Bethel College - Graymaroon Yearbook (North Newton, KS)

Page 6 text:

BETHEL COLLEGE 1890 From the founding of Bethel College to the present, our history has been filled with hope and frustration, and yet hope has prevailed. As we continue in 1976 to look to the future, we must build on the foundations of the past. Small colleges sprang up in Kansas in un- precedented numbers in the 1880s; cities vied for the privilege of having a col lege in their midst. Newton, being one of the most enter- prising cities in Kansas (First Annual Report of the Board of Directors, 1887-88), made a magnanimous offer of $100,000 ($15,000 cash, and real estate valued by subscribers at $85,000) to thfe Mennonites on the condition that they permanently establish a first class col lege north of the city .Athrivingcityof 10,000 located in the midst of large Menno- nite settlements, Newton was the ideal loca- tion for Bethel College. The Kansas Conference of the Mennonites, however, decided they couldn ' t accept the ob- ligations of the offer. Instead, under the sug- gestion and leadership of David Goerz, a pri- vate corporation was formed to build and oper- ate the college. With faith to overcome what- ever would be I oom i ng in the future, thirty- three people signed the charter to establish Bethel College. Construction of the Administration Building on a gentle slope calledMt. Hebron commenced in December of 1887. Progress, however, was slow . In less than a year, the Mennonites were out of cash, the sale of the New ton real estate was depressed, and contributions were falter- ing. For twenty-one months after the laying of the cornerstone, the unfinished walls of the Administration Building stood desolate on the barren prairie. The building, partially hidden by sunflowers and weeds reaching above its walls, was often referred to as: ein Denkmal echt Mennonitischer Dummheit (a monument to real Mennonite stupidity). Nonetheless, believing that the future was as bright as the promises of God, the triumvir- ate Bernhard Warkentin, J.J. Krehbiel, and David Goerz — led the Board with unwavering faith to plan for the operation of a Bethel Col- lege of the Mennonite Church of North America at Newton, Harvey Co., Kansas. Building plans, however, were materially changed; one entire story was cut off, the spire was aban- doned, and the number of m a i n entrances was reduced from two to one. Construction resumed in 1890 and in three years the prairie castle was completed. On September 20, 1893, sixty students and six faculty members assembled for the first day of classes. Over the year s, one building after another has been added to the campus; this year the Board approved construction of a 1.2 million dollar Student Activities Center. Although the essence of our hope does not lie in buildings, the construction of a new building is still tangible proof that Bethel College hasn ' t I 0 St the vision of the founders to move ONWARD, EVER ONWARD.