NIU Homecoming 2018-- Part 9: Lincoln and Douglas Halls, the Lagoon, Castle and Gus Goose

October 13, 2018

We drove around campus, past where Douglas Hall once stood.  It has been torn down to straighten Lucinda Avenue.  Liz lived in it for a year and a half.  Nearby stands Lincoln Hall, where I lived freshman year on the 3rd floor of C Wing, Home of the Keggers.  Earlier this fall we had noticed it was quite dark and found out today that it is closed and on the list to also be torn down.  I hope not.  Hey, that's my history.

Next, we drove along Lincoln Highway (Illinois Highway-38) eastward to the Lagoon.   We both consider the Lagoon area and Altgeld Hall, the original building of the school, as the most beautiful spot on campus.  It is water surrounded by walkways, landscaping and bridges.  Plus, in the last ten years, the original entryway to the school was rebuilt and is a stunner.

Near the road going by the Lagoon is named Castle Drive as Altgeld Hall looks like a castle.  There is even a stone with an inscription to Gus Goose, a favorite goose of the Lagoon who was cantankerous and you hadn't lived until you had been "goosed" by Gus Goose.  He especially liked doing it to the coeds.  After you were "goosed" he was friendly, especially if you had  food for him.  The inscription names him William the Goose, but no one I knew ever called him anything but Gus.

Sadly, he was found dead one day back in the 1970s under suspicious circumstances.  You can search "Death of William Goose" to find out the particulars.

Sad to Lose the Goose.  --RoadGoose