How a small industrial school survived a devastating fire to become a university

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1884 to provide marketable skills, Ferris State University faced near-total destruction in 1950. A single surviving building stood amidst the ashes of its former campus, yet the institution persevered, eventually evolving from a private industrial school into a major public university with over 10,000 students.

The origins of Ferris State University trace back to September 1, 1884, when Woodbridge N. Ferris founded the Big Rapids Industrial School. Initially operating out of temporary quarters in the Vandersluis Block, the school aimed to equip students with practical skills for a changing society. By January 1885, it was renamed the Ferris Industrial School, and by 1894, it moved into its new building, Old Main, with a capital stock of $50,000.

The institution underwent several structural transformations. In 1898, it became the Ferris Institute, which remained privately owned until August 25, 1931, when a board of 39 businessmen purchased the school. After a legislative attempt to make it a state institution was vetoed by Governor Harry Kelly in 1943, Governor G. Mennen Williams eventually signed a bill on May 17, 1949, accepting the institute as a gift to the state of Michigan. Governance officially transferred to the state on July 1, 1950.

This transition was marked by catastrophe. On February 21, 1950, a fire destroyed both the Old Main and the Old Pharmacy buildings, leaving only the 1929 Alumni Building and some minor structures standing. Despite this, the university expanded rapidly. The campus grew from less than 20 acres in 1950 to 880 acres today, housing 115 buildings. Today, the university is a diverse institution offering over 170 programs across eight colleges, including specialized doctoral degrees in pharmacy, optometry, and engineering.

The university's impact is significant in Michigan; for example, its College of Pharmacy produces more than half of the state's practicing pharmacists. It has grown from fewer than 1,000 students and 50 faculty members in 1950 to an enrollment exceeding 10,000 students today.

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