Alice Eastman

Eastman House, 1946.

Biography

Alice May Eastman was born January 14, 1859, in Anoka, MN, where she grew up and attended school. She was a teacher in Anoka until her marriage to Alvah Eastman in 1883. She moved with her husband to St. Cloud in 1892 and had six children. Eastman was active in the civic and social life of St. Cloud. She was involved with numerous clubs and organizations, including the St. Cloud Reading Room, the Women's Alliance of Unity Church, the Sunshine Society to aid those in need, Sorosis, and the Favorite Recipe Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and various district and statewide women's clubs. Eastman was noted for her hospitality in her home and at her lake cottage near Pleasant Lake, where she and her husband hosted many outings for St. Cloud State faculty as well as other groups. She was also known for accepting foster daughters into her family. Eastman died February 2, 1935 and is buried in St. Cloud's North Star Cemetery.

Alice M. Eastman Social Home (1940)

Willed by the late Alvah Eastman, it was the home of Alvah and his wife Alice Eastman. Stipulated in Alvah's will, the home was named to honor Alice.  It was officially opened as a student center for women on May 12, 1940 with tea served to St. Cloud State students and friends of the Eastman family.

By the fall of 1942, the home was run as a co-op home that accommodated eight St. Cloud State female students. The home closed in 1958 and was sold sometime shortly afterwards.