Kenyon College - Reveille Yearbook (Gambier, OH)

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 It was begun by Bishop Chase in the Gothic stylo, rosombling Old Kenyon; includod wore plans for a great tower . Finished in the rough by Bishop Mcllvaino, it was redosignod to include Ionian columns of sizable propor- tions. The Great War of 1914 saw a Kenyon Ambulance” on the battlefields of France. Patriotism moved the student body as it had done during Civil War days. Drill exercises were practiced. A great flag flew night and day from the College pole and prac- tice at the rifle range under Professor Reeves became increasing- ly popular. In the fall of 1918 the Students Army Training Corps was established at Kenyon. The S.A.T.C. became extremely un- popular even after being replaced by the R.O.T.C., because anti-militaristic sentiment had swept the country after the sign- ing of the armistice. Leonard Hall was constructed in haste to be completed in time for the centennial celebration in 1924. Kenyon, in its own small way, dashed headlong into the era of Stuz Bearcats, yellow- 15

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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

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slickers, home-brewed gin and flappers. The College cemetery became an excellent place to hide contraband spirits. The quick flash of prosperity also affected Gambier: a chauffeur wasn t an unusual sight. The era was climaxed by the construction of monumental Peirce Hall and Chase tower as a new commons building. The very opulent appearance of the edifice reflects the character of the age. The 30's brought little change in the enrollment, but Kenyon came back to earth and saw less quick money. Benjamin Shaffer, donated two badly needed conveniences to Kenyon, the Speech Building and the Swimming Pool. These were constructed at a bare minimum of expense in 1935. In 1937 Dr. Peirce resigned his position to go into retirement and a well-earned rest. He was replaced by Gordon Keith Chalmers, a young, ambitious scholar who was, at the time, president of the Rockford College in Illinois. Life on the Hill was moderately uneventful until 1941. The country again entered a great war such as no one had seen before. The draft took most men in a very swift time. The enrollment dropped and the school found itself without a student body. President Chalmers met the situation by obtaining an army unit to occupy the school. The army meteorological unit was housed in Old Kenyon and Leonard Hall. The war ended in 1945. Vets returned en masse with the highest enrollment in history—600. After the night of the Sopho- more Shipwreck February 26, 1949 the sparks from a smouldering fireplace caught onto debris in an old sealed flue. Within an hour the middle section of Old Kenyon was an inferno. Nine students lost their lives to make the greatest tragedy in Kenyon's history. Now, with Old Kenyon restored, the tragedy is a bitter memory for seniors, for underclassmen a legend. 16