The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette published an article, “Time Machine: The Inks of Linn County,” on April 7, 2026, about an early alum and namesake of Ink Pond, Raymond Ink, Class of 1897, and his wife, Elizabeth.
The article discussed the history of the Inks, their farm Grange Gables, and Elizabeth’s newspaper column “Country Diary.” “Country Diary” shared the day-to-day happenings of farm life and ran on Sundays from 1949 until 1963, when Raymond died, and Elizabeth chose to end the column.
The Inks have close ties to Cornell College. Raymond Ink graduated from Cornell College in 1897. The couple also allowed students to use their farm pond for the annual sophomore versus freshman tug-of-war competition. In 1970, Elizabeth gave part of their farm’s land to Cornell, which included the original Ink Pond.
According to the article, “around 1955, an overflow pipe broke, and the pond dried up. A decade later, Cornell began efforts to bring back the pond. In 1966, the new pond was completed.”
Although Elizabeth eventually moved to California, she returned in 1974 for Alumni Weekend to dedicate the new Ink Pond.