Colorado College - Nugget Yearbook (Colorado Springs, CO)

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1 m J - w £ ' . WILLIAM F. SLOCUM President of Colorado College 1888 1917 committee composed of the faculty, of which Dr. Strieby was the active head. In October 1888, Dr. William Frederick vSlocum came to the College as the new president. Slocum, New President When President Slocum took charge he found a mortgage on the campus and the president ' s home and the first thing he did was to raise the mortgages on this property. Up to date no one has accomplished more for the college in a financial way, and it was during his administration that the College grew from one building and a campus, to the College of today. In 1888 there was no place to house the students, and Cutler Academy possessed all the lecture rooms, laboratories, and administrative offices of the College, with the library and assembly hall. Men ' s Residence Hall In 1889 a residence hall for men was begun which was named Hagerman Hall in honor of J. J. Hagerman, the principal donor. This building cost $27,000 and was equipped with dining hall, reading room, and bed rooms. The College began to advance its standards, and new and able men were added to the faculty, and students came in increasing numbers. First Women ' s Dormitory Until this time no provision had been made for the hous- ing of the women. A movement was started in 1888 which resulted in the building of Montgomery Hall in 1889. The building was so named in honor of Mrs. Slocum ' s sister. It is made of Castle Rock stone, with dining rooms, parlor and a suite of rooms for the matron. Three years later, Henry R. Wolcott of Denver, presented the College with an Astronomical Observatory which was called The Wolcott Observatory in his honor. Light, heat and power were the things now most needed. A building to provide these things was begun in 1900 and with many later improvements has cost nearly $50,000. It now supplies fourteen buildings and is under the supervision of an engineer. 14

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without begging it he entered upon a land scheme which, when viewed in the light of present day business ventures, was exceedingly farsighted and prospectively profitable, but which, on account of a lack of sufficient funds fell through and brought untold comment upon his shoulders which was altogether un- deserved. His plan was to buy all land in Colorado Springs townsite north of Columbia Street. Erection of First Stone Building The work of the erection of the first stone building of the College was begun in the summer of 1877 and was six years before the building now known as Cutler Hall was entirely completed. During the year 1878 the building committee was in a pitiable plight; $2,000 was due mechanics and as much more was needed for walls and roof. The money was finally raised and the building was made ready for use January 5, 1880. The design of the building was at that time said to be so attractive that it would maintain itself with College halls to be rected in later years. Mr Henry Austin of Chicago sent a bell for the belfry and the wingless building was outwardly complete. On January 13, 1881, President Tenney interviewed General Palmer concerning the addition of the wings to Cutler, and as a result, the wings were completed May 1882, and that year the building was dedicated and called Cutler Academy. In 1880 the late Professor William Strieby became Pro- fessor of Chemistry, and the present Chemistry Department is a monument to his training, his faithfulness and his sacrifices. Among Colorado College workers, there is one name never to be forgotten, the name of Professor Geo. N. Marden. In 1881 we find him as Professor of Political Economy and History and later as financial agent and treasurer. Through his earnest efforts over a quarter of a million dollars was secured for Colo- rado College. The greatest work of his life, however, was securing a President of the College, in the person of Dr. Fred- erick Slocum. President Tenney retired in 1885 and between the years 1885 and 1888, the College was administered by an executive WHEN CUTLER WAS FIRST BUILT THE WAY THE CAMPUS HAS LOOKED 13

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Modern Library Started In 1900 the College had only a small num- ber of books, which were kept in the North wing of Cutler Academy. The next need was a modern and well furnished library. Mr.Coburn of Newton, Mass., gave President Slocum $50,000 for a library building. Such a building was started and built of peachblow sandstone, which had been selected by the Board of Trustees as the building material for the rest of the buildings on the quadrangle of the campus. The library now contains over 100,000 bound volumes. Ticknor Hale The growth of the College became so rapid that they were obliged to rent a house off the cam- pus to house the women who were unable to get into Montgomery Hall. This was very unsatis- factory, and Ticknor Hal! was given to us by Miss Elizabeth Cheney. This building contains an infirmary, a recre- ation room, reception room and parlor and was built of stone taken from a quarry in Ute Pass. Perkins ' Fine Arts Hall The President now felt the need of a building for the department of Music and Art, and as these ideas began to take shape, Mr. Willard B. Perkins bequeathed $10,000 to be used for the erection of some college building. Having faith in the possi- bilities of raising the additional money needed, they used this $10,000 toward the erection of the building now known as the Perkins Hall of Fine Arts. This building was also constructed of peachblow sandstone, and furnished us with an auditorium especially suited for concerts, lectures and Chapel. Miss Elizabeth Cheney gave an excellent pipe organ for this auditorium, in memory of her brother. COBURN LIBRARY AND PERKINS HALL Palmer Hall Palmer Hall was the next addition to the College group, and was to contain lecture rooms and laboratories for general work and independent research. It was started in 1903 and completed at a cost of $267,000. Dr. D. K. Pearson added $50,000 toward endowment fund and $50,000 more was added 15