Slippery Rock University - Saxigena Yearbook (Slippery Rock, PA)

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History of the School Slippery Rock Slate Normal School began its first term on March 26, 1889, with seven teachers and one hundred and sixty-eight students. The grounds were without grass, trees, or walks and presented a desolate appearance as compared with their present condition. A wooden building on the site of the present Chapel contained, on the second floor, the chapel room, and on the first floor, the Principal's office and seven recitation rooms. The Model School was, in those days, held in a building on New Castle Street. At the beginning of the Spring Term of 1893 the present Main building was used for classes, and the first floor of the Chapel was taken for the use of the Model School. On the morning of May 13. 1893, the boys’ dormitory, a frame building which stood on the same site as the present structure, caught fire and was entirely destroyed. The people of the town opened their houses and rooms were found for all. On the twenty-sixth day of June, 1896. the Chapel was destroyed by fire and on that year and the next. Commencement exercises were held in the grove below the School. During the rebuilding of the Chapel the morning exercises of the school were held in the room now used for the library. During these troublesome times, in spite of the many obstacles, the school underwent a steady growth in numbers as well as in influence, owing largely to the loyalty of the student body to the best interests of the institution. The State was not then so liberal in its encouragement of those who attended the Normal schools, as the state aid granted the students was only fifty cents per week and the student was required to pay a tuition fee of one dollar per week. However, those who completed the course were given fifty dollars each on graduation. About twelve years ago this allowance on graduation was cut off and. in fact for one year no aid was given by the