Cassie Lomison
Reporter
Milligan College recently purchased 35.79 acres of
land behind married student housing and the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse. Included on
the piece of land are a ranch style house and a barn.
This property is the only piece of land that is immediately adjacent to the
campus.
“No other property is as advantageous as this piece (of land) because we would
have to cross the Milligan Highway, Buffalo Road, or Alf Taylor Road,” said
President Don Jeanes.
According to Jeanes, the Milligan board of trustees has wanted to buy a part of
the 157-acre farm for several years, but it had not been for sale. Betty Reasor
Range, owner of the property, died a few years ago and her children Earl Taylor,
Susan Carson, and Sam Taylor knew of Milligan’s desire to purchase part of the
157 acres. The children contacted Milligan about a year ago and wanted the
college to buy the entire farm.
“We did not need that much property,” Jeanes said, “and we couldn’t agree on a
price.”
In January, however, the family offered to sell a portion of the farm. Milligan
took advantage of the opportunity and bought the property for $775,850, which
comes to almost $22,000 per acre. Milligan borrowed the funds to pay for the
land, and according to Jeanes, the trustees are “committed to helping raise the
money.”
“The family was willing to sell the property as a bargain price because they
wished to help Milligan,” Jeanes said.
Since the land was an investment for the future, and there are no immediate
plans for its use, the college is allowing a local farmer to use the property.