Augustana College - Rockety I Yearbook (Rock Island, IL)

Page 9 text:

800?; ENROLLMENT INCREASE. During the twelve years at Paxton, Illinois, US$3- 1875 the student both! increased from 10 to 80 5tudcnts and the faculty frum one instructur to four professnrs. FOUNDINC FATHER. Rev. Lars Paul Esbiom, first pzcsidaut f1860-1863fr and professor of theology, Swedish, mathew mntics. and science, laborea diligently for the establishment of the college :5 well as the Augustana Synud. ESTAB LISHED EDUCATIONAL IDEALS. A complete American college. a center of religious education, was the aim of Dr. Tufve Nilsson Hasselqnist for Au us- mna in his 23 year's service as presi ent USGS-lBQD.

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The year-lBBO-a year of separation and begin- nings . I . Bevt Lars Paul Esbjom resigned from the Scandinavian chair of the Iiiinois State University, sig- naiing the final determination of the Scandinavians to sever relations with this institution and the other Luth- eran church bodies which it represents. The reasons for separation were mostly of a doctrinal nature . A . A convention held in Chicago April 23-27 organized an independent Scandinavian church body and established a theological seminary . . . Twenty-une students who left the university when Esbjom resigned became the first enrolled at Augustana. Esbjem, president and in- structor in all subjects, began classes in September in a schoolhouse hack of the Swedish Lutheran Church on Superior Street in Chicago. He ordained five students the first year . . . 1N THE BEGINNING-dun'ng the initial three years of Augustana history 0860-1863 classes were held in an old church in Chicago; ONE HUNDRE D YEARS 1860-18637the first three years were years of hard- ship for the young institution. President Lincoln's call for volunteers in the Civil XV-ar had been heedcct by some of the students and 'by many who otherwise would have been students at Augustunu, two of President Esbiornk sons enlisting in the army . , . Conditions at Chicago were far from satisfactory. Paxton, Illinois, was considered for the new location of the college because of its central location in the state and the Illinois Cen- tml Railroadis liberal offer in the price of some land, which it wished to sell, on condition that the school locate there . . . W'hen Professor Eshjom resigned with the intention of returning to Sweden, Rev. T. N. Hassei- quist was chosen as his successor, and classes were he- gun in his Paxton home that September . . . 1663718757the next twelve years witnessed rapid growth in Augustaria . . . Relocating, with only ten students due to war conditions, the college at Paxton consisted of twn buildings, a schoolhouse and a board- ing-house. During the first year, 1863, the institution was ineorpnmted and the name Changed to Augustuna College and Seminary . . . Student life in the Paxton days differed in some respects from the present, being very much like a large family. The students were as a rule older men and therefore more somber; they had various duties such as chopping anti sawing wood, and some even worked in the fields on the cuiiege farm. Dr. Hassclquist was like .n father to the student body, The love for fun in the Paxton days was seen in the Swedish names attached by the students to the different build- ings: RVthaila where the meals were served, and Skarselden where exams were given . i . By 1875 the student body had grown to 80 and there were than four professors . . . Plans for removal had been voiced since 1869, and offers had been considered from various Eocalitics. Finally, the Board decided to locate the col- lege about half way between Rock Island and Moline, two large Huorishing Swedish settlements . . . 1875-the beauty of the new location never ceased to inspire. The original 18 314 acres were in an isolated spot surrounded by large tracts of woodland and rolling hills of the Mississippi valley . . . Augustanais new home was erected on the slope of Zion Hill, a name originating from that combination of sense of humor and religious- ness which has been so peculiarly blended in the nature of Augustana students . . . A large brick structure, later known as the Old Building, was nearly completed when the school family arrived in September. In this one building both students and faculty had living quarters; the recitation rooms, the Chapel, the library and museum, the dining room and the kitchen were all found under this one roof . . . One hnndred-twelve students enrolled at the college during its first year at Rock Island . . . The simplicity of Iifei' was retained, each student being required to keep his own room clean, wait upon himself at meats, and keep himself supplied with an oil can for night-owl studying . . .

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A NEW HORIZON. Eighteen and three- quarters acres of rolling hills, 3 country roadh nne sturdy brick buiHing . . . humble beginr nings in 1875 promised a bright future. 1875-1890-w01-k in the first years of Augustana was directed primarily to preparing pastors; for this reason, the classical course was 'the only one taught in the college department until as late as 1880 . . . Women students were allowed to attend classes but were not matriculated until 1886 I . , The second building on the Rock Island campus, Old Main, has been occupied since the beginning of 1388. This buiIding, with its classic dome, was completed with the aid of a gift from P. L. Cable, an aspiring Democratic candidate in a state elec- tion , . . The Studentsi Union was organized in 1892 to discuss student problems and to make rules governing student conduct. Every student belonged, and sessions were held every Friday morning immediately after chapel . . . THE OLD BUILDINCthafeteria, classroom, library, museumw chapel, and living: quarters for both professors and students were housed under one ruof-as the college moved into its new Rock Island home in 1375.