Davidson College - Quips and Cranks Yearbook (Davidson, NC)

Page 22 text:

from the east roof of the Old Chapel finds its way into the Yadkin (Pee Dee) River, fifty-six miles away ; that from the west roof flows into the Catawba. The immediate neighborhood around the College is well drained, and contagious diseases are unknown. For eight months in the year the roads are inviting to bicyclists. The College campus contains about seventy-five acres covered with blue grass, and the beautiful walks and drive- ways are shaded by sctjres of elms and oaks. Within a mile lies Lake Wiley, co ering fourteen acres; a little further e find the Cascades, Lover ' s Leap, Diamond Rock, and nian ' other beautiful and picturesque places. The people from this section ha ing been the first in America to express their belief in individual freedom, having declared themselves independent of their mother country before such an action was taken by the States assembled, it is no sm ' prisc that Davidson is surrounded by many places of histori- cal interest. Twehe miles to the south we find the cabin in which the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was signed ; two miles north the re- mains of the old Log College of North Caro- lina, where Ephraim Brevard and other signers of this declaration were educated ; in the same vicinity, Tarleton ' s Tavern, where the general of the same name butchered man}- Americans ; also Purgatory Swamp, which became a Rendezvous of safety from the Red Coats for the people of that neighborhood; six miles west we find Cowan ' s Ford, where General Lee Davidson met his death in his endeavor to prevent Coniwallis from crossing the Cataw ba ; within several hundred yards of the campus stands the oak under which Centre Church was organized ; eight miles southwest is the Hope- well Church neighborhood, whose people ha e given us more history than any other section of the State within as narrow limits. IMPROVEMENTS During the last decade many improvements have been made in the various departments. A three years ' Bible Course has been established. The English, Greek and Latin courses have been improved, especially the Latin course. A year each has been added to the P ' rcnch and German courses. Political Pxonomv has received much at- tention, and its ticket is now equal to that of any Southern College. Fi ' e new laboratories have been fitted up for the departments of Chemistrs-, Mineralogy, Physics and Electricit ' . Da idson is especially proud of its work in electricity and chemistry. The libraries of the societies and the collesre librarv ha e been consolidated in the

Page 21 text:

the available field from which to draw patronage. The Commencement of ' 97 will be the 60th anniversary of the opening of the College. Dur- ing these three-score years there have been eight presidents, forty-one professors, and a number of tutors. Over twenty-four hundred students have been matriculated, and of that number seven hun- dred and sixty-one have graduated. Two hundred and fifty have become ministers, thirty-four college professors, and the other professions share equally well. VICINITY When the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians decided to establish a higher institution of learning they determined to place it in the midst of the many academies which the different Presbyteries had in their charge. We copy the following from a report to Faj ' etteville Presbytery in November, 1 844 : Davidson College is located in a section of country where the influence of such an institution will be appreciated : and be productive of much good. It is easy of access and placed in the midst of a rich section of territory : it will always be sur- rounded by a dense population, out t)f which many young men will become desirious of obtaining an education. These will find this institution, on many accounts, an eligible place of resort. The districts of Spartanburg, York, Lancaster, and Chesterfield in South Carolina, and the counties of Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Anson, Lincoln, Ritler- ford, Burke, Iredell, Wilkes, Davy, Rowan, Stanley in North Carolina, will find this the most convenient place for them. Suriy, togctlicr with the counties farther to the west, with Richmond, Moore, Mont- gomery, Robeson, and other eastern counties, will, for various reasons, always contribute more or less to the patronage of this institution. The districts and counties which we have named contain a pop- ulation of over two hundred thousand souls ; a population considerably exceeding that of the State of Connecticut, previous to the establishment of the two denominational colleges, in addition to Yale. Time has proven the prophecy of these thought- ful men of God. Not only was the spot suitable for an educational institution on account of its populous vicinity and the wealth of its people, but on account of its height above the surrounding countrj- and the general healthfulness of the region. Davidson is located upon the granite belt which sweeps from Beattie ' s F ord through the lower part of Iredell, the upper section of Mecklenburg, Southern and p;a.stern Rowan, and striking the Yadkin at Tradinii I- ord. The water that falls

Page 23 text:

library hall of the main building. Under the same management the College reading-room is kept open and the students have access daily to over thirty newspapers and periodicals. A gas plant has been placed in the main building, which furnishes gas to the laboratories and the cen tre hall of the main building. Recently new apparatus was placed in the Senior Chemistry Laborator -. To the Electrical Department have been added several Roetgen-ray macliines and a large amount of electrical apparatus. . ll the fraternity halls arc lighted by electricity. Our A ' . Al. C. A. buikl- ing was the first of its kind upon a Southern college campus, and its work, its- parlors, reading- room, gymnasium, etc., will be spoken of in its proper place. Athletics has interested the students to the extent that we have now a bicycle track, thirteen tennis courts, a running track, gun club with traps, a lake covering fourteen acres, furnished with boats, spring-boards and bath-houses — this also will be mentioned elsewhere. For facts con- cerning Medical School see history of the institu- tion in this volume. Marked improvements have been made in the College Monthly. We arc no longer ashamed to exchange with the publications of other colleges, and we receive more comments from our exchanges, with three exceptions, than any other Southern college magazine. A Historical Socict} ' has been organized, and commencing witji ne.xt October a quarterl)- will be issued which will contain on!) ' historical paixrs prepared by the members of the socict)- and the Alumni of the College. The society halls have been refitted, one being furnished with handsome opera chairs. The Dramatic and Glee Clubs are sources of much entertainment for the students and villagers. Many of the professors ' residences ha e been greatly improved, and at present two new ones are in course of erection. Many inno ations by the Faculty relating to study hours, prayers, etc., ha ' c resulted in much good. SOCIAL LIFE AND INFLUENCES The social influences in and around l)a itlson session the Y. M. C. A. tenders a reception to the are such as parents would want for their sons while F ' reshman Class in the Association parlors. From in college. The village is well supplied with young the beginning the new men are made to feel at ladies, who exert a good influence over the sixty home and receive courteous attention from everj- per cent of the students who visit regular!)-. Re- one. The fraternity and non-fraternity strife is ceptions given by the Faculty and villagers are unknown. There are six Greek letter societies in quite frequent During the first week of the fall College, and they always contend in a friendly 17