Eisgrubers and dog scheduled to move to Lowrie House in Jan. 2014

University Provost and President-Elect Christopher Eisgruber ’83 said he plans to move into Lowrie House, the University president’s official residence at 83 Stockton Street, as soon as repairs and renovations have been made.

Tilghman explained that the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is “completely out-of-date” and said that the best time to make the big repairs that the house needs is during a transition between presidents.

“We will move as soon as the renovations are complete,” Eisgruber said, explaining that the “offhand prediction” date for the move is January 2014.

Lowrie House, which Tilghman described as “very practically useful,” serves as a home for the president and his or her family, as well as a place for the president to entertain guests.

“It’s a wonderful place to entertain, and the president, by definition, does a great deal of entertaining,” she said. “It has been my experience that students love to come to Lowrie House, faculty like to come, trustees, alumni. There’s something special about going to the place where the president lives as opposed to one more University building.”

Tilghman noted that she has always felt as though her family’s privacy has been preserved during her time in Lowrie House. She said that the house manager is only at the house when Tilghman herself is not.

“When I leave in the morning, the house is empty. When I return in the evening, the house is empty, except on evenings where I am having people for dinner. And so, except for those occasions when you are entertaining, it feels very private,” she said.

Tilghman, who moved to Lowrie House in 2001, described her adjustment as smooth and comfortable, though she noted, “The most trauma was experienced by my dog, who did not like the change at all.”

Prior to 1968, University presidents lived in Prospect House — a location that is far less private, as it is located in the center of campus.

The University president also enjoys the privilege of keeping any piece of artwork from the University Art Museum in the president’s office or in Lowrie House.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Tilghman noted that two pieces of artwork that she will miss greatly are a Roy Lichtenstein piece that currently hangs in her office and a Frank Stella painting in the Lowrie House dining room.

Tilghman said she plans to move out of Lowrie House after Commencement and will move into a house that she has purchased in the same neighborhood. The house, at 9 Campbelton Circle, was worth $1.5 million when Tilghman purchased it in December 2010. Since August 2010, Tilghman has been leasing the Campbelton Circle home to Vice President for Campus Life Cynthia Cherrey.

Eisgruber noted that his family will be keeping their current house and will use it as a “country place.”

“We have a house that we love — and Lowrie House is a beautiful house — but it is an adjustment, so I am grateful to [wife] Lori and [son] Danny for being willing to do this,” Eisgruber said.

Eisgruber noted that his son, who is a freshman at Princeton High School, is excited to be closer to the town than the family’s current home at 4801 Province Line Road.

Eisgruber noted that he discussed the move to Lowrie House with Chair of the Board of Trustees Kathryn Hall ’80, who reassured him that, while Eisgruber is required to live in the president’s official residence, the home should also be comfortable for him and his family.

“We want this to be a home where we can welcome people from the University, but it really has to be our home. It can’t be a conference facility,” he said. “I think there will be some adjustment there, but we think it’s very important to protect our privacy and have the kind of house where you can have a slightly frenetic yellow Lab,” Eisgruber said.

Eisgruber recalled that the first question he asked Hall was whether the family’s female Labrador retriever, Onita, would also be able to move into the house.

Eisgruber noted that his favorite piece of artwork was a painting by Inness that is currently hanging in Nassau Hall, in the anteroom to the president's office. He said he thought he would keep the painting where it was.

“It’s an absolutely wonderful home, and I know that the Eisgruber family will be happy there. I am convinced of it,” Tilghman said.

Lowrie House was gifted to the University in 1960 by Barbara Armour Lowrie in memory of her husband, Walter Lowrie, Class of 1890. Lowrie House served as the University’s guest house until 1968, when it became the president’s official residence.

Correction: Due to a reporting error, an earlier version of this article misstated a portion of a quotation by Provost Chris Eisgruber. He said "It’s very important to protect our privacy and have the kind of house where you can have a slightly frenetic yellow Lab." Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this story misstated the painter and the location of Eisgruber's favorite painting. It was painted by George Inness, and it currently hangs in Nassau Hall. The 'Prince' regrets the error.