St. John’s College lives on as Baden Square
The Lutheran college closed in 1986, and the city now uses its buildings, three of which are on the National Register.
By Wade Ellison
St. John’s College educated more than 9,000 students in Winfield between 1893 and 1986. The buildings are still in use.
The two-year college and high school academy was run by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The campus grew slowly: Baden Hall was the only building for 20 years, followed by Rehwinkel Hall, a men’s dormitory, in 1916, the Meyer Hall classroom building in 1925, a gymnasium in 1940 and Mundinger Hall, the women’s dormitory.
After the college closed, the City of Winfield took over the grounds as Baden Square, for civic functions and city offices. Mundinger, Rehwinkel and Baden halls are each listed on the National Register of Historic Places.