West Virginia Wesleyan College - Murmurmontis Yearbook (Buckhannon, WV)

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Our First Years. Prof. F. B. Trutter. The Seminary ci|ieneil its doors for tli ' reception of students on September 3d. 1S90. with four teachers, namely : Rev. B. W. Hutch- ison, Presitlent ; J. F. ( gden. Frank B. Trotter and Miss Emma ' . Tavenner; in addition to tliese Dr. I). T. E. Casteel vohinteered his services as teacher of Ph ' siology and later of (ireek. and Mrs. Hutchison became instructor in music. Later in the term Miss Ida X. Kent was secured as instructor in music and elocution, and Miss Amelia V. Reeves as in- structor in Art. She was succeeded in a few months by Miss Maude B. McFarland, who re- mained for some years. At the opening of the spring term. Prof. I). E. Philips, now Professor of Pedagogy- in the University of Denver, was elected assistant. On the opening day fifty-two students assembled to begin work, which number increased to seventy-two before the term closeil. In the winter the number dropped to sixty-six, Ijut in the spring increased enough to make the enrollment for the year two hundred anil one. Thus began the work in the Seminary; these were tr -ing times compared with the present. ( )iu ' equipment consisted of the main building, furnished with one piano, one organ, and about three hundretl chairs. No window blinds, no tables, no office furniture, no carpet for rostrum or office, no library, no apparatus of any kind in the classrooms, no accommodations for the literary societies except the bare halls, and above all, no money. But happily the teachers were ambitious to make the new work succeed; the students were patient and industrious, and the town people especially kind and helpful. With perseverance the work was carried on, and before many months things assumed a better shape. Kind friends furnished carpet for the office and rf)strum. someone else, blinds; a book reception gave the nucleus of the librar -, first installed in the small room where the book C. W. Archbold, Esq.

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alittlotiine for all to acquiesce in the ilccisi(iu of the b mrj. Three days after the location of the Seminary the board met in Buckhannon to select a site for it. They carefully examined the available and suitable land in and about the town of Buck- hannon and on the twenty-ninth day of Aufrust. 1887, they selected the beautiful plateau upon which the Seminary structvu ' e now stands, and purchased from Levi Leonard, 43 acres, 1 rood, and .3 poles at the price of .S.5,.5.57,87. The Annual Coirfer- ence at Parkersburg during October of the same -ear ratified the action oi the board and authorized them to proceed to the erection and furnishing of a suitable building for tlie Seminary, which they did. On September 3d, 1890, the main building was reatly for use, and the school was formally opened, with Rev. B. W. Hutchison, President, and Prof .F. B. Trotter, J. F. Ogden, anil Miss Enmia B. Tavenner. faculty. One month later, the Annual Conference in session at Weston, with Bishop C. 1). Foss, D.l).. LL.D., presiding, went over to Buckhannon, and formally dedicated the building, and thus the West Virginia Conference Seminary was fully and success- fully launched upon the educational sea. fUancing back over the history of the Seminary, we believe we may safely sa - tliat no one regrets any efforts or sacrifices that may have been made for it from its origin to the present time.

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store is iiiiw kept. The desks, ikiw in Niiin- liers 5 and 6. came from the old Wheeling College, vvhieh was discontinued this year. lOarly in tlie year the students were divided into two e(|ual companies and organized the ]ii-csciit literary societies, drawing lots for the balls. Those to whom the North Hall fell met in Room Number 8 and were organized by I ' rof. Ogden and chose their present name. Those of the South Hall met in Room Number 2, and were organized by the writer and chose their name. The - continued to meet in these I ' ooms for some weeks until some furniture ' f K could be secur( d for the halls. Kind friends f ' . K among the ladies of the town met and made the carpets for the halls. This was the formation of these two most important aux- iliaries. Thus opened and passed the first year. The second yearo|)ened with but one change in the faculty; Miss Tavenner retiring and Miss Dora J. Uadn-.en taking her place; at the close of the fall term however, the writer withdrew in order to enter Har ard I ' niversitv for the remainder of John A. Barnes. the year and J. R. Trotter took his place; term .Mr. 1 ' ' . M. Marple was elected assistant. This i)rol)al)ly was the most trying year in the history of the school. The attendance, in the spring especially, was large, and about the middle of the year Prof. Ogden ' s health failed and all his work had to be done by the others. His illness continued until July and resulted in Ins death. The vacancy thus caused was filled b} ' the election of Prof.C. .1. ( ' . Bennett, now Professor of Pedagogy in San Jose Normal School, California. The Faculty was further .strengthened this year in tl ' .e spring term by tlie election of Prof. [ ' . 1. JeTd ins, who has since at different times ren- dered valuable service. Such was the beginning and equipment of the school and its progress through its first two years. Whatever prosperity the school iijoys today had much of its foundation in tlie energy, industry, and perseverance of tliose davs. also at the o])ening of the prmg Robert A. REGE . M. D.