Wheaton College Alumni Magazine Autumn 2013 | Page 9

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Photo: Brach Pulver

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Blanchard Hall
recognized as Underground
Railroad site
The National Park Service approved
in April the inclusion of Blanchard
Hall in the National Underground
Railroad Network to Freedom, recognizing that Wheaton’s landmark building “makes a significant contribution to
the understanding of the Underground
Railroad in American history.”
With a well-known Abolitionist
founding president in Jonathan
Blanchard, Wheaton College had long
been rumored to be a stop along the
Underground Railroad; however, the
strongest evidence for this claim came
to light only in 2009 with the discovery
of a letter written by Ezra Cook of the
Thirty-ninth Regiment of the Illinois
Volunteer Infantry. According to Cook’s
account, runaway slaves were completely
safe at Wheaton and did not even
have to hide, so strong was the local
Abolitionist sentiment. “With hundreds
of others, I have seen and talked with
such fugitives in the college chapel,”
Cook said. “Of course they soon took
a night train well-guarded to the next
station on the U. G. R. R.” (quoted
in Charles Clark’s The History of the
Thirty-ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer
Veteran Infantry, published in 1889).
Professor Emeritus of History
Dr. David Maas chronicled Wheaton’s
anti-slavery history in his book Marching
to the Drumbeat of Abolitionism:
Wheaton College in the Civil War
(Wheaton College, 2010).
“Being a part of the Network to
Freedom will help those familiar with
other U. G. R. R. sites to learn and
know of Wheaton’s involvement,” says
College historian and archivist David
Malone M.A. ’92.

HoneyRock Chapel is dedicated
Two hundred guests gathered at HoneyRock,
Wheaton’s Northwoods campus in Wisconsin,
student neWs
from May 24 to 26 to celebrate the dedication
of the HoneyRock Chapel. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, President Philip Ryken ’88,
HoneyRock Director Rob Ribbe ’87, M.A. ’90, and Advisory Board Chair Tim Evon honored
Bill ’72 and Nancy Long ’72, for whom the sanctuary is named. The Longs have lived and
worked at HoneyRock since the early 1970s, and Bill is currently construction manager. The
first Sunday morning sermon was delivered by Trustee Jim Plueddemann ’65, M.A. ’71, with
worship music led by Zach Stoner ’12.
The chapel’s new features include the Penny Nickel Hagaman ’70 fireplace, David
Klopfenstein ’64 classroom, and Howard ’41 and Gabe White prayer room.

student neWs

Wheaton mourns the loss
of Graham Stevens
Freshman Graham Elliot Stevens,
age 19, passed away on Tuesday, March
26, 2013. An undeclared major interested
in biology, Graham was also a gifted
musician.
“I was encouraged to hear many
wonderful stories about him,” says
Wheaton College Chaplain Stephen
Kellough. “Graham will be remembered
as a young man who was full of life and
vitality as a Christian believer, and as a
good friend who sacrificed for others. I
was moved to learn Graham has friends
who will remember him as the person
who led them to faith in Christ.”
On March 22, Graham collapsed while
participating in the Men’s Glee Club
tradition of playing Capture the Flag on
Blanchard lawn. Upon his death several
days later, the Stevens family decided to
extend his legacy by making his organs
available for donation.
His many friends, including his Traber
3 floormates and the entire Men’s Glee
Club, will remember Graham.
Traber 3 floormate Drew Boa ’14
recalls Graham eagerly sharing insights
from his study of Proverbs, reading
C. S. Lewis late at night, and plastering
the walls of his room with quotes like

Graham Stevens'
Ignatius’ “I come from God. I belong to
friends remember
God. I am destined for God.”
his winning smile,
Daniel Cummings ’15, co-leader of
sense of humor, and
Graham’s Discipleship Small Group, rewisdom. “Graham
members exploring white drifts, throwloved to bring people
ing snowballs, and talking about Jesus at
together and make
3:00 A.M. after a snowfall in January. “He
them laugh,” says
loved to enjoy life and just as naturally, he
James Barrett ’16.
loved to discuss matters of faith and seek
“He was an encourGod at all times.”
Graham was active in his home church, agement to me in the
way he pursued God.”
Blanchard Alliance in Wheaton, playing
the piano for the worship team. Brad
Jones, the minister of music, describes
Graham as a gentle soul who loved the
outdoors and showed special tenderness
to his three younger brothers. “Graham
was quiet and gentle, but had a way
of drawing people to him,” Jones
said. “People just loved him.” Survivors
include his parents, Jeffrey and Brenda
Stevens; two sisters; and three brothers.

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