Geneva College - Genevan Yearbook (Beaver Falls, PA)

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cation, the College family officially celebrated her 100th , ,. birthday. V' The year received a stirring inaugural with the ad- M dress of Dr. Paul Stewart, president of Waynesburg Col- lege, at the academic day assembly, September 12. The Beaver Falls High school band furnished special music for the occasion. . G! Geneva met their arch-rivals from Grove City in the annual Homecoming tussle on October 11. Pretty Anne Sartwell from Ellwood City was crowned queen during special half tiine ceremonies which saw the College band and Scotch Lassies give a memorable show, befitting the Centennial observance. Honor guests at the game and the alumni gathering which followed were captains of all former Geneva grid squads. Styles of the Geneva days at Northwood and early Beaver Falls were contrasted with the cur- rent fads and fashions at the annual YWCA fashion show, November 6. The Frill and Dagger gave the Marquand and Kaufman hit, 'The Late George Apley as their semester dramatic showing. g Q In December the College officially opened her 5I5350,000 Cen- tennial Fund campaign, eyeing a student center as the main goal of the drive. December was also a busy month for the Genevans. They lent their efforts to a highly-successful yule party and gave one of the finest Christmas concerts in the choir's history. Santa didn't forget the students! The 1947 Genevans arrived just before the holiday vacation began. The new year was ushered in with an air of expectancy- expectancy of a great 100th year celebration. The VVSA started the 'fball rolling' with their famous woman series, bringing Dr. Margaret Mead to the College lecturn. Grace Albert won the hearts of many with her folk singing, one artist program never to be forgotten. February was also the month of beauties, the May court mak- ing their way into the headlines, and ex-WAC Twila Black, at- tractive Denver senior, found herself receiving the great honor. April was the busiest month. Vocational Guid- ance Day and the Spanish club fiesta took the lime- light for the first of the month and then came the big day-April 20. Governor James Duff, Presi- dent Lincoln Hale of Evansville College, and Dr. Clarence Edward Macartney of Pittsburghls First Presbyterian church, spoke at events which includ- ed the student assembly, Founders' Day luncheon and convocation. May was filled with pageantry. The Centennial just couldn't have ended in a more dramatic way than with the wonderful spectacle, Geneva Through the Years. Fireworks, kilties, band concerts and even live horses made this three-day event non-forgettable. 11

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QE E ' George was President.. A dormitory was built in 1887 and assigned to women students a year or two later. A wooden gymnasium, started that year, was finished in 1889. There was a tradition of prowess in baseball dating back to Northwood days. Football was started at Geneva in 1890 by William Hugh Coverdale, who was captain of the first team and played halfback. In 1890, Dr. George resigned and was succeeded by Dr. William Pollock Johnston, a nephew of Parson Johns- ton, the founder. He had taught Latin and English since 1881 and now resigned the Latin chair to Professor Wil- liam McCracken Melroy. From the beginning, the College offered a six-year course: two preparatory years and four years college work. Later, Geneva offered a third prepara- tory year. Dr. W. P. Johnston was president during an untroubled period of development from 1890 to 1907. Attendance Varied during the eighties from 100 to 150 students, increased gradually there- after and had approximately doubled by 1915. A tornado tore off I I-I I the tin roof of Old Main in 1887 and again in 1915. The Rev. William Henry George, son of Dr. H. H. George, became president of the College in 1907 and during his ten-year term, the College expanded its physical plant with the addition of the Johnston Gymnasium in 1911. In 1912 the Science Hall was gutted by fire and rebuilt the following year. In 1916, the Rev. Renwick Harper Martin was elected to the presidency, serving in the office four years. Dr. Martin resigned in 1920 to become the lecturer for the National Reform Association. Prof. A. A. Johnston was elected the twelfth president in 1921. It was in that year that McKee Hall dormitory, the gift of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth McKee, Clarinda, Iowa, was dedicated. Prof. Johnston was the son of Dr. W. P. Johnston. Dr. McLeod Milligan Pearce, editor for the American Sun- day School Union, was named to the high administrative post in 1923, having continued in that capacity for the past quarter century. During Dr. Pearce's presidency, several additions and improvements were made including the acquisition of Reeves Field, the erection of McCartney Library in 1931, the fieldhouse in 194-7 and the addition to the Science Hall in 1948. During these years the College also purchased the McCartney residence and the Johnston home and made these two dwellings into Fern Cliff and Patterson Lodge respectively. The enrollment was increased during World War II when several hundred Air Force cadets trained on campus and following the war with the advent of the G. I. Bill. The enrollment in all de- partments now numbers 1800. This year was a memorable one in the annals of Geneva history. As a climax to the first century of edu- 10

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The President and his wife were honored for their 25 years of l'ail,hl'ul service to the school at a beautiful afternoon tea during Centennial week. The alumni also came in for a share ol the .festivities at their annual banquet Saturday evening, May 29. Commencement with Dr. John Dale Russell, the U. S. Commissioner of Higher Education, address- ing the large class, in a beautiful setting of palms and ferns in the stadium, was hold on Juno 1. .lust a few sentences and only an outline, but memories-precious memories ol' a year of history -the turning of a century. FERN CLIFF PICTURES IN COLLEGE HISTORY 1. Northwood, Ohio 2. James S. Johnston 3. Mrs. James S. Johnston 4. Northwood, Ohio 5. Geneva Hall, Northwood, Ohio 6. Rev. .John Black Johnston 7. Rev. and lVIrs. John B. Johnston 12 Female Seminary, Northwood, Ohio Geneva Hall, Northwood, Ohio Dr. J. C. K. llflilligan Mirldleton Residence, Northwood, Ohio Rev. Nathan H. Johnston Old Mairz Dr. W. P. Johnston