Oracle Online

Formerly known as the President’s Mansion, the White House was undergoing preparations for the Trustee Reception on behalf of the Board of Trustees. The White House hadn’t seen visitors for years, except for occasional formal parties and other administrative events.

Washburne, who has worked at Hamline for 11 years, couldn’t remember the last time the building has been used. “I think Larry Osnes may have thrown a party there early in his presidency, but I’m not really sure since his tenure wasn’t very memorable,” Washburne said.

The administration first encountered the family when several staff members, led by Washburne, entered the former presidential residence to clean it. They were prepping it for the reception to honor Hamline’s trustees when they discovered the family in a corner, sorting food stamps. According to the staffer, there was little cleaning necessary since the family kept the house tidy. “They didn’t really have any stuff to clutter it up,” Washburne said.

As a result, the administration decided to go ahead with the event. In attendance was Trustee Irving Fish, who said, “They were quiet and didn’t really disrupt our gala at all. They mostly stayed in front of the buffet table, eating the hors d’oeuvres.”

Previously, several students have witnessed people in torn, dirty clothing go in and out of the house, but assumed they were only drunk college students. Junior Jason Jessup claims to have been in the house. “I saw this guy go in with a bottle of cheap booze, and I thought there was a party so I asked if I could come in,” he said. “The guy looked at me kind of strange, but he let me in.” Jessup spent an hour or so drinking with the man and his alleged wife before he got bored and wandered off to party with friends in Drew Hall.

Because no one used the White House, it is unclear how long the family has been living there. At present, there are no plans to evict them.