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providential. This fine property came to us, without any down
payment, but on monthly payments actually $100 per month LESS THAN
we had been paying in Eugene, Oregon, for office rent and recording
of the broadcasts! The newly converted Administration Building
provided much enlarged office space, and we set up our own
recording studio in the building we now called "the College."
In other words, THIS FIRST COLLEGE PROPERTY CAME TO US IN
A MANNER THAT AMOUNTED TO BEING PAID $100 PER MONTH to accept
possession and the deed to the property!
The college opened its doors October 8, 1947. There were
only 4 pioneer students. The next year, the adjoining property,
"Mayfair," was offered on a very small down payment, which,
providentially, we were by that time able to pay, and low monthly
payments. It was then being operated as a high class rooming
house, with tenants of professional status. The rentals paid the
payments. We were glad to have them stay on the first year or two.
This was an income-producing property, and thus it expanded our
campus at virtually NO COST to us!
Later, the most fabulous property in Pasadena, the second
estate beyond "Mayfair," estate of the late Hulett C. Merritt,
principal stockholder of U.S. Steel Corporation, wealthiest man in
Pasadena, was offered to us. This superb property came to us at
the unbelievably ridiculous low cost of less than the ornamental
iron fence around the front would cost! Later, the other two of
the five mansions along Terrace Drive--backing up to South Orange
Grove Boulevard--came to us at similar exceeding low cost.
These had all been proud multimillionaire mansions. Of
course some were overgrown with weeds--but hard work took care of
that! These properties were all of a quality that necessarily set
the standard of the Ambassador College campus. When God put Adam
in the Garden in Eden, He told him to "dress it and keep it,"
--NOT let it run down and deteriorate. We have diligently
MAINTAINED these fine properties. Of course, these buildings are
all 50 or 60 years old--but they were superbly constructed and
under diligent care and maintenance, they are as fine and beautiful
as new.
We have published beautiful pictures in full color, also,
of the campus in England. Stately Memorial Hall, principal
classroom building, was built in 1925 by one of Britain's
wealthiest multimillionaires. It equals in character and fine
quality the fabulous Ambassador Hall (former Merritt estate) on the
Pasadena campus. This proud and stately building, with the ornate
formal garden in front, with large decorative urns, and an aviary;
the beautiful large Rose Garden (finest I have ever seen) the
exotic and breath-taking Japanese Garden with its winding little
stream; the outstanding large informal English Sunken Garden; the
expanse of gently sloping and contoured lawns with the very rare
and stately Cedars of Lebanon--all this, as our first unit of the
English campus came to us--believe it or not--for eight thousand
pounds ($22,400)--less than the cost of a modern 2- or 3-bedroom
home!