A Year in the Life of the Ivinsons by Kim Viner

However, the bishop and Ivinson’s physician convinced him that a better use for the house would be a boarding school for young women, allowing them to live in Laramie and obtain a secondary education. In 1921 Edward made the final decision to donate his mansion to the Episcopal Church for use as a home for elderly ladies. Interviewed by the Boomerang in 1905, both Ivinsons believed this would be a suitable use for their palatial home. Not too long after their mansion was finished in 1893, the Ivinson’s were talking about giving it to the Episcopal Diocese for use as home for elderly ladies. Both were eventually sold by the Cathedral Home and the proceeds used to support its operations. The other gift was one-half interest in 80 acres north of LaBonte Park. 40 acres were located approximately where the UW football stadium is now. This would eventually become the location of Hunter Hall.Ĭontinuing his efforts to aid the community, in 1919 he donated two large tracts of land to the Cathedral Home for Children. He also gave the Episcopal Church two lots that Jane had owned located on the same block that housed the Cathedral. When the funds ran short to complete the cathedral, in 1916 Edward donated more than $40,000 (about $800,00 in today’s money) in his deceased wife’s name to finish the building. The original Ivinson Memorial hospital was finished early the next year. In 1916 he gave $50,000 (about $1 million today) and four city lots to construct the first real hospital the city and county had ever had. Edward, who had been Senior Warden of the church, was noted as the most generous local donor to the building fund.Īfter Jane’s death in 1915, Edward became even more dedicated to giving back to his community.

The first was Edward’s contribution to the construction of the new St.

Major gifts to the community would not occur until later in the Ivinson’s lives. Both Ivinsons also belonged to organizations which were dedicated to the betterment of their hometown Edward was the Grand Noble of the Odd Fellows and Jane was a charter member of the Rebekahs. After arriving in 1868, Jane was instrumental in organizing the first Sunday school in the city and shortly thereafter the first public school. Jane and Edward Ivinson of Laramie were among them. Many Americans have been motivated to give energy and money to civic improvements.

A Year in the Life of the Ivinsons by Kim Viner