Prexy's Pond (1935)
Prexy’s Pond was a landmark on the University of Northern Iowa campus for over 50 years. Located on a portion of the site now occupied by the Curris Business Building and the open area to its south, when constructed in the 1930s it was on the southern edge of the Iowa State Teachers College (ISTC) campus. Other developments in the area included Baker Hall and a new power plant. Since the land was low and wet, the location was a good site for a campus water feature to meet the curricular and recreational needs of the school.
For many years, the Department of Physical Education for Women offered canoeing classes. They were originally held on the Cedar River near downtown Cedar Falls, the closest navigable water source. However, the site was far from campus, its water level could be unpredictable, and boating on the river could be dangerous for inexperienced students. In the early 1930s, the downtown Cedar Falls dam washed out and led to continued low water levels. Professors Monica Wild and Doris White of the Department of Physical Education for Women asked President Orval Latham if a pond could be constructed on campus for their classes. A portion of campus drained toward the southwest, so the college chose a site in that vicinity.
In May and June 1935, the College Eye student newspaper reported Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds E. E. Cole would be filling a new pond just west of Baker Hall. It would be 50 by 80 yards with a depth varying from two and a half to four feet and hold about 525,000 gallons of water. There would be an inlet on the east side and an outlet with a water gate in the southwest corner. The banks would be sodded, and stone flagging would extend below the surface. Officials hoped the pond would "add greatly to the beauty of the campus."
By July 10, 1936, the pond was filled and soon became a popular spot on campus with students. By February 1937, the college pond was in use as a skating rink for the Women's Athletic Association (WAA) Ice Carnival. The WAA committee planned to get everyone who owned or could borrow a pair of skates out on the ice for racing, bright lights, and music. These carnivals, or winter frolics as they were known, became a regular feature of college life through the 1940s. They became more elaborate over the years until they included skating performances, square dances, food, and, if conditions permitted, snow sculpture contests.
The pond never received an official name. Initially, it was known as the College Pond or simply The Pond, but an article in a July 1941 issue of the College Eye referred to it as "Latham Pond" in recognition of Orval Ray Latham, who was president of the school from 1928 until his unexpected death in 1940. By August 1941, the name Prexy's Pond appeared in print, “prexy” being a slang term for “President.” At least as late as 1942, the name College Pond was still used, but Prexy's Pond (or Prexie's Pond) was the popular name that endured.
The pond was the site for many organized college activities; however, it also became the site for rituals such as hazing and initiation of freshmen, who were dunked into the water. On September 14, 1945, the College Eye reported: "Prexy's pond it seems was the scene of more than one interesting adventure this week. For instance, last Monday, two senior football players decided they would like to learn something about the swimming ability of one freshman football player. The freshman, it was discovered, is an excellent swimmer, and fortunately the two seniors can swim, too, because the freshman football player was also one of the better high school wrestlers in the state last year."
In September 1947, a College Eye editorial called upon the administration "to put an end to this childish hazing before Prexy's Pond becomes a monument to a tragedy." Later that month, columnist Warren Smith conducted a poll of students on the tradition of “dunking freshmen.” He found 49% of students thought the practice should be stopped, 41% thought it should continue, and 10% had no opinion. Critics of dunking cited its silliness and potential danger, while proponents cited the preservation of a tradition. By 1952, the dunking tradition consisted of freshmen voluntarily wading into the pond, giving a cheer, singing the loyalty song, and then hurrying home to change into dry clothes. In September 1953, the student government, then known as the Student League Board, approved a resolution to abolish dunking in Prexy's Pond. While this was the official end of dunking, incidents continued into the 1960s.
The pond and surrounding area required ongoing maintenance. A portion of the original earthen and flagstone wall was replaced by concrete in summer 1939. That concrete wall was replaced by a new wall in 1955. Several College Eye writers reported the pond itself had become dangerous, with cans and broken bottles lining its bottom. In 1958, a writer referred to Prexy’s Pond as a "weed-infested lagoon." By 1963, the Physical Plant Department reported on plans to remove the pond in the future.
In 1964, associate director of the Physical Plant Melvin Manion expressed frustration about the poor condition of the pond. Manion believed it was due in part to the construction of Russell Hall and the Regents residence hall complex just west and south of the pond. Their storm sewers reduced the natural flow of water which previously flushed the pond on a regular basis. Sediment, algae, and cattails built up in the increasingly stagnant water. In addition, runoff from the coal pile just east of the pond discolored its walls and bottom. A College Eye writer in 1966 referred to it as "a smelly, red-tinged tennis ball trap," referencing its proximity to the campus tennis courts.
The pond continued to degrade and could no longer hold water. In summer 1968, the university drained it, rebuilt and landscaped the sides, and lined the bottom with a new coat of clay. However, it was not restocked with fish, which had been impacted by runoff from the coal pile. Prexy’s Pond was refilled and ready for use by August 1968.
After the pond’s restoration, students created traditions reflecting popular trends of the 1960s. Using similar events in Chicago and San Francisco as models, a group of students designated September 19, 1969, as "Bra-less Friday," which about 2,500 students attended. During winter 1969-1970, students and local children continued ice skating on the frozen pond.
By 1972, the Northern Iowan student newspaper reported the pond was again choked with reeds and cattails. A few days after the article appeared, a group of men from Boies House of Rider Hall waded into the pond and pulled weeds all day until the pond was again clear. Administrators discussed building a wall to keep coal pile runoff out of the pond and drilling a well to supply it with fresh water; however, the $800,000-900,000 projects did not occur.
In December 1986, the university announced its decision to build a new business classroom building on the site of Prexy’s Pond. Director of Planning Lee Thomson stated, "The present pond is a mess. We are looking at the area to see if we can utilize a water area around the new building." He noted it was in poor condition and if kept, would need to be deepened or relocated. When construction began on the new business building in July 1988, Prexy’s Pond was removed.
Compiled by University Archivist Gerald L. Peterson, with research assistance by Student Assistant Shanna Taylor and scanning by Library Assistant Gail Briddle, June 2005; updated October 20, 2011 (GP); photos and captions updated by Graduate Assistant Eliza Mussmann, March 28, 2023; content edited by Graduate Intern Marcea Seible, Summer 2025; revised by Library Assistant Hannah Bernhard, April 2026.