Kenyon College - Reveille Yearbook (Gambier, OH)

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Later he became president of Hobart College and one year later joined the Roman Catholic Church. As a result of the Schism the enrollment of the College dropped to a scant fifty students. Eli Tappan was elected President in 1868 and was noted for his durability. The Church of the Holy Spirit was com- pleted in 1871 at the phenomenal cost of 42,000 dollars. Living in Gambier at the resignation of President Tappan was the Reverend William Budd Bodine a man who had been making himself useful in both the seminary and the College. He was resourceful and indefatigable. Determined to raise the tiny en- rollment of the College, he set out on an endless campaign of fund-raising and hopeful attraction of students. The number fluctuated but fell to thirty-three in 1890 at the outset of Bodine's resignation. Rutherford Birchard Hayes v as nominated for the Republican candidate for President of the United States in 1874, and was elected. His several short visits with cannons firing and flags waving brought Kenyon's name into the headlines. In an effort to build up the enrollment of the College Milnor Hall set out on a campaign for students. They were thoroughly successful, as the enrollment jumped to one hundred thirty-four in 1891. Drill and a general military atmosphere was introduced into Milnor Hall around 1885, the name was changed to Kenyon Military Academy. The College, however, did not grow along with the academy. Harcourt Seminary for Young Women was conceived in 1887. Bodine was successful in altering the constitution of the College so that Bexley and Kenyon were under one president. Athletics, inter-collegiate and intra-mural, came into being during this p eriod. Boating, px lo, lacrosse, ride to the hounds, were all tried. Baseball came into being and in 1896 its recent history v as described by the Collegian as almost a continuous line of defeats. October 1881 saw organized football instituted. Kenyon in 1891 played Granville, lost 18-0, and then played O.S.U. and won. Franklin Peirce was elected President in March of 1896. He was inaugurated with great gusto by the student body by the explosion of firecrackers, by bonfires and by speeches that showed student approval. His was a term of great expansion. In 1901, Marcus Hanna, Cleveland p olititian of dubious background, donated a dormitory to compensate for the overflow of men in overcrowded Old Kenyon. It was fondly dubbed the Politicians' 13

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It was built during the thirties in an era of active building . Its lirat occupant wa3 Professor Sparrow. Bexley Hall was built to house seminarians in 1833. It is be- coming inadequate to house Bexleyitcs, who are growing in number. 12

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 Barracks.'' Tho Stephens Stack Room was built onto Hubbard Hall in 1901. In 1905 Old Kenyon was renovated. In 1911 Crom- well Cottage, as well as an imposing faculty residence, were built as a gift from Mr. William Cromwell of New York. En- dowment grew quickly. Andrew Carnegie, learning that Edwin M. Stanton was a Kenyon alumnus, gave 50,000 dollars. The enrollment was down to sixty-five in 1896 and then, through steady improvement of facilities and athletic teams, it slowly rose. Unfortunately, in 1905 a fraternity pledge was killed by an unscheduled locomotive. The story remained a mystery, but grew and was given nation-wide publicity. The enrollment subsequently dropped and the injury was felt for ten years. Student self-government was introduced in 1895 with tho Kenyon College Senate. Dramatics made an appearance on the campus with a showing of The Doctor in 1904 by the Puff and Powder Club. In 1898, Kenyon, not greatly stirred by the Spanish-American war, lost but five or six students. Tho first humble homo of Bishop Chaso, built of rough hewn logs; it was attached to tho first dining hall and kitchen of tho college. Mrs. Chase took care of the cuis- ine. It was locatod diroctly in front of tho prosont Church of tho Holy Spirit. 14