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

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Breaking ground for science building, 1932. Oito M. John. 1928-36. In October, 1926, the students voted to change the name of the school paper, the ' Student Idea, ' to the ' Lancastrian. ' The first editor under the new title was Mrs. Ethyl R. Taylor. Since that time the paper has continued without interruption, either in magazine or newspaper form. This same year the Atlantic Union College Alumni Association was organized, a constitution was drawn up, and officers were elected. Although President Machlan was still at his post of duty in September, 1927, when college opened, it was evident to all that his step was slower and his former vigor abating . . . He went to the New Eng land Sanitarium for treatment, but it was to no avail. He was removed to Washington, D. C, where he slowly failed until May 20, 1929, when his labors were ended. In the meantime Professor Otto Marion John, Dean of Emmanuel Missionary College in Michigan, was called to fill the chair made vacant by President Machlan ' s illness. . . . In 1932 President John induced the owner to sell to the school the open lot be- tween the dormitory and the college. This was soon transformed into a beautiful green lawn with a broad cement walk connecting the two main buildings, and it gave to the institution what it had never possessed before, a sizeable campus. April 19, 1932, was another milestone in the history of Atlantic Union College. It had been fifty years since those nineteen students had gathered in that first little schoolroom, — it was the golden birthday of the school, — and a large crowd of Alumni, former teachers, and friends came together to celebrate it. ... A special edi- tion of the ' Lancastrian, ' known as the ' Minuteman, ' was published in honor of the anniversary. Ambitious to raise the standards of the institution, President John worked without ceasing to acquaint stale educational officials with the aims of Atlantic Union College. He enlisted the legal service of former Principal Charles C. Ramsay, for many years a Boston attorney, who manifested his continued interest in the school by his invaluable assistance in procuring from the State Legislature the authority to confer the degree of Bachelor of Arts upon graduates of the college course. In the summer of 1932, through the generosity of Elder E. E. Miles, the Student Bindery Memorial Science Hall was erected on the west side of the new campus. This addition to the equipment of the College materially increased its efficiency. Miles ' Student Bindery Memorial Science Hall. 1932.

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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.

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College Press. 1936. The college press had been moved to the basement of the Normal building. However, quarters here were crowded, and a larger place was an immediate need. To solve the problem President John in May, 1936, effected the purchase of the large barn north of the College with the adjoining grounds, and to this remodelled building the College Press was transferred. In 1936, President John was transferred to Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Professor G. Eric Jones of Washington Missionary College, Washington, D. C, was elected president. He came to the position with a background of years of suc- cessful school experience, together with long service in the foreign mission field. With strong faith in the future of Seventh-day Adventist educational work in the East he went about his task, and under his wise direction Atlantic Union College has gone steadily forward. An earnest, spiritual atmosphere among students and faculty indi- cates that the object of the school is kept constantly in sight. As one looks about, he sees the material results of the Expansion Campaign on every side. The land east of the Print Shop, extending along George Hill Road to Main Street, was added to the school property in October, 1937. On the evening of February 12, 1937, the College suffered a great loss when the school barn and adjoining buildings and farm equipment, were destroyed by fire. A year later a large thoroughly modern dairy barn was built in its place. A site for a new residence hall for women was selected in 1938 with a front- age on Main Street, and with that location in view, property in that vicinity has been purchased from time to time. First the old Goss place . . . owned and occupied for several years by Charles R. Chant, was secured, moved westward across the campus, and located between the Science building and West Hall ... It is now occupied by the College School of Music. In 1939 the old Fitch property, lately known as the Sey- mour house, was taken over, also the dwelling on the corner of Flagg Street, occupied for years by Mr. Harry Ancill. The latest purchase is the land to the west of the Thayer Bird Mu- seum where the newly built re- creation court is located. A large portion of the money to pay for this court was raised by the students in one week ' s time. Music Hall, 1938.