opened in 1927. It replaced Little Hall, which had been struck by lightning and burned down. The new hall was named after the city because the residents had donated to help build a new dormitory. Around the same time, Lees Junior College was in the news as they started their inaugural football season. "St. Xavier U. beats Lees College: 132-0". Many of the players were still in high school (Jackson City) and new to football. Van Meter's development of the college In 1928 President Donald W. Miller left the college and Jesse O. Van Meter was hired as acting president. The chairman of the board of trustees asked Van Meter to keep the college open until February 1, 1929, when it was assumed it would be shut down, because of financial and accreditation problems. Yet in less than a year Van Meter had achieved a fully accredited faculty, clean facilities, cemented sidewalks and updated scientific equipment for the school. The student body more than doubled from 33 to over 100 students in a semester. Two years later there were more than 300 students. Van Meter devised an early method of student loans with one of the local banks. He ensured the survival of the school for decades to come. In the 1930s, Van Meter created a football field, the Barkley Bowl, named after (then) Senator and future vice president Alben W. Barkley. It was completed in 1935, with funding from the Works Progress Administration and donations. Lees continued to grow through the 1930s and 40s, to an average of 350 students a semester. Enrolment was lower during World War II and the college had to shut down for a semester. Van Meter retired in 1948. Van Meter Gymnasium, completed in 1957, was named in his honor. This also contained rooms for the music/orchestra program, a stage for the arts/music program, a student center with a bowling lane, a multipurpose room, and later an electric organ inside the main gymnasium. This was supported by fundraising of $250,000 under the motto, "Lees College: the Great Mountain Benefactress". The 1950s, 60s and 70s After the retirement of Van Meter, the college continued to grow despite a disputes over whether to keep accreditation. Robert Landolt (president 1948–58) oversaw the building of Van Meter Gymnasium and the growth of men's basketball. The administrations of J. Phil Smith (1958–1959) and Lawrence H. Hollander (1959–1960) did not