Welcome to a Celebration of Life for the Historic John V. Bennes Grand Staircase. We invite you to remember her and what she meant to you by reading through all that you’ll find on this site. We also encourage you to share your own staircase memories in the Comments section.Continue reading “Celebration of Life”
Author Archives: admingrandstaircase
What you’ll find here…
This page contains a series of nine Grand Staircase related posts – each covering a different topic. If you knew and loved the Grand Staircase, we encourage you to share your own staircase memories in the comments section on the Celebration of Life post. Would you like to read more about the beloved commencement weekContinue reading “What you’ll find here…”
Evensong
Evensong, “a pageant of song”, took place on the Grand Staircase as the sun was setting. It was symbolic of the graduating seniors going out into the world to spread the light of knowledge. This beloved commencement week ceremony began in the early 1930’s and continued until 1971. Evensong had its roots in GreekContinue reading “Evensong”
Fun Stuff
Every staircase needs a cat and every cat needs a staircase… One of the many wonderful Grand Staircase memories people have shared with us is this one… “I used to walk by this (the Grand Staircase) to high school every day and there was a Siamese/Tabby mix that would sit on the post and greetContinue reading “Fun Stuff”
Grand Staircase Art
Tim Mustoe, AKA the “cartooning weatherman”, formerly of the La Grande Observer, liked to draw and doodle weather and landscapes in the morning for the paper’s Facebook page. Inlow Hall and the Grand Staircase were featured in his Feb. 2, 2016 sketch. The forecast was for plenty of sunshine. Artist D. Katie Powell created watercolorContinue reading “Grand Staircase Art”
The View Terrace
Staircase architect John. V. Bennes called the location of the new eastern Oregon Normal School “the most beautiful site for a campus in the state.” Standing on the View Terrace, at the top of the Grand Staircase, and knew why. The ever-changing view of La Grande and the Grande Ronde Valley is breathtaking and ratherContinue reading “The View Terrace”
Homecoming
Anyone who remembers the beloved Grand Staircase tradition of Evensong, knows that the staircase is the perfect place for a coronation. But, did you know that the Queen of Knowledge was not the only queen who presided over her court on the college steps? The caption on this October 1948 photo from the La GrandeContinue reading “Homecoming”
Balusters
We loved each and every one of the 418 Grand Staircase balusters – even the ones that are broken or missing. The word baluster was coined in 17th-century Italy and comes from the Latin balausta (wild pomegranate flower). The curved shape of balusters resembles a half-opened pomegranate blossom. Made of cast stone, the staircase balustersContinue reading “Balusters”
John Virginius Bennes
John V. Bennes – the Father of the Grand Staircase The Grand Staircase was the creative work of renown Oregon architect, John Virginius Bennes. Bennes was born August 23, 1867 in rural Illinois. As a child, he moved with his family to Chicago. Bennes studied architecture at Prague University, graduating in 1890. Other information indicatesContinue reading “John Virginius Bennes”
J. H. Ackerman Elementary School
In the years before its closure in 2004, the Grand Staircase connected Eastern Oregon University to neighborhoods to the north by providing pedestrian access to the campus. Among those who made the climb were some of the children who attended J.H. Ackerman Elementary School. Ackerman was located on the EOU campus and designed to trainContinue reading “J. H. Ackerman Elementary School”
Friends of the Grand Staircase 