Elizabethtown College - Conestogan / Etonian Yearbook (Elizabethtown, PA)

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The College Matures Home of Nathan Hoffman, Potts town, Penna., June 16, 1899— The first Board of Trustees met. Elected to office were: Jesse Ziegler, Royersford, president; T. F. Imler, Lancaster, vice presi- dent; George N. Falkenstein, Germantown, secretary; and Samuel H. Hertzler, Eliza- bethtown, treasurer. Shortly after being elected, Imler resigned and was replaced by Joseph H. Rider, Elizabethtown. Other members of the first formally- elected board were Nathan Hoffman, Potts- town; M. R. Henry, Derry Church; P. C. Nyce, Reading; and L. R. Brumbaugh, Den- ton, Md. Other members of the early boards of trustees were George Bucher, Mechanics ' Grove, and David Kilhefner, Ephrata. The responsibility of combining Christian ideals and accepted principles of higher edu- cation in such a manner as to gain the sup- port of the Church and the respect of the educators fell on the shoulders of these able men. A blended mixture of aggressiveness, dignity, mildness, and conservatism char- acterized this group. The founders were confronted with the duty of setting up purposes and ideals for the new institution. The original charter stated the following purpose, which the Col- lege continues to uphold: to give such harmonious development to the physical, mental, and moral powers of both sexes as will best fit them for the duties of life and promote their spiritual interests. The College through the years has advo- cated that men and women can serve God through any vocation which serves the needs of mankind. A college education is regarded not only as preparation for life but as life itself, and this life in college continually calls for hard work and firmness of purpose. The early days. ... In the beginning of the 20th century, the campus boasted only two buildings of consequence, Alpha and Rider Memorial Halls. The trees that now so completely shade the campus were only in- fants, as shown in these early photos. uitui-i 11

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Simon P. Engle Joseph H. Eshelman Benjamin G. Groff The College is Born The Church of the Brethren, Reading, Penna., November, 1898 — THIRTY-FOUR MEN AND WOMEN gathered with one common idea — the need for a new college in eastern Pennsylvania. These 12 women and 22 men, members of the Church of the Brethren, realized the need for a church-related college, although much prejudice against higher education existed within the church. A committee was appointed to check various sites for the proposed college, and the small group, meeting in Reading, zeal- ously moved to promote the establishment of the institution. Church of the Brethren, Elizctbethtown, Penna., April 8, 1899 — Representatives from the Eastern Pennsyl- vania District of the Church were called to- gether by S. R. Zug, Mastersonville, and a formal decision to initiate a college was made. Broad objectives of the new institution were defined, various courses were sug- gested, and the following locations were considered: Mountville, Columbia, Potts- town, Ephrata, Norristown, Lititz, and Elizabethtown. Mack College (in honor of Alexander Mack, a founder of the Church of the Brethren), Conestoga College, East Penn College, and Elizabethtown College were proposed names for the new institu- tion. Samuel H. Hertzler Pictured at left are four of the five men who signed the original charter of Elizabethtown College. The staff was unable to procure a photo of the fifth man, Joseph H. Rider. 10

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: ' ft t mMm In the fields. . . . Students and faculty grew some of the food that was served in the College dining hall in the early years. This photo, taken from the area in front of what is now the New Women ' s Residence, appears to be a cultivating project by students. The man with the large hat in front is H. K. Ober, who was affiliated with the College from 1902. He became president in 1918. Additional ideals formulated by the founding fathers were: a man can give his best only when he keeps his mind as the master of his body; a clean body and a clear mind devoted to a high purpose are basic requirements for a Christian life; and ulti- mately, genuine culture is the outcome of knowledge and Christian character rather than the result of the knowledge of certain subjects or the acquiring of skills. September 23, 1899— The charter of the College was granted by the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County. This charter bore the names of Samuel H. Hertzler, Joseph H, Rider, Simon P. Engle, Joseph H. Eshleman, and Benjamin G. Groff, all of Elizabethtown. Groff donated the first ten acres of land for the college campus and, as a contractor, built Alpha Hall and Rider Memorial Hall. November 13, 1900, Heisey Auditorium, Market and Bainbridge Sts. — The first class in the history of Elizabeth- town College met with six students enrolled — Kurvin Henry, York Co.; Warren Ziegler and Walter Kittinger, both of Montgomery Co.; and Rufus P. Bucher, John Boll and Willis Heisey, all of Lancaster Co. Heisey, who resides in Elizabethtown, is the sole survivor. The first faculty was headed by G. N. Falkenstein, who acted as principal since the regular appointee, I. N. H. Beahm, Lordsburg, Calif., recovering from an illness, was prevented from taking his post for the first year. Other faculty members were Elizabeth Meyer, Bareville, and J. A. Seese, Virginia. Courses were offered in Bible, history, languages, English, mathematics, penman- ship, elocution, orthography, and music. These courses were categorized into Teach- ing, Literary, Scientific, and Classical de- partments, each requiring three years of study for completion. After a week of study in Heisey Audi- torium, the students moved to the home of Joseph H. Rider, Washington St., for two months. 12