USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 32
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BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
The original college campus included the ten acres donated by the citizens. and the five acres bought by the conference commit- tees. Additional purchases of ground were
subsequently made at an expense of over $20,- 000, until now the campus contains about twenty-five acres lying in one continuous tract, besides the ten acres where Monnett Hall stands. In addition to these tracts, the Uni- versity purchased at a cost of a little more than $10,000, what is commonly spoken of as "The Barnes Property," where Prof. Davies now resides and where the Observatory is lo- cated. On the added lot of five acres (al- ready referred to), purchased from Judge Powell, was a comfortable cottage near the street, the home of Mr. Powell. This was subsequently occupied by the president of the college, or by one of the professors, until 1856, when it was sold and moved off the campus. In the rear of this cottage, and in front of the present Sturges Hall, was a row of a half-dozen or more summer cottages. built for the accommodation of the guests of the Mansion House during the watering sea- son. In 1855. all these buildings were re- moved, leaving the space in front of the Uni- versity buildings open for the planting of ad- ditional shade trees.
The College Campus has a diversified character, which art has greatly improved. In 1872, Messrs. Wright and Mast, of the Board of Trustees, spent about $5,000 in reconstruct- ing the surface, making walks and drives, draining and planting. Since that time the low ground in the later additions has been filled in and regraded. Since 1860, more than 1,000 varieties of domestic or exotic trees and shrubs have been planted and properly la- beled.
The college buildings rank among the best for architectural beauty and convenience. Elliott Hall, formerly "The Old Mansion House," was built for visitors seeking the in- vigorating climate and the health-giving wa- ters of Delaware. It is three stories and a half high with a basement. It was of frame, lathed and cemented on the outside, but the interior was finely finished in walnut and tastefully decorated with plaster mouldings. The drawing-room and parlors on the first floor, and some of the large rooms on the sec- ond floor, were converted into recitation
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rooms or the professors' studies. The cham- bers on the third floor were let to students. until, some years later. they also were needed for general purposes. In the basement, the old Mansion House dining-room was recon- structed into the college chapel, and the large kitchen, with its huge fireplace and brick oven, became the lecture-room and laboratory for the professor of Natural Science. On the south side of the main building was a large two-story annex, which was let as a boarding house to a steward for the accommodation of two or three of the faculty and a half-score of students who had rooms in the building. In the rear of the Mansion House, on the east side, were long wide porches, level with the first and second floors. 12 and 25 feet from the ground. In 1848, the boarding house was discontinued; the cement outside of the main building was replaced with a good close-jointed covering. The lofty and 1111- safe porches were, torn down, and the annex removed to a location near the spring. Here it was let to students, and, happily, was soon burned down. In 1892, Elliott Hall was re- moved to its present location. and placed in good repair. It has served educational pur- poses well for upward of sixty years, and its desirable recitation rooms may be in use for at least another half century. The depart- ment of physics occupies the first two floors of this hall. On the third and fourth floors are the rooms of the School of Business. In the rear of the building and connecting with it is the Engineering Annex, erected during the summer of 1905. at a cost of $5.800, which was borne by Messrs. David S. Gray and William R. Walker, both of Columbus, Ohio. It contains the apparatus necessary · for instruction in the courses in wood and metal turning, and in engineering.
THOMPSON CHAPEL. The corner-stone of this building was laid on July 26. 1851, dur- ing Commencement Week, and was dedicated the following year. Its cost was about $20 .- 000. The structure was in the Doric style of architecture, three stories in height, and measured 85 by 55 feet. The main audience- room. 23 feet high, covered the entire upper
floor. The capacity of this room was about 600 sittings, which was then thought the ut- most probable need of the institution for long years to come. The building stood on the site of the present library, and was named in honor of the first president of the University. The Lecture Association of the students in 1874 contributed $800 toward the furnishing of the chapel ; and by the efforts of the faculty and the senior class. a fine organ was installed at a cost of $1,600. By this time the audience- room had grown too small for all occasions except daily prayers, and as early as 1885. the student-body had increased to such proportions that it became necessary to excuse a number of students from attendance at the daily exer- cises for lack of room. From 1889 to 1891. the daily chapel services were held in the audi- torium of St. Paul's Church. This arrange- ment was found inconvenient, and Thomson Chapel again came into use. in September, 1891, but with the prospect of adequate relief in the immediate future.
STURGES HALL. This building is named for Mr. William Sturges, of Putnam, Ohio, who in 1853. offered the University a liberal subscription for a library, on condition that within a year a further subscription of $15 .- 000 should be secured for a suitable library building. Prof. Merrick undertook the agency for this, and raised the amount within a few weeks. The building was finished and dedi- cated in 1856. The two lower stories were used by the literary societies of the University. and the top floor served as library until the present Slocum Library was completed. At present the Hall contains the Chemical Labora- tory, and lecture rooms and private office of the Professor of Chemistry. On the second floor are located the general collection of speci- mens illustrating structural and dynamic geo- logy. and the Merrick-Trimble collection of minerals.
MERRICK HALL is a substantial edifice. three stories high, and built of Delaware blue limestone. It contains the lecture-rooms and laboratories of the Departments of Geology and Zoology. and on the third floor the Museum of Natural History. The Board began the
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erection of this building in 1869, but a failure of the building fund delayed the completion of the building until 1873. Its cost was about $40,000, a large portion of which was finally taken from the endowment fund. The Hall was named for a former president of the insti- tution, Dr. Merrick.
GRAY CHAPEL and UNIVERSITY HALL. At the session in June. 1890, the Board of Trustees ordered the immediate erection of a University Hall that should furnish first and foremost the much-needed college chapel, and also more and better accommodations for the
academic work of the institution. The corner- stone was laid June 18, 1891, and it took two years to complete the building. It is a massive stone structure, 160 feet long. 150 feet deep, and four stories high. The entire pile bears the name of University Hall. It includes the chapel, now called Gray Chapel, in commemo- ration of the noble life of Rev. David Gray, a venerable pioneer preacher in Ohio, the father of David S. Gray, Esq., of Columbus, Ohio, president of the Board of Trustees, who gave $27.000 toward the building fund, and through whose generosity and leadership the erection of the building was so promptly assured. This beautiful auditorium seats 2,000 persons, and can be enlarged by the opening of the adjacent lecture-room for the accommodation of 400 more. The chapel is octagonal in form, with the floor rising from the rostrum with a slight incline. The seats are arranged in seven sec- tors, with aisles radiating from the pulpit as a center. A spacious gallery, with seats placed in ascending tiers, extends two-thirds of the circumference of the room. The dome in the center of the chapel rises to a height of fifty- six feet from the floor. It is lit from above by day with beautiful opalescent glass, and by night from dome, gallery and walls with hun- dreds of incandescent electric lamps. The splendid organ was built by the Roosevelts, and cost $15,000.
The University Hall contains, besides the chapel, a commodious and well-furnished hall for the Young Men's Christian Association, capable of seating 500 persons ; several lecture- rooms, ten recitation-rooms, six society halls.
the administrative offices, professors' studies, ladies' parlors, wide corridors and other needed conveniences. The cost of this structure ag- gregated $180,000. The building stands on the original site of the "Old Mansion House."
THE SLOCUM LIBRARY building bears the name of Dr. Charles Elihu Slocum. by whose generosity, its erection in 1897 became possible, he being the chief contributor to the building fund. The building stands on the site for- merly occupied by the Thomson Chapel. It is 115 by 125 feet in dimensions, built of Bed- ford limestone, three stories high. The stack room has an estimated capacity for 175,000 volumes. The reading-room, finely lighted from above, is 60 by 100 feet in size. In addition to the administrative offices of the library, the building contains a series of rooms equipped for seminary use, and several class- and lecture-rooms.
The first ten years of the University were years of limited outlay. During these years. however, the need of a library was not only recognized but steps were taken to meet it. The agents of the University were authorized to solicit books wherever they could and 700 fairly well chosen volumes were the result of their efforts.
In 1853 Mr. William Sturges of Zanes- ville. Ohio, offered to give $10,000 for books if the church would build a library building costing $15.000. By this time about 3.000 volumes had been acquired by gift and solicita- tion. In a short time after the offer of Mr. Sturges, sufficient pledges were secured for the erection of a building which was begun in 1855. and dedicated in 1856.
Meanwhile, President Thompson visited Europe and purchased a valuable library of about 3.000 volumes with the money-$6,- 600-paid by Mr. Sturges. Contributions were also received from Dr. Joseph Trimble and William A. Ingham, members of the Board of Trustees. After Dr. Ingham's death, his widow placed in the library about 500 of his private books. The widow of the late Dr. Charles Elliott gave the bulk of his private library, rich in patriotic and contro- versial literature. The widow of Dr. James
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F. Chalfant. of the Cincinnati conference, gave his select library, consisting largely of philo- sophical books. Benjamin St. James Fry, edi- tor of the "Central Christian Advocate," St. Louis, Mo., left his library of Methodist Church history. Bishop Isaac W. Wiley be- queather to the University his library in memory of his son. The friends of Rev. John N. Irwin. D. D., an alumnus of the class of 1870, purchased his library for the University. Jolın O. McDowell, M. D., an alumnus and trustee of the University, bequeathed his li- brary of over 300 volumes as a foundation for a medical library. This collection was supple- mented by a gift from Mrs. Philip Roettinger. of Cincinnati, of about 200 volumes from the library of her father. A. C. McChesney, M. D., of Cincinnati. John W. King, an ahimnus and trustee, secured for the library fairly com- plete sets of the great English quarterly re- views and monthlies. Several of the Univer- sity clubs, especially the Delaware Association of Alumni, contributed liberally. Numerous individuals made special additions of books in art. criticism, historical research and English literature. Being a depository, the library re- ceived copies of all United States Government publications as well as Ohio State documents. In 1898, the Slocum Library building was dedicated, having been completed at a cost of about $65,000.
After the library was removed to this building, Dr. M. J. Cramer, ex-consul to Germany, bequeathed his library of 5.000 volumes. John Williams White, Ph. D., pro- fessor of Greek in Harvard University, a mem- ber of the class of 1868. purchased abroad a library of 2,000 volumes, which constituted a working library in Greek and Latin. At the time of removal into the new building. the total number of volumes owned by the library was 24.870. The number of accessions by gift. exchange, binding and purchase now equals 55.148. The number of periodicals received has been increased three fold now numbering about 400. The library is now open seventy- three hours per week, an increase of twenty- nine hours and the recorded circulation for 1906-07 was 31.710; which does not take into
account the use of 6,500 books and periodicals in greatest demand kept on the Open Shelf.
Of even more importance than this growth and increased use of the library, is the steady progress made in library administration. The introduction of modern library methods has re- sulted in a working library well fitted to supply the needs of a thousand students.
ATHLETICS. In 1888 the students took up among themselves a subscription of about $Soo for a gymnasium. The Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks, of the class of 1872, added $2,000 to this amount. The total cost of the building which is located southeast of Elliott Hall, was $5.000, the balance being paid from the general fund of the University. The gym- nasium was equipped with the needful appa- ratus, but did not prove as successful or as useful as was hoped, for the want of a com- petent trainer, who could devote his time to this work. The Athletic Association of the students was formed in 1890, and has been carried on with characteristic interest. The University appropriated two acres of ground for this purpose, and the Association fenced the grounds, graded the surface and erected a grandstand for spectators. The cost of these improvements borne by the Association was about $2.000.
The John Edwards Gymnasium was named for the late Mr. John Edwards, at the time of his death a member of the Board of Trustees of the University, and whose widow and son were the principal contributors to the building fund. The Gymnasium cost about $75.000. and was opened February 22, 1908. It is a rectangular structure 150 by 83 feet, with one projecting bay in front and two in the rear. to accommodate the stairways-a solid and substantial building, the first nine feet of stone, the remainder of brick, with stone trimmings. and the roof of red tile. In the basement are a swimming-pool 50 feet long and 22 feet wide. having a water depth of four feet at one end and seven feet at the other, the gift of Mr. Z. L. White, a trustee of the University, and several large courts that can be used for hand-ball. bowling alleys and drill rooms for the military companies of the University. The second floor
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contains the administrative offices of the Di- rector of the Gymnasium, a locker room having a capacity of 700 lockers, and bath and towel- ing rooms. On the third floor is the main gymnasium, 150 feet by 83 feet, which is equipped with all the necessary apparatus for a complete gymnasium. Above it and sus- pended from the roof is a running track of fifteen laps to the mile. The main floor will accommodate banquet tables for 1,200 persons, and for such occasions there is a fully equipped kitchen with 7,000 dishes.
The athletic field is located east of the gymnasium. It is 600 feet long and 400 feet wide. There is a quarter-mile oval track and a Joo-yard straight-away. The field is almost level, but is a little higher in the middle. The surface water runs to the track and straight- away which carry the tile for drainage. The grand stand and bleachers are located at the west end of the field and have a capacity of 1,000. There are also several lawn tennis courts. The ticket office and gateway were built as a memorial by the class of 1807. The grading, fence, grand stand, bleachers and gateway cost $11.000.
ART HALL, formerly the residence of Mr. G. W. Campbell, was purchased at a cost of $5.000 by Dr. A. J. Lyon and Mrs. Abbie Parish, and presented by them to the Univer- sity in 1898. It is devoted to the work of the Art Department of the University.
HARTUPEE HALL, which was opened in 1899, was presented to the University by Dr. and Mrs. Gaylord H. Hartupee, to be used as the home of missionaries' children while they are being educated at the University. The house and property are maintained by contri- butions secured by a Board of Directors, an organization in no way connected with the University.
THIE PERKINS ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVA- TORY, which occupies an excellent site on the old Barnes property, is a handsome building of pressed brick, with a frontage of 62 feet. It includes a dome for the telescope, a transit room, clock room and computing and library room. It was built in 1892, and represents an investment of over $15.000.
THE CLEVELAND COLLEGE OF PIIYSICIANS AND SURGEONS-MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF
OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY. (Roland E Skeel, M D., Dean.)
The Cleveland College of Physicians and Surgeons was founded in 1863 by Dr. Gustav C. E. Weber, who, during the Civil War, was surgeon-general of the State of Ohio. It was then known as Charity Hospital Medical Col- lege, and was the pioneer in providing hos- pital and clinical advantages for itsstudents- this feature continues to be one of its chief aims for the junior and senior students.
In 1869 it became the Medical Department of the University of Wooster, and remained as such until 1896, when it became affiliated with the Ohio Wesleyan University and re- ceived its present name. Its graduates hold- ing diplomas as Doctors of Medicine from the Ohio Wesleyan University, are recognized as members of the Ohio Wesleyan Alumni As- sociation, with all the rights and privileges pertaining to the same.
More room and better facilities were re- quired to properly carry out the teachings made necessary in the advancement of labora- tory work, and to this end the new building. at the corner of Central Avenue and Brownell Street, in which the College is now established, was built, the value being conservatively placed at $60,000. It was completed and dedicated on November 22, 1900.
THE OHIO WESLEYAN FEMALE COLLEGE- MONNETT IIALL.
In the establishment of the University, while no provision was made for the education of women, there was a felt want that the daughters of the church should have the same privileges of education as were afforded to the sons. The rapid growth and the success of the University increased this sense of want, es- pecially in the case of families whose sons were entered in the University. The first at- tempt to supply this demand was made by the Rev. William Grissell and wife, who came to this place in 1850. Encouraged by the
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citizens, Mr. Grissell bought the old Academy building in South Delaware and opened a ladies' school in September of that year. The attendance was encouraging : but, in 1852, Mr. Grissell found that he could no longer carry on the work with success. At this time the idea of a college for ladies was taking hold of the public mind. and several meetings of citizens who were interested were held in re- lation to the matter. Just at this time, in 1852, the parish now known as St. Paul's, in South Delaware. had been constituted of a small colony of about thirty members, mostly from William Street Methodist Church, of which the late Rev. John Quigley was appointed pastor. They met for worship in the chapel of Mr. Grissell's school; and, in order to re- tain their place of worship, and for other local reasons, encouraged the movement for a col- lege on this site. Accordingly. the property was bought from Mr. Grissell, and an or- ganization effected under the name of "The Delaware Female College."
But it was felt by many that the location for a successful college must be more eligible and the accommodations more ample than the old Academy and two-fifths of an acre of ground could present. To Dr. Ralph Hills is due the first suggestion of the homestead of the late William Little as the most desirable site in Delaware. This suggestion met with instant favor, and when it was found that the family consented to sell the property, an or- ganization was at once effected and a subscrip- tion was opened to obtain the needed amount. The result was that in April, 1853. "The Ohio Wesleyan Female College" acquired "a local habitation and a name.'
Among the incorporators, twenty in num- ber. were Dr. Ralph Hills, Prof. William L. Harris, James C. Evans, Augustus A. Welch, Rev. Joseph Avers, and Prof. William G. Williams.
The property which the incorporators bought contained seven acres, to which three acres were subsequently added ( 1867). The price paid for the original purchase was $7 .- 000, and for the addition nearly as much more.
The property was at once offered to the North Ohio Conference, and accepted by that body, with the right of perpetuation of the Board of Trustees. Subsequently, the Central Ohio Conference and the Ohio Conference became joint patrons of the school with equal rights.
In the course of the first year, the necessity for more room was felt, and a two-story wooden house with chapel and large recita- tion rooms was erected as a temporary re- lief. This served the purpose for a few years, but the continued growth of the school led, in 1855, to larger plans. The southern wing of a building which was supposed to be large enough for the probable wants of the school was first erected; then, after some years, the central block and the other wing.
The means for all this expenditure were raised mostly through the labors of agents ap- pointed by the patronizing Conferences. Of these, the Rev. Joseph Ayers, at that time presiding elder of the Delaware District, was the first : and a large part of the initial labor of founding the school was done by him. By indefatigable effort, the means were gradually obtained, and the end was at last reached. Of the many who contributed to this cause, particular mention must be made of Miss Mary Monnett, afterwards Mrs. John W. Bain, a pupil of the school, who, in 1857, gave $10,000 toward the building fund. Her timely help made the completion of the building cer- tain and immediate : and in recognition of her benefaction, the entire building bears the name of "Monnett Hall."
About 1870 the south wing of this build- ing was injured by fire. The roof and the upper story were destroyed, and other parts deluged with water. But the operations of the school were not suspended, and the parts burned were immediately replaced. better than before.
The school was always self-supporting. and, for most of the time, the tutition and the boarding fees not only paid the faculty, but yielded some revenne for the general purposes of the institution. A scheme for an endow- ment by scholarships, similar to that of the
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University, was at one time attempted, but the attempt was soon abandoned, and no perma - nent fund was ever secured.
In 1866 certain ladies, mostly alumnæ of the institution, organized themselves into an association to raise a fund for a college library. They soon had about $2,000, which sum the trustees borrowed for the completion of the College buildings, as being just then a more pressing want than the acquisition of a library. But. in 1869, Mr. William A. Ingham, of Cleveland, who had undertaken to fill an al- cove in the University library, gave this col- lege $1.000 worth of books, in honor of his wife, formerly Miss Mary B. Janes, who, in 1858-62 had been the teacher of French and belles-lettres in the College. In view of this donation, the Board ordered the Executive Committee to fit up a library and reading-room in the central building, and to invest $1,000 of the ladies' library fund in books. The bal- ance of the loan the Board had not repaid when the union of the schools took place ; and, in view of the large University library, which : thus became accessible to the ladies, and the inability of the Board, the association fore- bore the formal collection of the amount.
The first president of the College was Prof. Oran Faville, M. A., of McKendree College. Illinois, and Mrs. Maria M. Faville was the first preceptress. Their united salary was fixed at $1,000. A number of other teachers were appointed in the academic and musical departments. The first term opened August 4, 1853, and the calendar was arranged to agree with that of the University. The enrollment the first year was 159, and the number of pupils attending each year after- wards generally largely exceeded 200, and sometimes reached 300. In 1855 President Faville's health compelled his resignation and he removed to Iowa, of which State he was subsequently lieutenant-governor, and com- missioner of public instruction. His succes- sors were the Rev. James A. Dean, who re- mained but a short time, and Rev. Charles D. Burritt, who also resigned before the end of a year. The Rev. Park S. Donelson, D. D .. was elected in 1856, and remained President
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