Loyola University Chicago - Loyolan Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 12 text:

THE IES IT OF CHI C0 CELEBRATING A CENTENNIAL OF SERVICE October 8, 7877-on this night looking out over Chicago from high in the wind-blown bell-tower aj St. Ignatius College, one would see the darkened shapes mf the homes of the cigr on all sides, the scene is very peaceful. Now in the distance to the northeast there appears a glimmer, tlze glimmer grows to a flame and thence to a raging inferno, tlze Chicago Fire had started. From its starting point, the corner iyfjepferson and Deffoven Streets, tlze fire, driven by a strong wind, begins to move soutlz- west. Directbi in its path lies Hobr Famibi Parish and St. Ignatius College. It appears as nothing can save them. Reverend Arnold Damen, Sf., who founded the parish and tlze college on the bleak prairies ij Chicago,s south side, wtlf holding a mission in Brookbin at that time. His assistant telegraphed him that there was grave danger fy' his beloved college being destrcyied. The message was handed to Father Damen in the confessional at St. Patrick's Church. Praying for the safely of his college and parish, Father Danien went to tlze altar and remained there alone the greater part rj tlze night. For manyyears he had struggled to amor- fffie the mortgage on tlze church and to raise tlze many to con- lruct St. Ignatius College. Ilfith tears streaming down his cheeks, he made cz vow that, Ut his petition were answered, he would, for all time, lf6'6jJ seven vigil lights burning in front cy' the statue :yr Our Lady U Perpetual Help in Hob Famzbr Church. It is a matter cyf histogr that the wind shgfted and drove the pre eastward across tlze river and afterwards to tlze lake- St. Ignatius College was saved.

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V 5P6nt ns lax, HIS Of IC and lamed 'l1O in hicago N -L Ig- Oyola IN RECOGNITION This past year marked the lOOth Anniversary of the Jesuits in Chicago. Cur dedication is to the Jesuits who have served and are serving Chicago. Wle also wish to include in our dedi- cation those laymen, parishioners, lay faculty, alumni, students, and those many benefactors and friends whose interest and help have enabled the Jesuit Fathers to continue to serve the spiritual and educational needs of this community. We have used the illustration of Louis Joliet as symbolic of the spirit of cooperation between laymen and Jesuit Fathers. It is also indicative of the fact that since the very earliest days on this North American Continent, that spirit of cooperation between laymen and Jesuits has made possible remarkable growth and expansion in the spiritual, educational, medical, and scientific facilities and services of the Jesuit institutions of Chicago. As the spirit of Father Marquette and Louis Joliet pioneered the great mid-west in the 167O,s so today that same spirit of cooperation among the present Fathers and the laymen of Chicago continues for the greater glory of God. It is to a glorious future as well as to a remarkable past century of Jesuit inHuence in Chicago that the 1958 Loyolan is dedicated. Mayor Richard J. Daley pre- sents Rev. James F. Maguire, S.J. and Joel Goldblatt with the oH'icial document pro- claiming civic recognition of Jesuit Centennial Week. --A vu.,

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Chieago College, e eiqy on Stanoe to grows to Fire had Deh'oz'en ye south- and Sl. rem. fish and elle, LUU5 osszlftarll beloved 7 Father , Father 9 gredlel' lg ll77l0l 9 to Um' ow lllllli ne, keep ur Lady ,ld drove fhe lflkf' Holy Family Church as it looked around 1860. This was the Hrst Jesuit Institution in the Chicago area. The first white man ever to set foot on Chicago soil or conduct religious services in this locality was Reverend James Marquette, Two centuries later a thriving and prosperous little city had taken the place of the wilderness, which had been known to Father Marquette. To this city in 1857, at the invitation of Archbishop Anthony O'Regan, came another '4Black Robe,', Reverend Arnold Damen, S.J., to establish a parish and a college. Father Damen, a native of Holland, responding to the call for priests to serve in the westward expansion of America, sailed for the United States in 1837, to begin his studies in the Jesuit Order at Florissant, Missouri. After his ordination in 1844, he became an outstanding preacher in St. Louis and throughout the Midwest. Father Damen selected a site for his parish in the south- western portion of the city. A small wooden church was erected at the corner of May and Eleventh Streets. Shortly after the cornerstone was laid for the permanent church, Holy Family Church, which stands today after a century of service to God. From the very beginning of his duration in Chicago, Father Damen was possessed with the burning desire familiar to every Jesuit-to found an institution for the higher education of youth. Accordingly, in 1869, Father Damen acquired a site just east of the church and on it built his college. A charter was granted by the state in the name of St. Ignatius College on June 30, 1870. The following September the college opened its doors for the first time and thirty-seven young men applied for admission. The college truly started small, for of the Five courses taught, four-English, Greek, Latin, and Arith- metic-were taught by one man, Mr. Stephens, The other course, German, was taught by Reverend D. Niederkorn, The president of the college was naturally Father Damen. Until 1895, few note-worthy events occurred. The stu- dents came and went, their numbers increased with the years. Good conduct and diligence were encouraged through a system of awards. The new rectors and members of the faculty looked always toward the betterment and harmonious development of the institution while the character ofthe work remained the same. The First class, graduating in 1881, consisted of only two members: Thomas Finn, who later became a Jesuit, and Carter Harrison, seven-times mayor of Chicago. Beginning with the Rectorship of Reverend Henry Dumbach, S.J., in 1900, the college entered upon a new stage of development. The curriculum was improved. A post-graduate course in philosophy was established. In 1906, the Department of Law was introduced. In that year, too, the site of Loyola's present Lake Shore Campus was purchased, at a cost of 8161,000, with the intention that it would one day house university facilities for the school. 9