Baldwin Wallace University - Grindstone Yearbook (Berea, OH)

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University powers were granted in 1855. Co-education from the first has been a prominent feature of the school. Never has the wisdom of this plan of education been brought in question. From the beginning, both sexes have been received on equal terms, reciting in the same classes, associating together at public gatherings, etc., and here at least the soundness of the doctrine of co-education has been proven by experience. One of the grand features of the University is the inducement it holds out to those worthy young men and women who desire a collegiate education above everything else, yet whose means are not quite sufficient to gain the desired end. To such, B. U. lends a helping hand. Originally, the campus contained two college buildings — North and South Halls, each three stories high and built of brick. In North Hall were the gentlemen ' s dorm itories, the chapel and recitation rooms. In South Hall were the ladies ' dormitories and the refectory. Around these old halls cling many hallowed recollections. The older graduates will tell you that it was while occupying these buildings, when the college was in its most flourishing condition and its classes filled to overflowing with students, that the dark cloud of war suddenly overspread our fair land. There was a call to arms. Sumpter had been fired upon. Books were thrown down, studies forgotten, and with few exceptions all who were eligible marched to the front. The ranks of old B. U. were greatly depleted during those dark days. Few ever came back to finish their college course. Many gave up their lives to uphold their country ' s honor, and instead of their names being enrolled among those of the alumni, they may be found engraved on the marble tablets in the beautiful Soldiers ' and Sailors ' Monumen t at Cleveland. North Hall with its sacred memories has long since passed away and in its stead arose Hulet Hall, completed in 1868. This hall was erected by. and largely the gift of the Hon. Fletcher Hulet. In 1883 was opened the elegant Ladies ' Hall, a beautiful stone structure four stories high, including the basement. In the basement is located the spacious refectory, store rooms, etc. The original campus, the quarry property and all the University buildings, with the exception of Ladies ' Hall, were sold in 1887 and in this way one hundred thousand dollars was added to the endowment fund. By the liberality of the purchasers, the University was given the use of the buildings up to the present time. The time approaches, however, when the historic old campus, with its delightful .shady walks, together 12

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BALDWIN UNIVERSITY. ERE A has ever been widely known for two things: its colleges and its immense stone industries. When in 1828, John Baldwin, with his newly wedded bride, journeyed from Connecticut to Berea, he found here little more than a dense wilderness. Cleveland at this time was a modest little hamlet of less than a thousand souls. Deer and game of all kind ranged the forests. The sharp, snarling bark of the wolf and shrill cry of wild cat were sounds often heard throughout the long winter nights. The founder of Baldwin University was born in Bradford, Connecticut, Oct. 13,1799. His father was a blacksmith and had served in the war of 1776. Young Baldwin ' s education was ' of the most meager kind. At eighteen he was converted and joined the Methodist church. After this, feeling his want of edu- cation, he borrowed books, being too poor to buy them, and by hard study and persistent work managed to enter a neighboring academy, where he fitted himself for a teacher. Sixteen years after his arrival on the Western Reserve, by his untiring energy and indomitable will he developed and had in successful opera- tion what has since become one of the greatest sand-stone industries on this continent. John Baldwin had, 1th and broad acres. In 1845, we get the first inkling of what is now known to have been the great purpose of his life. In August of that year, at the session of the North Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, held at Marion, O., the minutes show that he donated to the Conference a large and valuable amount of land and property for an institution of learning. A Campus of five acres, with a building (North Hall), thirty village lots, and fifty acres of land having valuable and inexhaustible stone quarries. 11 A charter was granted December 20, 1845, and Baldwin Institute was opened April 9, 1846, with a male and female department. The premises free from debt and the settled policy of the Board of Trustees not to run the institution in debt. 11 1 1

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with Hulet and South Halls, must be vacated. Alumni and old students cannot give up the old stamping ground without a pang of regret. By the generosity of the citizens of Berea, the University was presented soon after the sale of the old, with a new campus of twenty-five acres, situated in the most accessible part of town, fronting on one of the principal streets. On this, at a cost of forty thousand dollars, has been erected the New Recitation Hall, which in beauty of architecture, convenience of arrangement and equipment, compares favorably with any of the more modern college buildings. The entire building is well lighted, and is heated and ventilated by the Smead system. On the southern portion of the campus is the new Philura Gould Baldwin Library building. This handsome and dignified structure was the gift of the son of the founder, Mr. John Baldwin, Jr., and wife, as a memorial to their only daughter, Philura, whose untimely death brought sadness to many hearts. The intimate relationship existing between the University and the German Wallace College, also located in Berea, gives the English students unsurpassed facilities for the study of the German and French languages and literature. This famous college is the foremost German school in this country. Hazing is never practiced at Baldwin. The yearly scramble to gain possession of the Junior ' s class flag is the nearest approach, but this is an entirely friendly and bloodless encounter. Of course, students at Baldwin are human and enjoy fun as well as at other colleges. It is related that on one occasion, a number of years ago, a student of an enquiring turn of mind entered the University. He is now one of Cleveland ' s honored and wealthy citizens. He was passionately fond of hunting and fishing, and never weary of recounting his exploits in this direction. A number of the boys resolved to have some fun at the expense of this element in his character, so one after another greatly excited his curiosity by telling him of a peculiar kind of fish that inhabited a certain mill-pond near by. This fish could not be caught with hook and line, but the method of his capture was a secret, which, they said, an old resident of the town had promised to impart to them. The next night was set apart for the great event, and it was finally agreed to allow our young friend to accompany the party. The night was beautifully bright and very hot. Arriving at the pond, a disagreement arose as to which one of the party should have the honor of actually landing the prize. After a long debate, it was, strange as it may seem, agreed to allow our enthusiast the coveted honor. He was 13