FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2016, 5:00 p.m. CDT
Contact Jason Hogue, Peru State College Marketing and Communications, 402.872.2429
Peru, Nebraska- The Nebraska State College Board of Trustees voted on Friday, March 18 to follow
the advice of Peru State College and architects to demolish J.F. Neal Hall. Bids
for the demolition will be accepted at a later date.
Dr. Dan Hanson, president of Peru State College, said, “We consulted with architects
about how to move forward with renovating Neal Hall. Their response included a strong
recommendation to demolish based on the shape of the building and the cost of renovation.”
“Examining Neal Hall is part of our ongoing efforts to maintain and beautify the campus.”
Named for Dr. J.F. Neal, Neal Hall was built in 1967 as part of the Centennial Complex
Residence Hall. Neal was a member of the original committee to start a college in
Peru. Ernest Longfellow, author of The Normal on the Hill, writes that when Neal was
asked to contribute financially he responded, “he would give as much as any man.”
Neal Hall was originally used as a cafeteria, but has seen a number of uses in its
almost fifty years of existence.
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For more information, visit www.peru.edu or call 1-800-742-4412.
About Peru State College: Nestled in the historic hills of the Missouri River, the
“Campus of a Thousand Oaks" is Nebraska’s oldest college and will celebrate its sesquicentennial
anniversary in 2017. Peru State College’s constant commitment to academic excellence
has resulted in a unique and innovative mix of online, traditional, undergraduate
and graduate programs. Similarly, the college's ongoing student engagement promotes
inquiry, discovery and innovation on-campus and across the region. Peru State College
is committed to being a good steward of education, students, the region and Nebraska
for another 150 years.