Faithfully forward: A legacy of generosity

Landmark library’s existence and purpose stem from gifts that built it and filled it

By Rachelle (Poppema ’14) Waldon

Dr. Jacob Francis Tourtellotte*, a former military surgeon, and his wife, Harriet Arnold Tourtellotte (a direct descendent of Benedict Arnold), moved to Winona, Minnesota, in 1870. As the Tourtellottes prospered financially, tragedy touched their personal lives through the loss of both of their children. Their first-born daughter, Harriet Lucina, died in 1870 of scarlet fever when she was 11 months old. Their second daughter, Frances Harriet, died in 1884, at age 10, from what was suspected to be food poisoning or appendicitis.

The Tourtellottes then moved to Minneapolis, where Jacob continued a successful career in real estate. While still grieving the loss of her children, Harriet focused her efforts on philanthropy.

In Harriet’s hometown of Thompson, Connecticut, the only way for children to attend school had been to take a trolley into a nearby town, resulting in many children missing out on education— something about which Harriet was quite passionate. In 1906, Harriet funded the building of a school near Harriet’s hometown: the Tourtellotte Memorial High School, in memory of Hattie and Lucy. (The Connecticut high school looks remarkably similar to North Central's library!) When Dr. Tourtellotte died in 1912, the Minneapolis Tribune reported that even as a wealthy, successful man, he remained humble and “never missed an opportunity to do a charitable act.”

A few years later, Harriet donated $125,000 to build the Tourtellotte Memorial Deaconess Home in honor of her husband. The building, completed in 1914, was first used as housing and training grounds for the deaconesses of the Methodist Church until 1946. This stately mansion housed the students and nurses of Asbury Hospital, then became a home for retired nurses until 1968, when North Central Bible College acquired it.

In its first five years, North Central utilized the space to house chapel speakers, pastors, professors, and other college guests. Some of the building’s most notable residents were former NCU President Gordon Anderson and his family, who lived on the second floor when he first arrived as a faculty member.

In 1973, the building was remodeled and renamed for the late Professor T.J. Jones after his family donated 20,000 volumes from his personal library. Known as “Brother Jones” to students and colleagues, the beloved professor taught Bible and theology at North Central from 1947 to 1969. At various points in his tenure, he also served as Principal, Dean, and Regent. He was a perennial favorite among students in classes such as Devotional Practice, Archaeology, Truth and Testimony, New Testament Synthesis, and Christian Evidences, and Bible Atlas. As we prepare this space for a substantial renovation made possible by generous GIVE DAY donations (see page 5), I can’t help but think about these two legacies of generosity. The gift of 20,000 books from the T.J. Jones family served as the foundation for North Central’s library that would serve students for generations to come.

And Harriet Arnold Tourtellotte, in the face of profound personal tragedies, devoted her time and wealth to enriching the lives of others through education. I think she would be pleased to hear of the many teachers, pastors, missionaries, CEOs, and scholars who have spent time learning and preparing for lives of service within the walls of the building she built more than one hundred years ago.

*The Tourtellotte name is not exclusive to the historical building on North Central University’s campus. Jacob Tourtellotte’s older brother John Eaton Tourtellotte was a Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General and was in command of the 4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. John became a successful businessman after the war and built and donated a hospital in Mankato, Minnesota. His generosity to the city was honored years later when city leaders named one of Mankato’s largest parks and recreation areas and a local street after him.

Rachelle (Poppema ’14) Waldon, M.L.I.S., is the Director of North Central’s T. J. Jones Library.