The Alliance Training Home
This was the birthplace of what is now called...
CROWN COLLEGE
Located on Sherburne Avenue - on the South side of the church
This picture was taken February of 1998
It is now an apartment dwelling
- The St. Paul Branch of the Christian and Missionary Alliance had long been concerned about the problem of not having a building or property of their own in St. Paul, from which they could direct their evangelizing efforts in that area. In the Spring of 1916, J.D. Williams, together with A.D. Jackson, G.L. Morgan, and E.C. Swanson, viewed a large cow pasture at the corner of Fry Street and Sherburne Avenue. It was here that they were chased away by a lady grazing her cow. Later, we are told, she came to trust Christ as her Savior. With confidence in God they knelt in the snow praying and claiming in faith that portion of ground for the work of God. They received permission to use the property, erected a large tent, and began to hold meetings here in the summer of 1916. In October of that year, the lot was purchased and with $28.00 in the building fund, a foundation was laid for the building that was completed in October of 1917, known as the Alliance Training Home.
This picture was taken when it was in operation
- On the ground floor a dining room seating 150, a kitchen, and a laundry were built. Other classes were held in the dining room. Eventually the third and fourth floors were assigned as student dorm rooms with a total capacity of 35. The indebtedness of the property was $6,000.00 in 1919. A bit later, in the early twenties, an addition was completed just to the north of the original structure (across the alley from the Tabernacle). It consisted of an addition of the chapel, dining room and a baptistry. The addition cost $15,000.00