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

Page 23 text:

COLLEGE g gg g is characterized as one, in welchem sowohl der deutschen als englischen Jugend Gelegenheit ge- geben werde, eine tuechtige und gruendliche Aus- bildung fuer das buergerliche Leben zu erwer- ben. In the convention of 1853 the committee re- ported that the Presbyterians had started a school, but that the interest in and demand for a school as planned still prevailed. Thereupon the commit- tee was enlarged, and. subsequently, the proposed plans were put into operation. The so-called Eng- lish Academy, which also housed the practical sem- inary, was built and dedicated on October 26. 1857. two days after the Synodical convention had ad- journed its sessions here. Most delegates remained for the dedication. This building is still in service and at present is used as the administration build- ing. In 1857, a third educational institution was harbored in the same building. This was the Teachers' Seminary. brought here from Milwaukee in 1857. Later, in 1861, when the college was moved here. this seminary was moved from the English Academy into a house in the city, and in 1863 it was transferred to Addison, Ill. In 1861 the building facilities here for taking care of the college were far from adequate. The transfer was carried out before proper provision had been made. Professors Lange and Schick, with their families, lived in the east wing of the English Academy, while Director Saxer and his family occupied the western wing. And in the center por- tion were the 78 students, their living rooms, bed 1939 W mCr4'C 'O mf-' 'U,...O f-sQ,5.'D'V'E -5gG'fDg::E'1 ro2E1Qd9-3 nD'gf'DmQ, :gzmccd 208255 :f'3:f.'D OtfDmEL'.0 saga? 'J ao'-3,,m 02505 o D.-O DQ-img 452350 figiazic: mgg '.3.:1c:.5'f5. 502250 5 emmse 59,2 0 5252232 rogrnao 3-335 gg-H..-AI! oo-- 33302 L4lQ-v-nw ami., g Ml- 'xi I',, ....!!!!!!:1i i ii::1r' ' ill 'll Illlllp QIEIEISQ . filllmnll' w But the work of the school went on unhindered. Besides the three teachers mentioned, Mr. Klep- pisch, who bore the title of Collaborator, also came from St. Louis and taught the first year, returning to St. Louis in 1862 to continue his theological studies. Prof. W. Achenbach was called in his place in the fall of 1863. He remained with the faculty until 1871. when he accepted a call into the active ministry. At this time Pastor Sihler taught religion and geography. Synod bestowed also on him the title of Praeses, which Dr. Walther held as head of the combined school in St. Louis. Pastor Sihler continued teaching until 1881. Then it was that the title of Praeses fell into disuse. It has not been conferred on any teacher since that time. The students were given military drill immediately after coming here in 1861, under the direction of a Captain Johnson, who had served in the Norwe- gian army. There were no uniforms, no guns: in fact, no equipment of any kind. Yet drill was con- ducted with spirit, as Captain Johnson headed his army, singing Norwegian martial airs in his strong voice as they marched along. The first years at Fort Wayne were blighted by a rumor, which somehow had gained circulation. Z-ff i' ' lla SCHICK HALL, ERECTED 1905 Page 19

Page 22 text:

cQg9oRoiA 5 l 1 r-I CD 1 OO LO ...---X3 ANDREW' BAEPLER gggsaggeagaasiigssg H. ... F, agaaomaagagexngegaa rn 'FE5 ':7a2f'DgcrQO,25g Emma D-I. 1-F . 5mgg5HmmWgwwQmgg5CH FD ,....,SO.oD..5H- mr, U14 '555 o '1o5 'Ocn:'U fi' HHS, 5 9,,mgwEfs1 ':-:,oQw,q Q ?'g:?'UlfD,,,,,g3 Cr3 1Z1QCH -12,13-' Ummm ego 'osfwgg-g'g35-fn add 2 iO5mCfOQ,.5'- mv- .-.O Bmw wwrfim 'D C: :U H m W 0-0WHmD ... 'tm 'UQ-gr ,-.fb mfmm D!?5'3f+iii5 D mcns:.:E'w 59 -fzrm,-'1m,,5OworD:5 05179, fD,- trim'-sm,,OrD Q. f-5'rpQJ5 EQQ I1'mf--20.0 S,O00gQ.Q.F w'53-'QOOSW 55':1'39.,..O-,fini aww,-05,5 SF' :jf-D Q, U' 9-H o:::dL UgmE :mmm Oo Hjggqq.-,,.fDC'-s 5mD'Cm-1 '193 'Q.m'1f,,.-t, 52'r'S'Q.V'f7'::,'2.'5' H355-14gN5s9ma.:-H,,,D.H:f+w . Ph ' I 2' -wgasawfwa-,sagem S.-. f .510 mm 5 tmo- mgsca . QH ommmwm gf-M 2 v--1-rggO2D4mrp,..'4 U og ' Z3.9'55coo343I'UP'D 'f- OO-r - A ' 'r-h.... 5 .2 uaoE'1I ?i.vq E Ernayo.-+50 '29, l-,5'::',ti1,.Qrna. HQMBS 22 :PUD-Uqma. :r...,,'7,'cEfm :Q Q4 -Urog-ru QN do Cmggqjtd F+ n: -U .-umm25 1D ,,,.'Z5l4nmf'D IJ Otl2grDQ'fg,y-.1-rfU f-Q FD.-rs' 30277 cr8a'::.:LsE.f-D+55Ev'WQfD5O8',E 'Zim'-:llmoornD'm:Srn9'.Q.l:Sf1. THE OLD LAWNMOWER Page 18 JOSEPH SCHMIDT Pastor Sihler purchased a farm of 9916 acres at the southeast corner of Anthony Boulevard and Pontiac Street. He purchased in addition two horses and a wagon so that the farm could be used to the best advantage for the college. This farm was sold for 350,000.00 in 1911 or 1912. With the Wines estate the purchasers acquired a small brick dwelling of two stories, measuring 14 by 22 feet, with a porch on the west side. To this was added the so-called Wolter House, a two-story brick structure, 20 by 34 feet, and a porch facing the east side. But Prof. Wolter never occupied the home built for him. ln August, 1849, shortly after the property had been purchased, he was suddenly carried away by the plague, the recurrence of which has left a tragic record in the older annals of Fort Wayne. He was temporarily interred under an apple tree on the college grounds. Later, when St. Paul's congregation had acquired its own ceme- tery, his remains were transferred to Concordia Cemetery. The buildings offered poor facilities, even for so small a school. Accordingly, a new building was planned, and it was resolved at the same time to increase the scope of the school's usefulness by accepting students seeking a general education. The Synodical convention of 1852, assembled in Fort Wayne, appointed a committee to confer with the citizens of Fort Wayne Chmit den deutschen und englischen Buergern in und um Fort Wayne D concerning the feasibility of expanding the curri- culum. It was reported that the desire for a school of this kind had been voiced by the English-speak- ing citizens of Fort Wayne. The purpose they had in mind is best expressed in the words of the Synodical proceedings, where the proposed school

Page 24 text:

CONCORDIA - x t-- qi, THE HTABERNACLE' that the private lives of the students had changed for the worse. The Synodical convention of 1863 spent considerable time discussing this situation. Though a committee had conducted an investiga- tion and found the charges unfounded, the matter appeared regularly on the docket of the conven- tions for over a decade before the minds of all were set at ease. Another matter which injured the school was the charge that the site of the college was unhealthy. Nonetheless, there was progress. A class of 22 was graduated in 1862, but no gradu- ates followed in the next two years. Beginning with 1865 there have been annual classes of gradu- ates with the exception of 1868. In 1862 and 1863 the two upper classes were returned to St. Louis, since the conscription laws in Missouri were more liberal than those of Indiana, Where boys of 17 years of age were subject to call. The greatest material progress in these early years was made by the extension of the grounds JOSEPH SCHMID if Q' 5' ggi fl ., and the construction of buildings. The campus was enlarged by the purchase of four lots from Samuel Hanna and wife for 3900.00 on April 15, 1863, and of one lot from Robert P. Lawson and wife for 3240.00 on April 27, 1863. These lots were located on the north side of the grounds. In the same year, Mrs. M. J. Lewis and Ira Lewis sold Oak Grove to the Synod for 352,400.00 This was a wide strip on the west side of the campus on which a frame house was situated. The house stood where Schick Street now is. Prof. Achenbach lived in it before it was moved a short distance to the rear of the second home now on Schick Street. Here it was occupied by the baker, Mr. Sahner, and later by his successor, Mr. Joseph Schmid, until it was razed. At about this time, seemingly in 1862, mem- bers of St. Paul's congregation took an option on the plot extending from Schick Street to Harmar Street between Washington Street and Maumee Avenue, consisting of 39 acres. The price was OLD AND NEW DINING HALL Page 20