High-resolution, full color images available online
Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
View college, high school, and military yearbooks
Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
Support the schools in our program by subscribing
Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information
Page 31 text:
“
A History of Fordham University T E come. We go. Our steps sound upon the walks. Our voices fill the halls. Our ' eyes behold in wonderment the licauties of the place. Our intellects strive to appre- ciate. But we matriculate, cultivate and graduate. Our sheepskin bears the name of St. John's College, and of Fordham University. There is the imprint of the seal. Yes a different seal, if we care to take note, from that which adorns the College magazine, and stands out so prominently on our class rings. And more—we go out into the world of business and talk with people. A graduate of Fordham University! Fine! The chair moves closer. How fortunate (?) Old memories to Ik revived! Conversation turns on the old Lady of Mercy Church, where many a Fordham lass blushingly suffered the long-yearned tor osculation; the old Rose Hill Manor House, where Washington is reputed to have made frequent visits, and Fcnimorc Cooper to have laid the scene of the Spy ; the later Manor House with its extensions and cross extensions; old Second Division, the Castle, the Quadrangle, the old wooden Third Division, and the stationery shop; the bakery where wiser hoarders instinctively halted betimes; the skating pond, where hearts heat light and muscles tired: the Cadet Corps, where minds were trained and wills accustomed. Oh. host of memories, fond joys to our guest in his recollections: for us. no recollection, no foundation—a lost world of delights. But how emliarrassing we must feel at times? What does the seal signify? Whence comes the name Fordham. and whence St. John's College? Wr hope no Fordham man will say. I don't know. The Manor of Fordham was incorporated in the township of Westchester in 1788. and later in the township oi West Farms when it was formed in 1846. By 1895 all the Bronx had been annexed to New York City. The first mention we hear if Fordham i in 1673 in letters patent issued by Governor Lovelace, granting the Manor of Fordham to John Archer. By his purchases from Flias Doughty, of Long Island, and from the Indians. John Archer eventually l ccamc seized in fee of 1.253 acres. On May 3. 1669. Governor Francis Lovelace gave Archer leave to settle sixteen families on the mainland near the wading place” (Spuytcn Duyvil Creek). Upon November 13. 1671, Lovelace erected the whole into an unfranchised township to be held by Archer under the feudal lordship of (lie Duke of York. A Manor grant was issued to Archer (1673). The name given the Manor was Fordham. derived from the parish of the same name in Norfolk. England. Bolton tells us. while Scliarf attributes the name Fordham—foord. a ford or wading place: and ham. a mansion—to the founding of the village (houses) at the ford (Spuyten Duyvil). We are inclined to favor Scharf's interpretation, especially since Archer’s new possessions arc described in the deed as “situate upon the main continent lying to the eastward of the Harlem River, near unto ye passage commonly called Spiting Devil, upon which ye New Dorp or village is erected, known by the name of Fordham. The Manor included what is now known as Kingsbridge. Fordham. High Bridge, Belmont and William’s Bridge Archer gave three mortgages to Cornelius Steenwyck. and as security handed over the deeds of the Manor. Archer was unable to pay back the debt, and thus the Manor fell to the mortgagee by foreclosure. By the will of Steenwyck. 1694. the whole Manor was left to the elders of the Nether Reformed Dutch Congregation, and their heirs and successors and 25
”
Page 32 text:
“
|K)sk n(y. About (In’s lime, or several years before, the Manor was parcelled out into several farms, cue of which. Rose Hill, was bought by the Corsa family. The Old Manor House of legendary fame was the birthplace of Benjamin Fletcher Corsa. 1692. and stood the test of time and weather until 18%. when it was destroye 1 to give place to the Auditorium erected in 1903. The old homestead had long served as the College infirmary. From the Corsa family. Rose Hill passed into the hands of John Watts. During the Revolutionary War it belonged to Robert Watts, whose daughter was the wife of Lord Stirling, a major-general under Washington. In 1824 Rose Hill liecame the property »f Elias Urevoort. who in 18.16 sold it to Horatio Shephard Moat. In 1838 Moat built the stone house which is now the Administration Building of the College. In 1S39, through Andrew Carrigan. the new house with a farm of 98 acres was purchased by Bishop John Hughes for the sum of $30,000. An additional $10,000 was expended in adapting the old stone mansion for scholastic purposes. The Archbishop decided to transfer the Ecclesiastical Seminary, at that time located at Lafargeville, in Jefferson County, to Fordham. The seminarians were thus brought down to Rose Hill. The present chapel of the Parthcnian Sodality on the second floor of the Administration Building served as study hall and classroom. The seminary was established under the patronage of St. Joseph. Italian Lazarists were in charge, with Father Felix Villanis as Superior. Father McCloskey (later the first American Cardinal) was appointed President of the institution. On June 24. 1841. the feast day of St. John the Baptist, the College was formally opened. To satisfy a patent need for lodgings. St. John’s Hall was built in 1845 from stone quarried on the College grounds. The old Church next to the Hall was built at the same time Tin students were transferred to the new hall, at that time known as St. Joseph’s Seminary. The number of professors was still small. Bishop Hughes, contemplating a change in the management of the College, made overtures to the fesuits of St. Mary’s College. Kentucky. The St. Mary’s Jesuits accepted and agreed to pay jf40.000 for the establishment exclusive of the ( luirch and seminary. The buildings were purchased in 1800 at a cost of $45,000. On April 10. 184o. a short time Ik-fore the vanguard of the Jesuits arrived from Kentucky, the College was incorporated and given the power of granting degrees in theology, law. medicine and arts. Fathers Thebaud and Murphy were the first to arrive from Kentucky. April. 1846. During the vacation, the entire Kentucky community was transported to Fordham, and in August the transfer of property was completed, and Augustus J. Thebaud. S.J.. appointed first I’resident under the new regime. The Jesuits had to re-establish the college, conduct their own scholastirate and novitiate and take care of the seminary. CARDINAL MrCl.OSKF.Y 26
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.
