Grove City College - Ouija Yearbook (Grove City, PA)

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liii L.ilIs1l Iiii The History of the College On the Ilth of April, I876, Grove City College had its birth in the second story rootn ol a district school building in a village then known as Pine Grove. Thirteen students reported on the first day and, during the first session, twenty-four were enrolled. The moving spirit in the enterprise was a young man who had earned local distinction as a teacher. Ile was poor and without influential friends. The school grew rapidly, however. and began to draw its students from a constantly widening circle ol territory. Sir Xtilliani Ramsay, the noted Scotch archaeologist and scholar, in writing the story of the growth of the college, speaks of it in the following way: Its success must appear so incredible to liuropean readers that I am almost afraid to tell the story, yet it is one ol those truths that are too strange for a novel: one of those things that no one dare invent or could exaggerate. The school soon outgrew the district school building. Classes were held in the local Presbyterian Church. A small private dormitory was built to help accommodate the students and in I878 the first college building was erected The funds for this building were secured by local subscription. The community responded with unusual generosity. The building represented the sacrifices of men and women who were interested in higher educatio.i. That spirit of interest and support on the part of the community which was eniphasimed so early in the history of the College has continued throughout the years. It was only recently that the community, while in the midst of war campaigns, pledged thirty thousand dollars lo the fund being raised by the College. In I884 the Academy was changed into a College and, from that time. the institutio.i was known as Grove City College. About IS95 it became apparent that new friends with larger resources must be secured if the College was to go forward. A number of Pittsburgh men were invited to become identified with the Collge. Among these were Mr. -I. X. Pew, .XIr. Samuel P. Harbison, Mr. A. P. Burchfield and Mr. Edward tl'Neil. On their advice the College was changed to an elemosenary institution with a sell-perpetuating Iloard of Trustees. In order to do this those who held stock in the College were asked lo turn it over lo the izi- stitution. The response was an immediate and unanimous one. From that time on the College made rapid progress. The interest of such men as Nlr. Pew, Mr. Ilarbison, and Mr. Burchfield never flagged during their life-time. and since their deaths their work has been carried on by their sons. Mr. Pew was made President of the rcorganized Board in I895 and served in that capacity until his death in October. Iflll. .Xt that time Mr. Iirederick R. Babcock was elected President. Isaac C. Ketler, the founder, was President tintil his death on -Iuly 2, I'lli. Ile was succeeded by Alexander Thomas Ormond, the head of the Department of Pliilosophy, Prince- ton University. President Ormond died on Dec. IS, IUI5. Weir C. Iietler. the assistant lo the President, was elected President, june li, Ifllti. The years have shown a growth in grounds, buildings and equipment. .Xt present the college campus is one of the most beautiful and complete in the State. Its influence has bee an ever widening one. Its graduates and former students are numbered by the thousand. Through the years it has endeavored to be a wholesome, intellectual and Cliristian force. and as it begins its forty-fiftli year, it faces a vista ol' enlarging usefulness and service. 9

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