Konneker Alumni Center



The house was originally owned by General Charles H. Grosvenor who, after retiring from Congress at the turn of the century, returned to Athens and commissioned his cousin, Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, to draw up plans for the house.  Construction was completed in the early 1900s.

Though General Grosvenor died in 1917, the house remained in the family for approximately 50 years.  At that point, the general’s granddaughter, Ohio University Professor Emerita of French Constance Leete, donated the house to the Episcopal Church, which leased it back to the University.

In 1980, a generous gift from Dr. Wilfred R. and Ann Lee Konneker provided funds for the purchase of the house by the Ohio University Foundation.  In honor of Dr. Konneker and his gift to his alma mater, the Foundation dedicated the new alumni center on Homecoming Day 1981, naming it the W. R. Konneker Alumni Center.

A special Challenge Campaign was organized by the Office of Development to raise additional funds to refurbish and restore the Center, and an initial Facilities Planning Committee, which included Ann Lee Konneker, was formed to aid in the project.

A carriage house, located behind the main structure, was owned by Rose Rutherford, widow of Dwight Rutherford, a past president of the Alumni Association and former member of the Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees.  Following Mrs. Rutherford’s death, the carriage house was purchased by the Foundation for use as a special guest facility.  In 1994 it was named “Claire Cottage” in honor of Ohio University’s first lady 1975-94, Claire Oates Ping.