University of Notre Dame - Dome Yearbook (Notre Dame, IN)

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I 1 t Dome The Jubilee History SORIN did not idly dream. Seventy-five years of undying ideals are crys- tallized in the present Notre Dame. Poverty, stubborn circumstances, and indifference did not dim the visions of the early founders who glowed with dreams of the future Notre Dame du Lac. When told by Bishop Hailandiere of Vincennes that a grant of land awaited him if he would build upon it within two years, the youthful Father Edward Sorin, just arrived from Father Stephen Badin France, accepted the commission, unmindful of any dangers that might clog his course. Three-quarters of a century ago, a band of seven Brothers of the Congre- gation of the Holy Cross, headed by the brave Sorin, blessed the land that smiled them welcome, the land graced by Pokagan, Pottawattomie — the land fragrant with the word of God sowed by His priests, from the saintly AUouez in 1680 to Father Badin in 1842. Father Badin, the first priest ordained in America, had been with the Indians all his priestly life. With the opening of 18 ■t mi:

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t- Dome ♦: Notre Dame, later, he divided his labors between his work with the redmen and his teaching and preaching in the school of Notre Dame. A slab in the replaced log chapel marks the supposed spot of his burial. On the east shore of St. Mary ' s lake the party erected a small two-story log cabin. This was the first chapel building. It was destroyed by fire in 1856, but its replica is seen today standing in the shadow of the new Library. Many of the historic relics were saved from the fire, and are on view in the rebuilt chapel. A few months later the First College Building was built. It was intended as a larger chapel, but was used instead for teaching purposes. It housed the first student, Alexis Coquillard. The structure rests beside the 1 THE OLD LOG CHAPEL replica-log cabin. The friendly Indians and the helping settlers made the dim beginnings of Notre Dame hsss gloomy for Sorin and his band. Next year the Metropolitan Almanac printed an advertisement which stated that a school for young men had been recently opened at Southbend, near Washington, Indiana, under the direction of the Rev. E. Sorin. But it was not until 1844 that the legal existence of the school began. A charter was granted that year by the State of Indiana, empowering the university to confer degrees. This same year a building, four floors high, as large as the front wing of Science Hall, and a Novitiate on the Island, graced the campus. In 1848, Fourth of July Day, the first catalogue was printed for the third Com- mencement. 19 :