Eastern University - Log Yearbook (St Davids, PA)

Page 13 text:

Reminiscent of scenes of European grandeur, the Walton estate was the epitome of luxuriant living. prepare students, now a co-educational group, for many walks of life in addition to the ministry. Full ac- creditation by the Middle States Association of Col- leges and Secondary Schools, awarded in 1954, further enhanced the academic appeal of Eastern Baptist as a small, liberal arts college. The stately main building of Walmarthon, since christened Walton Hall by the College, was soon converted into classrooms, and administrative and faculty oftices. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, blooming perennial, and proudly overlooking spark- ling Willow Lake, Walton Hall is the inspiring cen- ter of much activity, from early in the morning until late at night. Meals are served in the ma- hogany-panelled dining room and adioining solar- ium, the latter just recently employed for this purpose. Until this year, worship services were held daily in the chapel of Walton Hall, but the steadily Atrmhnxmmx Converted to classroom facilities, the Walton estate house is now the center of all campus activity.

Page 12 text:

EASTERNCS HISTORY FROM RITTENHOUSE SQUARE TO SI DA VIDS The chaotic depression year of 1932 saw the seemingly inauspicious birth of Eastern Baptist Col- lege as the Pre-theological Department of Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, then situated at Ritten- house Square in the heart of Philadelphia. In the following decades, expansion of both Seminary and College Department was remarkable. By 1950, the Department had grown to become an integral part of the seven-year course of study offered by the Seminary, which had during these years moved out to City Line and Lancaster Avenue in Overbrook. Should the thriving, adolescent college division re- main with the mother seminary or launch out on its own to become a separate, sister organization? This became the pivotal question facing the Administra- tion and demanding their immediate attention. The opportunity for separation and expansion presented itself in 1951, an epochal year in the his- tory of the College. Quite by accident, the trustees of the Seminary learned of the lovely, picturesque estate of Walmarthon in St. Davids, in 'disuse and available for purchase. On April 17th of that year, the Board of Trustees voted to buy the property, then belonging to Charles S. Walton, Jr., present Chair- man of the Board of Trustees of Seminary and Col- lege and son of the eminent businessman, philanthro- pist, civil leader and builder of Walmarthon, the late Charles Spittall Walton, Sr. The move to St. Davids and the grant of a sepa- rate corporation charter gave the College the au- thority to grant separate degrees and enabled the faculty of the College to expand and to more ably Eastern's infancyeRittenhouse Square. W-tit o1: ll . 4-1 -. 14.1;qu prepi mant credi leges furthi Baph Th chhd conw facul lhcou Hngi ter unhl hog- ium, PUVP daH

Page 14 text:

3 l 3. Z ? 2 2 increasing enrollment has proven too much for this once roomy place of worship. Consequently, daily chapel is now held in the gymnasium-auditorium. The very heart of an educational institution is its library, which must expand in proportion to the growth of the student body if it is to remain the necessary focal point of intellectual pursuit. What is now merely a small portion of the College library reference room within Walton Hall was once the Walton's family library, an attractive, comfortable room with decorative wood carvings and whimsical gargoyles on mantlepiece and walls. Last year this room was incorporated with the former chapel, the small chapel , rotunda and reading room to pro- vide more room for the evergrowing accumulation of The Library-a peaceful refuge from the pressures of the outside world! The expanded facilities of the Library are dedicated to learning and higher education. periodicals and books and to furnish a more accom- odating study center. Acliacent to the main building is the Suzanne B. Walton Infirmary, a greenhouse in bygone days, donated by Charles S. Walton, Jr., in memory of his daughter who died in early childhood. In the years of expansion since the purchase of Walmarthon, additional estates have been annexed for dormitory facilities, classrooms, laboratories and administrative offices. Ott Hall, formerly a closed building on property continguous to the Walton estate, new administrative headquarters, is a recent example of this. Such was also the case with Doane Hall. When first acquired, it was sumcient to house all of the women of the College; it is now flanked mW-Iwa-md-hw-wvriwav .m. a ruin. v . h h Ia