Calla James Ruff, Isaiah Benti-Novotny, Isabel Gable

We looked at the Women’s League Cabin from 1970 to its demolition in 1998. We looked at the specific uses of the cabin during this era, how the rules and regulations of the cabin changed depending on ownership, and the transfer of ownership of the cabin (Women’s League, the Natural History Club, and the Dean of Students Office). Our research was done through a series of interviews and visits to the online and in-person Carleton archives.

Student Use

In the 1980s and 1990s, not many students knew of the cabin. Those who did, and who visited it, often did so only once. Most students later felt that they materialized at the cabin, no longer remembering what method of transportation they used, had a wild and unforgettable night, and never spoke of it again. Groups could reserve it for 1-2 nights. Often, one person would know of the cabin, make the reservation, and bring along friends who hadn’t been aware of it previously. It was the site of many crazy nights of drinking and partying, and even a movie filmed by students over the course of a full summer in the early 1990s. Students would drink the night away and make lots of memories—that is, the way they felt would never leave them, but by now, many of the details have.

Cabin Use Photos

Cabin Use Photos

Figure 1. Students sleeping in the cabin surrounded by alcohol.

Figure 2. Male student posing for the photo. Half of a second photo is visible, with one student sitting in a chair holding a blue cup and a second smiling, sitting on the floor.

Figure 3. Two photos three of students smiling and laughing.

Figure 4. Five students enthusiastically playing a board game.

Figure 5. Seven students with their arms around each other smiling.

Quotations from Carleton Alumni

“We played games and drank and slept on sleeping bags and just had one of those perfect college nights of laughter, fun, bonding and silliness that you never recapture in adulthood (sorry!).” —Student 1 ’92

“It was a little spooky… This was right around when the B-52’s “Love Shack” came out, so there were often comparisons. We would “camp” there, light a fire, and sing songs.” —Student 2 ’92

“It was one of those things you felt lucky to know about Carleton, like the tunnels. It seemed like just lore until we actually went there.” —Student ’93

Rules and Regulations

The Women’s League Cabin had a variety of owners during its existence: the Women’s League (1936–1970), the Natural History Club (1971–1977), and the Dean of Students (1977–1998). The transfer of ownership instigated many changes in various aspects of the cabin—how it would be used, how it was to be taken care of, and who was allowed to visit it. 

Regulations of the Women’s League Cabin focused on securing the cabin and surrounding areas in order to prevent vandalism, breaking and entering, and destruction of property and vegetation.  For example, if a student or group was charged with vandalism, they would be prohibited from cabin use for the foreseeable future. 

Moreover, there were systems put in place to manage public usage of the cabin, such as the deposit system. There was a $5 deposit to reserve the cabin, which began after the transfer of ownership to the Natural History Club. Eventually, this deposit was increased to $10 to combat inflation and in hopes of decreasing vandalism. This reservation system existed during ownership of the cabin by the Women’s League, the Natural History Club, and the college itself. 

There were also rules that emphasized the importance of cleaning up after yourself and leaving the area as you found it. Lastly, the prohibition of men was stressed when the Women’s League owned the cabin. However, this rule was changed when the cabin was handed over to the Natural History Club and became a space for both men and women.

Photos of the Cabin During the Later Years

Figure 1. Reservation ticket for the cabin

Figure 2. A side view of the cabin and the porch. The stone chimney is just visible on the left, behind a large tree.

Figure 3. A wide shot of the cabin, surrounded by a grassy clearing with a couple trees right next to it.

Figure 4. A similar wide shot of the cabin, with the water pump in the foreground on the left. More of the brush is visible in this photo.

Bibliography

Behm, Verlin. Women’s Cabin Memorandum. October 14, 1991. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Behm, Verlin. Women’s League Cabin Memorandum. February 16, 1993. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Bodrie, Vanessa. Cabin Caretaker Proposition to Bruce Colwell. April 17, 1994. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Bodrie, Vanessa. Cabin Repairs Memorandum. April 27, 1994. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Braker, Nancy. Personal interview. 7 November 2024. 

Carleton College Catalog, 1969-1970. Pg. 174-175, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, July 1969.

Clark, Roger. Logistics of Cabin Use. September 24, 1974. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Colwell, Bruce. Cabin Restoration Memorandum. August 3, 1995. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Colwell, Bruce. Cabin Restoration Memorandum. May 23, 1994. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Colwell, Bruce. Cabin Restoration Memorandum. October 28, 1994. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Colwell, Bruce. Small sticky note to Randy Lutz speaking about possible destruction of the cabin. Date unknown. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Colwell, Bruce. Women’s League Cabin Memorandum. July 24, 1995. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Davis, George-Ann. Handwritten note to Jean E. Phillips. November 13, 1972. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

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Gould Library Archive, Carleton College : Group : Women’s Cabin [48753]. https://archive.carleton.edu/Detail/collections/48753. Accessed 27 Oct. 2024.

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Govoni, Mark. Women’s League Cabin Memorandum. July 31, 1995. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Kelley, Christina. Personal interview. 22 October 2024.

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Lewis, Ryan. Cabin Report. Fall 1993. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

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Matson, Lisa. Personal interview. 22 October 2024. 

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Outing/Natural History Club. NHC request to take over cabin. March 12, 1991. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

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Phillips, Jean E. Construction issues/winter care of the cabin. February 4, 1972. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Phillips, Jean E. Message to George-Ann Davis about cabin vandalism. November 9, 1992. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

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Phillips, Jean E. Thank you note to Konrad Liegel. September 23, 1977. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

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Unknown Author. Blueprint of Women’s League Cabin. Date unknown. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Unknown Author. Budget Analysis of Cabin as of 30-June-1989. September 14, 1989. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

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Unknown Author. Budget Analysis of Cabin as of 31-August-1991. September 13, 1991. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Unknown Author. Cabin Caretaker job description. Date unknown. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

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Unknown Author. Missing items list. Date unknown. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

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Unknown Author. Requisition Worksheet. May 27, 1998. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

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Unknown Author. Women’s League Cabin: Regulations for Use. Date unknown. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

Unknown Author. Women’s League Cabin History. Date unknown. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

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Wright, Frank I. Message to Konrad Liegel about improvements to the Women’s League Cabin. September 18, 1974. Women’s League Cabin. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Sayles Hill Campus Center, North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.