With over 75 years of proud service to the community, Laredo College also celebrates its historical roots by enriching the day-to-day student life with historical buildings that have withstood the test of time.
That being said, some buildings require substantial repairs and renovations, and Laredo College is proud to announce that the Moody Foundation has awarded the college a grant of $250,000 over the next two years to help in the renovation of our beloved Domingo Arechiga Hall.
LC President Dr. Minita Ramírez said the college was truly grateful for this gift from the Moody Foundation, who saw the importance of this historical project and thanked the Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dr. Diana Ortiz and Director of Grants Gabriel Lozano for their efforts in securing these funds.
This funding will be a valuable asset to the restoration of the late Victorian architecture that highlights the historical significance of this institution as well as contributes towards the president’s goal of preserving every historical building on campus.
“We are so proud of Laredo College’s history and understand the enormous responsibility we have to honor those who lived and fought in defense of the United States here from Ft. McIntosh. It is our duty to assure these buildings maintain their exterior facades and that the interior is a usable space for our employees and students. The Moody Foundation Grant will help support the $2.2 million-dollar restoration project of Arechiga Hall, formerly the fort’s barracks,” Ramírez added.
With the campus’ history starting as Camp Crawford back in 1849 and later renamed after war hero Lieutenant Colonel James McIntosh, the Ft. McIntosh Campus is a staple in the community. Over the years many of Laredo’s residents can recall walking through the historical campus at one point in their lives.
Originally constructed in 1880, Arechiga Hall is now a registered Texas Landmark as well as a National Historical Landmark. This is in conjunction with the National Register of Historic Places registering Ft. McIntosh to its historic districts in 1975.
Rewinding back over 150 years, instead of students roaming the campus, military troops patrolled the fort and defensive strategies were discussed instead of homework assignments. In 1947, the fort was renamed Laredo Junior College and the troops’ barracks later became Arechiga Hall, named after LJC’s third president, Dr. Domingo Arechiga.
With the additional funding generously provided by the Moody Foundation, the halls and exterior of Arechiga Hall will once again see the return of students and stand proudly as one of Laredo’s historical landmarks.