Wold House: 'Campus Kid' comes home
Self-proclaimed “campus kid” John S. Wold '38 grew up in the faculty house at the north end of North College. His father, Peter I. Wold, inspired and chaired Union's acclaimed physics department from 1919 to1945 and was “one of the most gifted teachers in my Union College career.”
The house where young John Wold lived is the newly named Wold House in memory of his parents, Peter and Mary Helff Wold, and it is a centerpiece of the College's Minerva House system.
President of Wold Trona Company and Gastech Inc., Wold is a generous Union benefactor and involved Trustee. In 2002, he and his wife, Schenectady native Jane (Pearson) Wold, gave an unprecedented $20 million gift to Union, an endowment commitment that includes Wold House, one of two new houses in North College.
“This is a pivotal time in the history of the College, and we are delighted to be a part of it,” said Wold. The Wolds, who previously established the John and Jane Wold Professorship in Geology, traveled from their Casper, Wyo. ranch for the Wold House dedication.
Recalling that two centuries ago President Nott had conceived a north and south dormitory complex, each flanked by two faculty houses, Wold sees today's Minerva Houses as extending the same tradition.
“The idea was that neighboring faculty presence might moderate and steer the activities of young, exuberant students,” Wold said recently. “Old dormitory tales seem to affirm the success of the idea,” he said, but laughed at the memory of “occasional midnight student door knockers.”
Honorary chairman of the You are Union Campaign, Wold is excited by Union's constantly renewing approaches to living and learning. “I have long felt great pride in Union's history of the President Chester Arthur/Secretary of State William Seward era,” he said. “I believe we are re-capturing the eminence of that time with splendid faculty, bright young students, a stimulating campus environment and a strong athletic program.”