Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

Page 19 text:

Bluemont Offers First Chance for Learning Although Bluemont was designated a college at the time of its conception, it was not until after the acceptance of the provisions of the Morrill Act by Kansas in 1863 that it became more than an ele- mentary school. However, this is not to detract from its significance as a beginning. When the cornerstone was laid May 10, 1859, for the isolated stone building that was to be Blue- mont Central College, an invaluable step was made in bringing higher education to this area. This was the first stage in realizing the goal of a movement that began on April 18, 1855, when at a meeting of several early settlers George Park was invited to address them concerning an agricultural school. This school with its small staff and few students provided the basis of education and spurred the desire in the youth to seek a fuller knowledge. When with the acceptance of the Morrill Act the name was changed, Bluemont had made her contribution. High-roofed rooms with pot-bellied stoves kept the clas- ses at Bluemont in the most modern fashion of the day. Dignified stone, sur- rounded by shade trees, gave K-State a presi- dent ' s home of which it could be justly proud. Unfortunately, the building, built around 1885, burned in 1895. 15

Page 18 text:

8i V 9 9 Klfk k m This stone-engraved cresent, which is now found on the third floor of the Farrell Library, is the same one which in the 1860 ' s greeted new students to the one-building of Bluemont Central College. Bluemont College, complete with hitching racks, a well, and the old stone fence was the first home of higher education in this area. The cornerstone was laid on May 10, 1859, and the building was ready for use that year.

Page 20 text:

J ie t nic t ma u act donating tu tic tandt to t te Sevetat SPtateb an filovide cotte ye4 fol tne benefit of aalicttttule and tnec tanicat alts. Be ft enacted ty t te SPenate and 3ott6e of Refile entatities of t te Unit of ' d tnelica in SongieSS aSSetn ted: 37tat t tele 6e planted to t te eveiaJ SPtateA, fot. tne fatifu e neleinaftel mentioned an atnou-nt of ftii tic tand, to 6e afifiolttoned to eacn SPtate a quantity eqttat to t u ' )fif t iott and acle fol eac i SPenatot and R efnebentative in onplete to tvnicA tAe SPtateb aie )44 tecte ' veJtf entitled ty tne afiftot onment tnde) tne cen trt of eiy iteen Atmdted and tiocfy: SPectio n 4. f nd 6e it faltnei enacted, .... tnat tne intele t ( fiom tnon eu deli wed fiuni ate of t ie tandb) of wnic i b iatt 6e inviolaMp afi ilofiliated, ty eac i SPtate t tic i utfty ta e an,d ctaitn t te benefit of tn act, to the endowtnent, 4ttfi io)t and Hiaintenance of at tea t one cottege w iele tAe leading object bnatt 4e tvitnottt exctndinif ot ie) Scientific and cJab icat btudieb; and t ' t c ftf ffty tnititalM tacticb; to teacA m i 6tanc te of teaming 06 ale legated to ap icttttit e and t te tnecAanic at 4, in oldel to filotnote t te ti e ' uit and ft iacticaJ education of t te indu t ' tiat ' cta beb in tne bewelat tttltuitt and ilocettiottA of fife, i loved ti 2, J862 it enacted fy ie 3!epitatule of tAe SPtate Srection . Tnat tne cotteipe, in tne foleaoina fileam te mentioned (a cottepe Act ft t emdel t ie ftlov ionA of t te j((ollitt jtfct), 6e and t te bante nele p located at and f n a a cettain tlact of tand situated and eina in tne county of Ritev and t te SPtafo afolesaid. ' S i i i f.rt-f . ' : ttfftty Jff, 4863. The above printed excerpts from the Morrill Act and its acceptance in an act by the Legislature of Kansas tell briefly the legal origination of Kansas State University. Kansas was the first legislature to designate a specific sch ool to be the official land grant school in their State, thus being the foundation for K-State ' s claim as to being the first land grant school. 16