- - - - By 1931, ownership of the remaining property and house was passed on to Kutztown State Teachers College. Major changes came to the Kutz home in 1936–37, when the federal Works Progress Administration funded extensive projects in the borough and on the campus. Since a large portion of the north campus project involved widening what is now Main Street, it was nec essary to relocate the house to be in line with the library (today’s Graduate Center) and new president’s residence. After the relocation, an addition incorporating kitchen and bath facilities and other important renovations were completed. Te house was dedicated in January 1938 with the keys given to the Kutztown State Teachers College Board of Trustees. Trough the 1950s, the home was used for faculty housing, and the next decade saw one of the fastest-growing eras in the college’s history, including a name change to Kutztown State College in 1960. As a result, the former Kutz farmland gave way to six new academic buildings that helped shape the future of the college, which eventually became Kutztown University in 1983. Alumni from the 1970s may remember the home was repurposed to serve as the college’s Spanish House, known as El Castillo. Every year, it accommodated 10 female students who wanted to immerse themselves in the Spanish language and culture. Costs for living in the house, meal plans, a resident director, and all other regula tions and privileges were the same as the other campus residences. It remained a residence hall into the 1990s. In 1998, it was closedfor renovations due to code and safety violations. By this time, the name was changed to Poplar House, referring to the various trees planted during Dr. Quincy Rohrbach’s presidency. In October 2023, groundbreaking for the Poplar House renovation and adjoining welcome center took place. Te 10,300 square foot addition was designed to transition from the updated Poplar House to an ultra modern space. Apart from welcoming visitors and prospective students, both structures’ functional areas include an information lobby with interactive displays and kiosks, a large multipurpose room for presentations and special events, admissions staf ofces, tour guide lounge, and more. Completion of the Hawkinson Welcome Center, named after KU’s 12th president occurred in May with a formal dedication on June 5, with descendants of the Kutz family in attendance. “Te Hawkinson Welcome Center will be a hub for all admissions related activities where our team will help prospective students and their families navigate the college search process,” said director of undergraduate admissions. “It will be a friendly, welcoming environment where anyone can learn more about Kutztown and connect with campus resources. We are excited to have a dedicated space to host various visitation options including information sessions, campus tours, group visits, guidance counselor programming, and more.” After 133 years, the Poplar House was once again revived to become an essential part of Kutztown University and the surrounding community. Tis article was compiled from information provided by Susan Czerny, assistant professor and KU archives librarian; Jason Graver ’92, M’18; and Dr. Frederick Kutz. Adaptation A Modern Comeback KU’s 12th president, Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson, Jennifer Castro, FALL 2025 | TOWER 19
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