Concordia College - Spire / Concordian Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

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struction of which both the necessary money and a ten- acre plot of ground had been provided by the St. Louis congregation. In the spring of 1852, the school was legally incorpo- rated and was thenceforth known as Concordia Col- lege. In die same year the num- ber of students increased to thirty-four, and to accom- ' ' Old Bmhlmg. modate them another build- ing was erected in close proximity to the first. Within a period of six years the school had again grown to such an extent that it became necessary to resume building operations. Accordingly a new structure was placed between the two existing buildings to form one unit with them. This was dedicated to its purpose in 1858. Thus the institution continued to flourish ai St. Louis, the same building accommodating both the college and the theological seminary. In 1860 seventy-four students were enrolled in the collegiate department, who were instructed by six professors, three of whom devoted their entire time to the college, while the remaining three offered courses in the seminary also. The following year, 1861, was to be of the The Old Roadway. greatest importance to the development of Concordia College. The Synod, after carefully weighing the pros and cons, had decided to combine the Practical The- ological Seminary at Fort Wayne with the seminary at St. Louis, and to transfer its college to Fort Wayne. The outbreak of the Civil War and the resulting unrest in St. Louis hastened the exe- cution of the plan. In sum- mer, 1861, three professors, one assistant and seventy-

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The History of Concordia CONCORDIA COLLEGE had its origin in 1839 in Perry County. Miss- ouri, under conditions that might have caused die most optimistic to despair of its success. The Saxon Lutherans, in whose midst the school was established, had arrived in southern Missouri hut a few months before; and clearing tli-= land on which they had settled and providing themselves with the necessaries of life were matters that demanded immediate attention. The lack of funds in the colony made itself painfully felt. Yet, in spite of these difficult conditions, the college was founded by one of the settlers pastors and three candidates of theology who volunteered their sei vices. A classical course was offered, which aimed to prepare students for university work. For such as desired to enter the ministry, a theological course, too, was provided. The original college building, a log cabin, still stands, a monument to the courage and enterprise of the founders of the school. Five students enrolled the first year. Not long after its foundation, the institution was moved to Altenburg, Missouri, about a mile from its lurthplace. where various men carefully fostered the tender i)lant. Since its beginning, the school had occasionally, in a financial way, enjoyed the assistance of members of the surrounding Lutheran congregations; and now, when the conditions under which the Saxon immigrants lived had improved, the Lutheran congregation in St. Louis provided funds and appointed a salaried instructor, who took charge of the college in 1843. The number of students dim was eiaht. The (lid Log Cabin. In the year lolT. the Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States, resolved, at its meeting in Chicago, Illinois, to inquire of the congregations at Alten- burg and St. Louis whether they would be willing to en- trust their college to the care and supervision of the Synod. When they agreed to do so, the institution was transferred to St. Louis, and in 1850 the pro- fessors and instructors, six stu- dents of theology, and ten members of the collegiate de- partment took possession of the new building, for the con- f5)

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eight students came to Fort Wayiie, where they were confronted by grievous difficuhies. As the transfer had been made so suddenly, the housing facili- ties were inadequate, and, besides, an epidemic of typhoid broke out. Both students and faculty were gravely afflicted, and the work of the institution was seriously hampered. Fortunately no deaths resulted. By 1867 the mmiber of students had reached one hundred and thirty, and the faculty was increased by the addition of two new professors. The Synod liberally supported its college, and erected all necessary buildings, so that by 1869 the following buildings, besides the old seminary, were found on the college campus: four professors ' residences; a large building, containing the kitchen and a residence for the steward, his family, and the servants; a dining hall; a bakery; and a large new building intended to serve as a dormitory, in which, however, large class-rooms were provided. This was already under cover, but not yet finished in the interior when a fire, in the night of December 28, 1869, gutted the old college building. The students in the dormitory lost all their meager belongings and barely escaped with their lives. Liberal contributions by the various congregations of the Synod enabled the students to fit themselves out anew, and permitted a speedy repair of the damage. The new dormitory was completed as rapidly as possible and, being calculated to accommodate two hundred students, afforded plenty of room for the student body. In the year following Concordia College continued to flourish and in 1889 celebrated the fiftieth, and in 1914 the seventy-fifth anniversary of its founda- tion. In both instances alumni and friends of the institution from far and wide assisted in making the occasion impressive and worthy of remembrance. Such of the former students as have not been able to visit their Alma Mater for many years would undoubtedly be favorably impressed with the many improvements and additions that have been made in the course of time. The Old Gym. ESr