When we left Rev. John Taylor and the Board of the Channing Murray Foundation (CMF), they had received a letter from the head of the University’s Physical Plant Department acknowledging an impasse in negotiations for a lease or sale of the property at 1209 W. Oregon. 

Rev. Taylor had told the University on March 3, 1966 that “the congregation [UUCUC] would not tolerate the sale of the property.” The University said on April 1, 1966 that they planned to have the property – one way or another. The University intended to “process a recommendation to our Board for the acquisition through condemnation.”

Imagine the consternation that produced at UUCUC and Channing Murray.

On April 11, 1966, Robert Gillespie, chairman of the Negotiating Committee for the church and Channing Murray, wrote to H.O. Farber, Vice President and Comptroller of the University. The first four paragraphs of that letter were apologies, explanations, and an urgent request to keep talking. 

Mr. Gillespie’s letter went on to detail why Channing Murray should be allowed to continue in its present location. “The Channing Murray Foundation must be adjacent to the campus in order to fulfill its function in the University community.” To further support staying at 1209 W. Oregon, Mr. Gillespie reminded Mr. Farber “that this Church has maintained facilities and services at the present site since 1907.” He then swung a mild public relations stick at the University by asking it to refrain from exercising “its right of eminent domain against a religious Foundation.” 

You may remember my earlier reporting that in November 1965, the church and CMF had thoughts of convincing the University that a campus-oriented high-rise building on the site would be a good idea. The old building could go, but the mission – plus a faculty club, housing for scholars, and a below-ground garage  -- should be built in its place. Mr. Gillespie told Mr. Farber that he didn’t think that “promising suggestion” had been given sufficient attention. Yes, you want to construct a Chemistry Building, but we think you should reconsider your plans. We “deserve more than superficial consideration.”

But … “If it is not possible for the University to construct its Chemistry buildings in such a way as to leave the Channing Murray Foundation site either undisturbed or expanded for the purposes suggested above [club, housing, garage], we have indicated our continued willingness to enter into conversations leading to an exchange of properties.” The locations suggested by Mr. Gillespie for a new home for Channing Murray included 1201 W. Oregon, and sites along the north and south sides of Nevada Street between Mathews and Goodwin.

 

This letter included a request that the University “keep in mind our concern that we are entitled to equality of treatment or at least non-discriminatory treatment in relation to that afforded to other religious Foundations serving the campus.” In other words, you aren’t uprooting or interfering with the Episcopalians, Catholics, or Lutherans. 

Mr. Gillespie wraps up with some finger-wagging at Mr. Neville (the Physical Plant manager) who was supposed to provide a list of alternative sites, but didn’t. And because Mr. Neville didn’t propose new locations, his statement about being at an impasse isn’t right. After some “earnestly soliciting” and “respectfully requesting”, Mr. Gillespie asks for a meeting before April 20.

On April 14, Mr. Farber responds that he is happy to know that CMF is willing to continue negotiations “for the acquisition of the Foundation property.” April 20 won’t work, though.

And then, in these records at least, crickets.

It starts back up when Mr. Gillespie wrote to Mr. Farber again on July 20, 1966. There must have been correspondence and meetings between April and July because Mr. Gillespie states, “A satisfactory solution to our mutual problem seems to be most difficult to obtain.” The church Board and congregation rejected a proposed exchange for property at Green and Fifth as “definitely out of the question” and the Sixth and Healy site received the “unanimous consensus that it was inferior to our present site.” 

They are going to keep trying, though. Mr. Gillespie requested the “University’s serious thought and/or action to all of the following items.” There were three items: 1) prepare specific terms for a trade for Sixth and Healy; 2) provide soil boring data for that site; and 3) search for some place closer to 1209 W. Oregon, even if it's smaller than the present 17,000 square feet. The church and CMF want the University to “show more willingness to alter their long range planning. Every time CMF and the church proposed an alternate site to Mr. Neville, he “stated some future University plans for that specific site.” 

Given that the Channing Murray Foundation is still at 1209 W. Oregon, I’m assuming everyone just got tired of spinning their wheels.