Gettysburg College - Spectrum Yearbook (Gettysburg, PA)

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club to fold. Most of the students ate then at boarding houses, although a few did their own cooking, getting supplies from the milkman and the baker who went through the dorm every morning. Transportation to and from Gettysburg was quite a problem for early students. Most of them rode pic- turesque stage coaches although many students living within a 50 miles radius of the place would walk to Gettysburg. Later in the 1860's the railroad was built with the two trains per day pursuing a leisurely rate of speed became the main transportation inlet and outlet. Rules and regulations on college students back in the 1840's were quite strict, allowing a minimum of per- sonal freedom. The student was required to be in his own room or in recitation during most of the day and night. Visits to a fellow student's room were prohibited. The teachers of the prep department lived in the dorm and served as tutors. These gentlemen were liable to visit rooms at any hour during the day or night and the luckiess wretch who was found absent from his own quarters was dealt a long campusment. Dr. Charles P. Krauth, the first president of the college, likewise made his family residence in Old Dorm. In those hearty days of the handlebar mustache and turtle neck sweater there were no fraternities. Instead diversion was found in the two literary societies bearing the elongated titles of Philomathean and Phrenakos- mian. These two rival groups served the college well in their day providing social activities as well as pro- moting and fostering literary and forensic activities. Until the 1900's they were the leading organizations on the campus. ------- -- --t- -- - - --.- -.v-- .- - ,.H .- ---.------ T155 : - il-r i E? '7: -...:r:.'.'::: 2::- 932'... 9 -e--'--.-:::.' r351!!! m; r ,.. T K71 L37! HE construction of Linnaean Hall, recent- rje 1y known as the Old Gym, in 184.1 was fl a significant move. An avid group of 61' students interested in natural history yf J; resolved to erect a building for museum purposes in 1844.. The students canvassed for money, solicited wood from neighboring farmers to burn the brick, dug the foundations and had the coy and charming assistance of the town belles in conduct- ing a great fair or bazaar to raise money to pay for the building. The students paid for most of the 003 of the building. It was the first time in American history that an edifice devoted to the promotion of natural science had been conceived, designed and built through the agency of college students. Interestingly enough, time in its onward match this year trumped upon the venerable toes of the Old Gym and the build- ing was demolished, being in a battered and irreparable state. Thus Gettysburg College with its handful of students and live professors began to take its place as one of the leading higher educational institutions of the East. In 1850 Dr. Henry L. Baugher, one of the outstanding faculty members, became president of the college. About this time the school's finances were beginning to weaken. The Lutheran church had not been giving the school the expected support. Some leading churchmen advo- cated moving the college to Lancaster, Carlisle, York, Harrisburg or some other more centrally located town. To make matters worse Muhlenberg College was estab- lished in Allentown in 1867. There was considerable discussion and sentiment in favor of combining the two

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The Story of Gettysburg College 8 stated in the preface, the purpose of this book is to create in the minds of Gettysburg students a better understand- ing of the history and background of their alma mater, especially its signifi- cant connection with our national gov- ernment in times of war. It is the purpose of this brief history of the college to present some of the notable facts about Gettysburg's no years of existence and service. In this day of somewhat perverted values, accel- erated education, war production and rationed com- modities, it is heartening to look back and remember the past, the struggles and hardships of years gone by. For this reason this historical sketch is included in this book. That is the reason a somewhat historical motif was adopted. In 1832 when a group of farsighted and cultured men were about to sow the seeds of Gettysburg, eco- nomic and conditions in general were favorable for the undertaking of new enterprises. Gettysburg was a sleepy little Pennsylvania town but was a fast grow- ing industrial center. It had a reputation throughout the district as a prosperous manufacturing center. Carriage making, tannins and several other industries flourished. It had a central geographic location. In 1726 a Lutheran Theological Seminary had been established in this thriving and cultural center and soon the founders of the seminary discovered that the candidates for the ministry sadly lacked preliminary training. To remedy this need leading German Lutherans' 1n cooperation with a number of enterprising Scotch- Irish Presbyterians established the Gettysburg Classical School with the iinancial help of the Penn- sylvania State Legislature. This institution was a iiourishing aEair and the name was later changed to the Gettysburg Gymnasium. Meanwhile, other colleges in the district were facing diHiculties. Lancaster's Franklin College tmodern FaMi and Carlisle's Dick- inson both were forced to close temporarily. The time was ripe to establish a iirst-class educa- tional institution in the district. Dr. Simon S. Schmucker, a sazacious seminary professor and the impetus behind the thriving Gymnasium, took the initiative to establish a college in Gettysburg. Dr. Schmucker, the real father of Gettysburg College, along with a number of other interested men after many stormy squabbles and fights, obtained from the state assembly a charter for a college to be known otiicially as iiPennsylvania College of Gettysburg. On July 4., 1832, public exercises with the character- istic oratory and ceremony of the day proclaimed the organization of the college. On November 7, 1832, the college oHicially opened with an enrollment of 63 students. The college was housed in the building which still stands on the southeast corner of Wash- ington and High streets, the former site of both the seminary and gymnasium. The house yet standing on the northwest corner of Washington and Middle streets housed the college library. Such were the humble beginnings of Gettysburg College. The school ilourished in its early years despite opposition from certain Lutheran leaders. Wrote one over enthusiastic editor: We expect in a very short time to see Gettysburg the Cambridge of Pennsylvania, with its academic halls crowded with orderly and diligent students. Although defeated in their first attempt to secure state aid for the college, the promoters of the college finally won a state appro- priation of $18,000 as an endowment. Thaddeus Stevens, a leading Gettysburg citizen, who was to win fame as a champion of public education but who also was later accused of performing some foul deeds in Congress, played the leading role in the securing of the state grant. With suiiicient funds and goodly number of students the college was now ready to expand. Finally selecting a tract of land north of town which at the time was used as a cow pasture by the aforementioned Mr. Stevens, as the new site for the campus, Mr. J. C. Trautwein, a prominent Philadelphia architect, was engaged to draw plans for a new ucollege edifice. Thus early in 1836 work began on Pennsylvania Hall, now know'n as Old Dorm. Notorious for being swampy and mosquito-ridden, the Stevens cow pasture was soon transformed into a college campus when numerous trees were planted and- drainage operations performed.01d Dorm was occupied in 1837 and housed the entire college. There the students slept, boarded, recited and went to chapel twice daily. It is interesting to compare the lives of those pioneer Gettysburgians with those of current times. Rooms were heated with wood stoves, each student buying his own wood from neighboring farmers and in most instances preparing the cord wood for the stove by the much- lauded exercise found in wielding the ax and saw. The space north of Old Dorm was the wood yard. After a time coal was used as fuel, each room having a small egg stove. Experience showed that when coal was kept in one of the unoccupied rooms on the ground floor, it was wise to provide the coal box with a strong padlock. Candles were first used as study lamps, later to be replaced by lard and spirit lamps and later by kerosene. Back of Old Dorm hard by the wood pile stood a shed used for bathing purposes. Each bather was forced to pump the water he proposed using. The boarding club conducted by the school was shortlived, complaints and serious violent protests against the system and against the quality of the food caused the boarding WW-W

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u Vv schools in Allentown. After fiery debate, however, the merger plan failed and by funds obtained from the state and from the Lutheran church Pennsylvania Col- lege remained in Gettysburg, its woefully weak financial natus improved. During these years when the college finances were unstable and other circumstances clouded the college's future something of a mote dire natute, of greater significance, was added to the snuggle: of Pennsylvania College: the Civil War. And in that petiod of strife and national chaos Gettysburg played an important role. Although the town of Gettysburg had many southern characteristics, some of which are evident yet today, it gave almost unanimous support to the Union cause despite the mixed reeling betore the war. Most ot the Gettysburg students tavoxed the Northern cause and in the spring of 1861 a military company was formed by the students. it dtilled regularly in the held back at the college and on occasion in the town square. Aside from these military maneuvers college lite was at hrst little disturbed by the war. However, towards the end of the year many withdrew ttom school and Joined the army. Those who remained pursued their books with a rather disconcerted feeling. However, when in May, 1863, Leeis planned invasion of the North was announced and President Lincoln and Governor Cumin issued an urgent call for volunteers, the students were. immediately aroused. The news hit Gettysburg one June day. The students were congre- gated around Buehler's book store, after their noon meal, as was their custom, when the call for volunteers was posted. Within a few hours 57 had signed up for the duration of the emergency. At that time there were about 114. students enrolled in school. Eventually 61 students enlisted in the company includ- ing several from the seminary and prep school. Along --v---- ---I--- with a number of town boys this group was shipped off to Harrisburg after it was organized and othcers elected at a meeting in front of Linnaean Hail. The prompt action of the college company led to the concession of the post of honor to them in being the first regiment organized under the Presidenfs Emergency Call. It became Company A, 26th Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia. 'M I 7 7 !HE college boy soldiers were trained for C h 'jl a period of only a week at Camp Curtin, t '3: :2; thereupon issued uniforms and ammuni- !,13 CAI tion and sent back to Gettysburg, as it mas ngJ was rumored that General Lee's armies were moving in through the South Mountains. The 26th Regiment was ordered to move out the Chambersburg Pike to Marsh Creek. This was on June 26. Through a drizzling rain they matched, meeting heeing refugees at every step. They halted in a patch of woods and pitched camp and sent a score of pickets on ahead. No sooner had these scouts been stationed than it was discovered that a Rebel force of some six thousand men were within a mile of the small regiment. This action took place in the burly mountain passes neat Cashtown. It was futile for the small 26th regiment to try to engage this huge invading force. A retreat was ordered. The retreat was somewhat disotderly, a number of the men being captured and taken prisoners. The main body of the regiment made a hasty retreat to Harrisburg, being on the march about 55 hours and having very little food and water. It was a terrible strain on fresh troops. During this time the fleeing regiment had sev- eral skirmishes with the advancing enemy but no serious