Colby College - Oracle Yearbook (Waterville, ME)

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ir: 01 ,DYHIQQQE 20Qlo1Q4xc:I.,1:-:jf Ten years passed in comparative quiet. The small income of the College was yet suflicient to meet its wants. In 1853 Dr. Sheldon retired to resume the work of the ministry, and Dr. Pattison, the beloved president of the College in 1836-1839, was recalled to the direction of its affairs. His second term of three years was marked by the intellectual vigor and devotedness of a Christian character of rare excellence. Prof. James T. Champlin, whose textbooks on the Orations of Demos- thenes were for thirty years in general use in American colleges, was pro- moted to the presidency of the College in 1857. Some efforts were made to solicit endowment funds. The classes entering in 1858 and 1859 were unusually large, but before graduation the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion had called many into the service of the nation. Only sixty-two students remained in 1864-65. Professors Smith, Lyford, Foster and Hamlin constituted the faculty of instruction. With the invested funds reduced to 315,000 and rapidly growing less, the outlook was indeed dark. The dawn of brighter days, however, was approaching. Mr. Gardner Colby of Boston, part of whose childhood had been spent in Waterville, came forward with an offer of 350,000 on condi- tion that the friends of the College raise 3100,000. Much enthusiasm was awakened by this generous offer, and Dr. Champlin, aided by members of the faculty, canvassed the state vigorously, completing the required sub- scription in about two years. In recognition of Mr. Colby's munificent gift, the trustees obtained from the legislature in 1867 an act changing the name of the College to Colby University. Mr. Colby's gift called forth other considerable gifts. Aided by the alumni, a memorial building was built of stone in 1869 at a cost of 8,550,000 Here the library found a home especially designed for its use, though its 9,000 volumes seemed lost on the spacious shelves built to contain 30,000 in the far-distant future. The new chapel accommodations wrought a marked change in the daily' services, now held at eight o'clock instead of at six in the morning and live in the afternoon. In the Memorial Hall was placed by the alumni a marble tablet inscribed with the names of twenty College men who had laid down their lives for the Union. The commencement dinner in 1870 was marked by great enthusiasm, culminating in pledges of 350,000 for a building for the department of natural sciences, then directed by Prof. Charles E. Hamlin. The building was finished in 1872 and styled Coburn Hall. The old chapel was remod- eled into convenient lecture rooms and named Champlin Hall. The early six-o'clock recitations were abandoned. Steam heating was introduced into the renovated North College now called Champlin Hall. These improvements were made under the direct supervision of President Champ- lin and paid for by subscriptions solicited mainly by him, and yet the invested funds had increased to 3S200,000. The semi-centennial of the College in 1870 was the occasion of an address by Dr. Champlin, in which he reviewed the early history of the College and its prospective and advancement. Hon. D. L. Milliken of Waterville, a trustee and benefactor of the College, was instrumental in 23 Centennial N nmbei'

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fc CIJIZSYHIQKK Qololmxcl ,EK but it was not continued after the resignation of Dr. Babcock in July, 1836, who was obliged to seek a milder climate. Rev. Robert E. Pattison, who had served as professor of mathematics in 1828-29, was chosen to succeed Dr. Babcock. Under his care the attendance was largely increased and the quality of the instruction rose to a high rank. Another effort was made to relieve the College from finan- cial embarrassment but without success. Dr. Pattison resigned the presidency in December, 1839, and several of the professors also tendered their resignations. By the influence of Prof. George W. Keely, the acting president, instruction was maintained and one more attempt made 'to Ellyn Qlnllcgc in 13511 secure funds. The citizens of Waterville responded liberally and 310,000 was at once subscribed, of which the ill-paid professors subscribed 32,000 Agents were sent out through Maine and Massachusetts and by December, 1840, subscriptions amounting to 550,000 were obtained. In August, 1841, Mr. Eliphaz Fay, an eminent teacher in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., was chosen president. The recent crisis affected the attendance, reducing the number of students in 1841-42 to only seventy-six. The resig- nation of' President Fay was accepted in August, 1843, and Rev. David N. Sheldon, then pastor of the Baptist church in Waterville, was chosen his successor. Under his care and with the co-operation of an able and devoted faculty, three of whom were subsequently eminent as college presi- dents, the earlier prestige of the College was revived and students presented themselves in larger number. 22 Centennial N umbev'

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