USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Delaware > Fifty years of history of the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio : 1844-1894 > Part 4
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GROUNDS.
The original college campus included the ten acres donated by the citizens, and the five acres bought by the Conference committees. Additional purchases of ground were subsequently made, from time to time, at an expense of a little over $20,000, until now the campus contains about twenty-five acres lying in one continuous tract, besides the ten acres to be further described, the premises of the Mon- nett Hall of the University. In addition to these tracts, the University has recently bought, at an expense of a little inore
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Fifty Years of History.
than $10,000, a most eligible lot of about five acres, somne- times called from the former owner, "The Barnes Prop- erty; " and we now, by the gift of President Merrick, have come into the possession of Oak Grove Park, three acres of forest and dell.
On the added lot of five acres, 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 Library building, was a row of a half-dozen or more Summer cottage rooms, built for the accommodation of the guests of the Mansion House during the watering season. These were afterwards rented for some years to the students; but all these buildings were removed in 1855, leaving the space in front of the University buildings unincumbered, and open for the planting of additional 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. These improvements were on the northern part of the grounds. It was in the plan of these generous alumni to slope the front of the lot to the level of the street ; but this would require the removal of many beautiful shade trees; and they have not yet seen their way to resume the work. Since that time the low ground in the late additions has been filled and regraded.
Another friend of the University, and of science, Rev. Joseplı H. Creighton, M. A., of the Ohio Conference, lias given largely of his money, and yet more of his time, to the establishment of an arboretuin on the college grounds.
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This contemplates the planting of at least one specimen of . every tree, domestic or exotic, that can be made to grow in this climate and soil. Since 1860, Mr. Creighton has, under singular difficulties, gathered, planted, and properly labeled nearly one thousand varieties of trees and shrubs. If this plan be completed, the collection will add greatly to the em- bellishment of the grounds, as well as give them a scientific value found in but few instances in the United States.
CO-EDUCATION.
The fact that for thirty years none but male students were admitted to the University is worthy of a moment's notice. At the date of the organization of the University, the co- education of the sexes in the higher schools of learning was almost unknown, and the question of a departure from the usage of former years and of older institutions was not even mooted in the Conferences, or in the Board of Trustees. It was taken for granted by them that this college was to fall into line in this respect, as in all the other usages of col- lege organization. But this subject, which was so quietly ignored by the Conferences and the Board of Trustees, was already making its entrance into the discussions of profes- sional educators, and could not be so summarily disposed of by then. The advancing sentiment of the country was bringing women more and more prominently, not only into social life, but into public and responsible positions in the educational, religious, professional, and secular, fields of labor; and both Church and State began to demand a higher education for their daughters as well as for their sons, to fit them for these larger duties. The experiment of co-educa- tion was in successful trial in one of the large schools of the State .* In view of these facts, the subject became for years
* Oberlin College, organized in 1833.
.
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one of frequent and earnest debate in the Faculty of the University. President Thomson expressed very decided views against what some regarded as advanced ground on this subject ; and his position, if there had been no other obstacle, prevented any public agitation or effort in the mat- ter. At length, as will be seen further on, the problem was solved for the University by the founding of a women's col- lege in Delaware. Thenceforward the courtesies due to a sister school, if not a conviction of policy in regard to co-ed- ucation, forbade the introduction of women into the Uni- versity, and the question long ceased to be agitated in the councils of the institution. But years after the subject had been thus practically shelved, President Thomson took occa- sion in one of his baccalaureates, to declare that his views had undergone a revolution on this subject, and that he had come to favor co-education. Vet he did not live to give his potent advocacy and his suffrage to the measure which finally united the two schools, and made co-education a prominent feature of the University.
THE OHIO WESLEYAN FEMALE COLLEGE-MONNETT HALL.
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, especially in the case of families wliose sons were entered in the University. The first to attempt to supply this demand were the Rev. William Grissell and wife, who came to this place in 1850. Encouraged by the citizens, Mr. Grissell bought the old Academy building in South Del- aware and opened a ladies' school in September of that year.
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The attendance was encouraging ; but, in 1852, Mr. Grissell found that he could no longer carry on the school with suc- cess. At this time the idea of a college for ladies was tak- ing hold of the public mind, and several meetings of citizens who were interested were held in relation 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 Rev. John Quigley was appointed pastor. They met for worship in the chapel of Mr. Grissell's school ; and, in order to retain their place of worship, and for other local reasons, encouraged the move- ment for a college on this site. Accordingly, the property was bought from Mr. Grissell, and an organization 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 fam- ily consented to sell the property, an organization was at once effected, articles of association were adopted, and a subscription 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 number, were Dr. Ralph Hills, Professor William L. Harris, James C. Evans, Augustus A. Welch, Rev. Joseph Ayers, and Professor Wm. G. Williams, of whom all are now dead except the last two.
The property which the incorporators bought contained seven acres, to which three acres were subsequently added
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Fifty Years of History.
(1867). The price paid for the original purchase was $7,000, and for the addition nearly as much more. The grounds, lying within the corporation at the western head of the principal cross street, were beautiful and romantic ; and the house on these grounds was large and commodious. 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 recitation rooms was erected as a temporary relief. 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 appointed 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. These agents did not have an unreaped field in which to gather, as the University agents were also at work during the same years. But, by indefatigable effort, the means were gradually obtained, and the end was at last reached. Of the many who contributed to this cause, par- ticular mention must be made of Miss Mary Monnett, after- wards 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 certain and im-
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mediate ; and, in recognition of her benefaction, the entire building bears the name of "Monnett Hall."
About 1870, the south wing of this building 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 tuition and the boarding fees not only paid the Faculty, but yielded some revenue for the general purposes of the institution. A scheme for an endowment by scholar- ships, similar to that of the University, was at one time attempted, but the attempt was soon abandoned, and no permanent 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. In pursuance of their plan, they soon raised about $2,000, which sum the trustees borrowed for the completion of the College buildings, as being just then a inore pressing want than the acquisition of a library. But, in 1869, Mr. William A. Ingham, of Cleveland, who had undertaken to fill an alcove in the University library, gave this College also $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 Com- inittee 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 balance of the loan, the Board had not repaid to the association when the union of the schools took place ; and, in view of the large University library which thus be- came accessible to the ladies, and the inability of the Board, the association forbore the forinal collection of the amount.
WILSON MI
DAY
Hon. WILLIAM LAWRENCE.
BISHOP
J.M.WALDEN LLD
BENNETTW. HUTCHINSO
G.H.HARTUPEE: D.D.
Hon. JAS.C.MCGREW
rastees
WM. A. INGHAM
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Aside from these generous provisions of the alumnæ and of Mr. Ingham, no movement was made for the internal wants of the school.
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 the sum of $1,000. A number of other teachers were appointed in the academic and musical departments. The first term opened August 4th, 1853, and the calendar was arranged to agree with that of the University. The enroll- ment the first year was 159, and the number of pupils attending each year afterwards 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 Commissioner of Public Instruction. He died in 1872.
His successors 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 Presi- dent for seventeen years, until 1873, when he resigned to engage in pastoral work. The next President, and the last before the union of the two institutions, was William Rich- ardson, M. A., who had been favorably known in the public school work, and who, in 1877, resigned to re-enter that field.
The degrees conferred by the institution were Mistress of Liberal Arts for those who took the classical course, and Mis- tress of English Literature for those who took the scientific course. The classical course embraced studies largely the same, at first, as those in the University, except Greek. This language, too, was finally included as optional, and upon the few who took the entire course the degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred.
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Fifty Years of History.
The graduates of the College numbered, in 1877, when the union with the University took place, over 400. They have long had an alumnal organization, and the local gradu- ates have, for many years, maintained a literary association with monthly re-unions.
UNION.
One of the original articles of association, adopted in 1853, reads as follows :
" ARTICLE IX. If the Conference or Conferences patron- izing this College, and the Conferences patronizing the Ohio Wesleyan University, located in Delaware, Ohio, shall, at any future time, recommend the union of the two institu- tions, so far as the same can legally be effected, then the trustees of this College, on their part, shall proceed to take such steps as may be legal and necessary to accomplish this object."
Such, even at that early day, was the hope of at least some who participated in the establishment of the new Col- lege. But the times were not yet ripe for the desired result. It was not until a quarter of a century had passed that the friends of this movement felt themselves strong enough to act. The trustees of the Female College were now alinost unanimous in favor of the proposition, but the trustees of the University yet hesitated. The committees on the sub- ject at first reported adversely ; and then asked the judg- inent of the Conferences in the premises. A vote in these bodies was obtained, either instructing the two boards to unite the schools, or, at least, referring it to their discretion. The Association of Alumni also voted in favor of the union, and sent a deputation to the University Board to urge the measure upon their favorable consideration. At length, the pressure of sentiment outside convinced the most conserva-
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tive that the step was both inevitable and safe, if not desir- able.
Finally, in 1877, the Board of the University unanimously adopted a resolution, that, if the trustees of the Female College should discontinue the academic work of that school, and transfer the property, free fromn debt, to the trustees of the University, they would accept the property, and open the University to ladies, and would establish a special course of study of high order for ladies, with appropriate degrees for the completion of the course. They voted further, that, in case of the discontinuance of the Female College, the Uni- versity, under this arrangement, would adopt the alumnæ of that institution on such terms as might be found desir- able.
The trustees of the Female College at once accepted this proposition, and conveyed to the University the school and all the property in their possession. A debt of about $9,000, incurred by the trustees for additions to the campus, was paid by the Central Ohio Conference from the amount raised for the University by its agents ; and thus the University came into the unincumbered possession of a property worth at least $100,000, had at once an addition of nearly two hundred students per annum to its enrollment, and gained an increase of thirty per cent. in its income. There were other gains. The union of the schools removed a distract- ing question from the councils of the University and the Church, put this large and influential school abreast of the sentiment and progress of the age, and concentrated upon itself the interest and the benefactions which had been diverted to another institution, or altogether lost between the conflicting claims of the two rival schools.
Eighteen years of experience have more and more con- firmned the wisdom of this action. The distance of Monnett
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Hall from the University, though not exceeding half a mile from gate to gate, occasions, as had been foreseen, some in- convenience in the arrangements of the classes, especially of those in which botli sexes are represented. These ineet, according to circumstances, in one locality or the other, but all the classes in which ladies largely outnumber the gentle- men are taught, when possible, at Monnett Hall. Separate daily chapel exercises were held at the latter place for a while, for the accommodation of the inmates; but this arrangement was not long continued. Better walks, and the establishment of street railways, make the going to and from rapid and easy. But all these things are matters of de- tail, and at most occasion a little trouble to the Faculty or the students. The advantages from the union of the schools and from co-education of the sexes are so manifest and so great, that, in summing up the result, minor inconveniences can be patiently adjusted or quietly ignored.
Professor Whitlock has admirably expressed the general conclusions that educators have now reached on the subject of co-education. He says : "Co-education has intellectual, moral, social and physical advantages. The association of the sexes in collegiate work is mutually inspiring, stimulat- ing and helpful. Better habits of preparation result, a higher grade of mental discipline, and broader views and sympathies. There is mutual recognition of ability, and a generous rivalry ; and there is a largeness about the whole system that is itself educative. It is the family system. It is not an interruption of relations between men and women that are common in all other periods of life ; it is the pres- ervation in the school of the divine pattern. Results prove that while it does away with false mnodesty, it does not lessen true womanly delicacy ; that university educated girls make the most inodest, cultured, and womanly wives and mothers.
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It takes the simpering out of girls and the rudeness out of inen.
" Morally, the difficulties and failures of co-education are less dangerous than the undue emphasis of sex, the stimula- tion of the imagination, and the unnatural views of life, coinmon in separate education. Young people do not learn to avoid moral dangers until they know where they lie ; and this they best learn under a system of instruction that ac- quaints the sexes with the true character and ability of each.
"The free intercourse between the sexes, so often urged as an objection to co-education, is not greater than elsewhere ; and the craving for society is inet and satisfied under the most restraining and refining circumstances. Constant asso- ciation tends to lessen, rather than to create intimacies, ex- cept when they are founded on inutual esteem, intellectual and æsthetic tastes. This freedom, even admitting occa- sional social entanglements, compares in its results inost favorably with life out of college, and with the follies and frivolities from which separate education is not exeinpt. Marriages resulting from college friendships are far more likely to be happy than the average inarriages in the world, where the attraction has not so good a foundation. Mutual tastes, aims, purposes ; common habits of life and thought ; and a common pursuit of truth under helpful and inspiring influences, inake a broad and safe basis for the truest and best life unions.
" The physical ability of women to study along-side of men is taken for granted. Statistics covering a thousand cases show that the health of college women has the advantage over that of working girls, and also over that of women in the average walks of life. All thought of physical inability may be thrown to the winds, and women may march un- hindered along-side of their brothers."
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Fifty Years of History.
Co-education in Delaware is an unqualified and large suc- cess. There is now no doubt that, from the mnerely material standpoint, the union has been a great help to the Univer- sity. The attendance of five hundred ladies annually for the last five years, and the enlarged facilities at Monnett Hall, have been large factors in the reputation and growth of the University.
But the union of the two institutions has exerted a reflex beneficial influence on the development of the Ladies' De- partinent. The expensive tuition fees were at once can- celled, as all the ladies were admitted to the University on scholarships. The attendance of ladies rapidly grew to three times what it was the year before the union was con- summated. In 1876, the number of ladies was 172; for the last five years it has ranged from 444 to 537. This number was far beyond what the founders of the Female College ex- pected, in their most sanguine hopes ; and the College build- ing which they planned and completed according to their expectations could not have accommodated half the present number. In 1890, the trustees ordered the enlargement of the building to twice its former size. The additions cost over fifty thousand dollars. The old Monnett Hall of the Ohio Wesleyan Female College, with its two wings and central block, is now, in fact, but one of the wings of the new Monnett Hall of the Ohio Wesleyan University. The building as it now stands is two hundred feet long, one hundred feet wide, and four stories in height. This large building has ample room for the accommodation of two hundred and fifty ladies, giving each a separate room or suite of rooms. The upper floors are accessible by several wide stairways, and by an elevator. The building contains an assembly hall or chapel, reception rooms, parlors, library and reading room well supplied with books and periodicals,
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three halls for the Ladies' Literary Societies, and a large, light dining-room, with capacity for all the inmates at once. Young ladies residing in the Monnett Hall have the counsel and care of experienced and cultivated teachers, and are subject only to the restrictions essential to good habits of study, health and behavior. Monnett Hall has a healthful location, and the sanitary conditions are the best. But a separate hospital is provided on the same campus for cases of sickness, and the patients have the best medical service and skillful nursing. During the eighteen years since the union of the two schools, but a single death has occurred at the Hall. The Monnett Hall is likewise the headquarters of the Art Department, and of the Conservatory of Music. The piano rooms for practice are in a separate building a short distance from the main hall. But the Assembly Hall also is provided with grand pianos, and numerous concerts and recitals are given there by noted artists, teachers, and pupils, which all the ladies in the building have the privilege of attending.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES.
The University is under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church; but it is not sectarian in its teachings. It aims to be evangelical, yet liberal ; and has always had a fair patronage from other Protestant Churches, and even from the Catholic Church. Of late years, we have had among our students, representatives of nations and ethnic religions outside of Christendom, mostly from China and Japan. The religious influence of the college life here has always been constant and controlling. Devotional exercises, conducted by the members of the Faculty, are held in the chapel each day; and a sermon or lecture at appointed times on the Sabbath. For many years this was a weekly appointment, under the charge of the President; during recent years, it
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