You may have heard that Hamline was Minnesota’s first university, but did you know that Hamline hosted the first intercollegiate basketball game? On March 5, Dan Loritz was the speaker for the Associations of Hamline Alumni, First Friday Forum and he talked about some Hamline facts that may surprise you!

For example, when Hamline opened in St. Paul, its location was on land given to Hamline, called College Place. And, Minnehaha Avenue was previously called University Avenue – for Hamline University!

Another interesting story involves Ray Kaighn, Hamline’s first physical director. When he was just 23 years old, he swapped his services to pay his student tuition. On Febraury 9, 1895, Kaighn coached the first intercollegiate basketball game ever played anywhere. Hamline lost 9-3, to the Minnesota State School of Agriculture. The hoops they aimed at were peach baskets!

Did you know that it 1896, the oldest charted medical school in Minnesota became the Hamline University College of Medicine? It later merged with the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Just a few of Hamline’s interesting facts!