Bloomsburg University - Obiter Yearbook (Bloomsburg, PA)

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119)35: bell for the tower was purchased with $1200 secured through popular subscription raised by three members of the first class at the new school — D. J. Waller, Jr., George E. Elwell, and Charles Unangst. The first faculty comprised Professor Carver, teacher of mathematics and the higher English branches; Reverend J. R. Dimm, teacher of Latin and Greek; and Miss Sarah Carver, teacher of the lower English branches. In the autumn of 1867, James P. Wickersham, then State Superintendent of Public Instruction, was traveling through Bloomsburg on the train. He saw the new school on the hill ablaze with lights, and thought the location of the Literary Institute would be ideal for a State Normal School. Negotiations were begun, and in 1868 at a meeting in which Mr. Wickersham addressed the citizens of Bloomsburg, it was decided that under the act of 1857 a normal school could be established. Consequently, a dormitory was built at a cost of $36,000. On February 19, 1S69, the school was recognized as a State Normal School, combined with the Literary Institute. In September of that year, there were 150 students enrolled in the Normal Department and 80 in the Model School. Principal Carver left in 1871. Charles G. Barkley, Esq., a former county superin- tendent of schools, acted as principal from December, 1871, to March, 1S72. His suc- cessor was the Reverend Hewitt, rector of the Bloomsburg Episcopal Church. He served as principal until June, 1873. Dr. T. L. Griswold was then principal until 1877. Those early years were trying ones, full of disappointments and hardships. Subscriptions were hard to collect, and often the trustees met obligations on their personal responsibility. Another blow came in 1875, when the dormitory was completely destroyed by fire. However, the trustees and people who had faith and confidence in the school again furnished money, and in 1876 a larger and handsomer building, the original part of the present Waller Hall, was built. In spite of the adverse circumstances the school began paying expenses during Dr. Griswold ' s administration. In the fall of 1877, Dr. D. J. Waller, Jr., became principal. For thirteen years the CO) m II IE Rare view of Waller Hail after the disastrous fire of 1875. Sci ciiuen

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:1ll9)S5i CO) II T IE History of the State Teachers College at Bloomsburg PRINCIPALS AND PRESIDENTS Henry Carver 1869—1871 Charles G. Barkley Dec. 20, 1871 — March 27, 1872 John Hewitt March 27, 1872 — June, 1873 T, L. Griswold 1873—1877 D. J. Waller, Jr 1877—1890 JUDSON P. Welsh 1890—1906 D. J. Waller, Jr. 1906—1920 Charles H. Fisher 1920 — 1923 G. C. L. Riemer 1923—1927 Francis B. Haas 1927 — Academy, Literary Institute, Literary Institute and State Normal School, State Teachers College — such has been the metamorphosis of our present State Teachers Col- lege in Bloomsburg. It is difficult to believe that the history of our college dates back almost a century, but the fact is, that in 1839 a private academy was opened in the town of Bloomsburg. It was successfully conducted for two years by C. P. Waller, a graduate of Williams College. Later, public school teachers taught the academy during their summer vacations. Joel Bradley and D. A. Beckley were among the outstanding teachers during this period. D. J. Waller, in 1856, drew up a charter providing that this school be known as the Bloomsburg Literary Institute for the promotion of education in the ordinary and the higher branches of English literature, ancient and modern languages, and the sciences. This charter was subscribed to by worthy citizens of Bloomsburg. In 1866, the school was taught by Henry Carver, of Binghamton, New York. His was an unusual influence and personality, and he had much to do with molding the school ' s early policies. He saw the need for a new building, and insisted that it was es- sential to the future development of the Institute. Under his inspiration, the original charter was revived and the following officials elected: President, D. J. Waller; secre- tary, I. W. Hartman; trustees, John G. Freeze, R. F. Clark, and William Neal. Mr. Carver assured the trustees that $15,000 would build a suitable building. When people expressed their doubts that the type of building which he had planned could be built for that amount, he assumed, in addition to his regular duties as teacher, the offices of architect and contractor. His energy and enthusiasm seemed boundless. That building, the present Carver Hall, was dedicated on April , 1867, with a gala observance by the townspeople. A parade, headed by the town band, marched from the old building, somewhere near the present Catholic church, to the new one. A fine

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i1ll«3i355 CI B II T IE school grew under his guidance. The Model School (Needing Hall) and the east wing of the dormitory were built during his time as principal. When Dr. Waller resigned in 1890 to become State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the school was in a prosper- ous condition. Dr. Judson P. Welsh served as principal of the Bloomsburg Literary In- stitute and State Normal School from 1890 to 1906. During his administration the gymnasium and an addition to the four-story dormitory were built. Science Hall, built from plans made by Dr. D. S. Hartline, was completed in 1906, just after Dr. Welsh ' s resignation. Dr. D. [. Waller, Jr., responded a second time to the summons of the trustees, and returned as principal until 1920, when he retired from active duty. He was succeeded by Dr. Charles H. Fisher, who came to the school from the State Department of Public In- struction. His principalship extended from 1920 to 1923. It was in 1920 that the State purchased the school and changed the name to the Bloomsburg State Normal School, dropping the Bloomsburg Literary Institute. During Dr. Fisher ' s administration ex- tension courses were instituted and the Bloomsburg public schools were opened to the teacher training service of the Normal School. Dr. G. C. L. Riemer, also from the State Department of Public Instruction, followed Dr. Fisher and served until 1927. The State Council of Education of June 4, 1926, authorized the State Normal School to confer the degree B. S. in Education to graduates of four-year courses in Elementary Education and in Junior High School Education. May 13, 1927, the Council changed the name to State Teachers College at Bloomsburg. Dr. Francis B. Haas, also a former State Superintendent of Public Instruction, suc- ceeded Dr. Riemer in |uly, 1927, and is now serving as president of the institution. During the administration of Dr. Haas the curricula offered by the college were en- riched by the establishment of a Commercial Department under the direction of Pro- fessor H. A. Andruss. Today we can point with pride at the College on the Hill, ' knowing that for nearly a hundred years it has played an active part in the most wonderful work of the world, education. Eighteen