In June of 1896, the students at Luther College began a Boarding Club to feed their fellow classmates. They wrote a constitution and elected officers to hire and fire employees, manage the purchasing and finances, and create menus and policies. In 1897, the average cost per week was $1.30. Donations were accepted from faculty and Decorah businesses and notes of thanks were published in the Chips.

One notable donation was from George Lommen, a Luther graduate and classmate of President C. K. Preus, who donated a 175-pound reindeer for Thanksgiving dinner. Officers of the Boarding Club may have had to work hard managing the organization, but they also received many benefits, such as free board, free laundry, free coffee, and cream instead of milk. Originally located in Main I, the Boarding Club was relocated to Loyalty Hall and served the dedication dinner on December 20, 1916 to the entire student body and faculty. In 1932, Luther College took formal control over the food service and in the 1960s, meals were relocated to the newly constructed Dahl Centennial Union.

Information taken from: Luther College 1861-1961, p 140, and Luther College through sixty years, p 320