Atlantic Union College - Minuteman Yearbook (South Lancaster, MA)

Page 14 text:

J. T. Browning Missionary and Industrial Normal, 1913. Professor Haughey was succeeded in 1899 by Professor Frederick Griggs, under whose direction the school made rapid advancement in scholastic standards, enrollment, and general development. . . . Several school courses beyond high school grades were introduced during these years, indicating a tendency toward junior col- lege rating, a goal which was to be realized a few years later. In 1902, Elder Miles built the Student Bindery in South Lancaster. By employ- ing student labor this enterprise has since enabled hundreds of young men and women to earn a part or all of their school expenses. . . . Elder Miles superintended this industry until his death in 1933. Since that time the business has been success- fully managed by his son, Walter E. Miles. In 1907 Professor Benjamin F. Machlan was chosen as Principal Griggs ' s suc- cessor. It was at this time that ' the scholarship plan for colporteurs was introduced to aid students to meet their school expenses. ' In December of this same year the students began to print a small sixteen-page monthly paper called the ' Student Idea. ' Principal Machlan had not long been settled in his new position when he ac- cepted a call to Australia, and Elder C. S. Longacre, who had been Bible teacher of the Academy, became principal. On October 30, 1912, a small group gathered on the campus to witness the laying of the granite cornerstone of the J. T. Browning Missionary and Industrial Normal. . . . Miss Hansa A. Browning had given a donation to the school for a normal building. . . . Besides classrooms sufficient for carrying on eight grades of school work and practice teaching, the third floor was well equipped for domestic science labora- tories, in which Doctor Lauretta Kress was the first instructor. Mrs. Jessie Osborne was the first normal director. . . . Much credit is due to Mr. Charles Kilgore for his untiring interest in the details of the construction and the equipment of the interior. Frederick Griggs, 1899-1907. Benjamin F. Machlan, 1907-09, 1913-16. 1921-28. Charles S. Longacre, 1909-13.

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First Graduating Class. 1888. Main Street Dormitory. 1895-99. May 12, 1888, was an eventful day in the history of South Lancaster Acad- emy, when the graduating exercises of the first senior class were held in the chapel. . . . Diplomas were presented by the Principal to a class of four young women, one of whom was Miss Rowena E. Purdon, who has taught in the Normal School, the College, and the Academy. After three years, Professor Ramsay resigned his position to continue his edu- cation at Harvard University, and at his suggestion his former pupil at Battle Creek College, Professor George W. Caviness, was chosen to succeed him. Professor Cav- iness laid plans for a new dormitory and a large addition to the academy building. He was called to the p residency of Battle Creek College in the spring of 1894, but the ideas for expansion which he had outlined were partly carried out during the sum- mer following. South Hall and another house on Prescott Street were rented to furnish rooms for students. Joseph H. Haughey, professor of mathematics in Battle Creek College, fol- lowed Professor Caviness as principal. All the buildings were overcrowded, and the girls in East Hall looked impatiently across the field to the slowly developing outlines of their new home, which was being erected on the present site of the Thayer Bird Museum. The curved brick walk now leading to the Museum was laid out by Professor Haughey ' s own geometric hand. Due to financial strain, the new dormitory was used only four years and then sold to the New England Sanitarium. After standing idle for four years old East Hall was quickly repaired, the four-story central portion and West Hall were added, and in the fall of 1899, the students were returned to their former place of abode on Prescott Street. George W. Caviness, 1888-94. West and East Halls. 1899.

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William G. Wirth. 1916-17. The post office and general store converted into classrooms and later home of the woodworking department. After four years of faithful service in Australia, upon the advice of his physi- cian, Professor Machlan returned to America, and in 1913 once more resumed charge of South Lancaster Academy. . . . After three years Professor Machlan accepted the presidency of Washington Missionary College, and Professor William G. Wirth was chosen to fill the vacancy. He remained here but one year, however, and Dr. Mahlon E. Olsen, was elected principal. . . . Through his efforts, in 1918 South Lancaster Acad- emy was formally recognized as Lancaster Junior College, with courses covering four- teen grades. Dr. Olsen returned to Washington, D. C, in 1920, and September of that year found the College without a president. The Educational Department of the General Conference at Washington, D. C, appointed Professor Otto M. John to fill the place temporarily. After a few weeks the College Board elected Professor George R. Leh- man to the position, which he very ably filled until the end of the year. Then for the third time Professor Machlan came to South Lancaster to his old place, not as principal of South Lancaster Academy, but as president of Lancaster Jun- ior College. Feeling that the institution should not long remain a fourteen-grade school, President Machlan immediately took steps to raise its rating, and a four years ' theo- logical course was added to the curriculum. In the fall of 1922 the right to confer the degree of Bachelor of Theology was granted by the General Court of Massachuseits, and Lancaster Junior College became Atlantic Union College. Four years later, the legislature passed a bill authorizing the College to confer upon its grad- uates the degree of Bachelor of Religious Edu- cation. In 1923 the school purchased the large two- story building, for many years occupied by the South Lancaster Post Office and general store, moved it from Main Street across the campus west of the College, and divided it into class- rooms. It later housed the prosperous wood- working department for several years. Mahlon E. Olsen, 1917-20.