Millikin University - Millidek Yearbook (Decatur, IL)

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Indiana, president, XV. C. Outteln, Illinois, vice presidentg H. E. Starkey, Illinois. secretary: S. E. Walker, Illinois, treasurerg A. C. Boyd, J. T. Foster, IC. G. King, A. NV. Hawkins, W. T. M-Offett, F. E. Bell, R. M. Tinnon, W. S. Phillips, and A. H. Mills, all of Illinoisg J. E. Williamson, Indiana, and R. L. Vannice, Iowa. The new board of managers for the Decatur College and Industrial Schoolforganized on June 14, 1901. The membership was as follows: I. R. Mills. president, A. R. Scott, vice presidentg S. EL Walker, secretaryg O. B. Corin, treasurer, T. T. Roberts, W. J. Wayne, A. R. Mlontgomery, Peter Loeb, T. A. Powers, J. K. McDavid, C. S. Needham and A. R. Taylor, ex-officio. On May 1, 1901, an informal tender of the presidency of the University was made to President A. R. Taylor of the Kansas State Normal School. The formal tender was made June 11. With much hesitation he accepted the position and entered upon the discharge of its duties, July 1. In company with Mr. Millikin and Mr. Loeb, chairman of the building com- mittee of the local board, he visited a number of the leading a.nd best equipped institutions of learning in this country for the ptirpose of study- ing planls, buildings, and equipments. These gentlemen also conferred with several architects and on the recommendation of the full committee on architects, the board selected Messrs. Patton and Miller of Chicago, Sept. 28,1901,as architects for the construction of the buildings needed. On October 16, the board definitely located the college in Oakland Park and decided to purchase two tracts of land on the west and north respec- tively, making a campus of about 35 acres. - After a careful study of the topography of the site, together with a number of styles of architecture, the Elizabethan was selected as the most appropriate for the college buildings. The general contract for the erection of the three main buildings was let to H. B. Walter of Danville, Ill., on February 10, 1902, for 8107,160, the board furnishing the brick for the same. Other contracts were let as fol- lows: The stone, John Pasold, Decatur, 86,883. Painting, J. G. McCarthy, Chicago, 82,574 'Cement floors, etc., Fisher 85 Thimens, Decatur, 82,430. Heating and plumbing, Decatur Plumbing and Heating Co., 919,924 Electric wiring, etc., Decatur Supply and Fixture Co., 81,448 Hardware, Morehouse 8: Wells Co., Decatur, S1,184. The brick, Decatur Brick Co., 3S16,559.43. On September 29th, the general contract for the erection of the power house and machinery hall was let to B. S. Brooks, Decatur, for 2B21,626.50, the bo-ard furnishing the brsi-ck: the contract for the heating system includ- ing setting of boilers, engines, etc., to the Decatur Plumbing 8: Heating Co., for 34,388 The brick, account Decatur Brick Co., cost 33,999.20 The total cost of the four buildings including the equipment of the power house was about SB216,000. Considering their size and character, experienced co-ntractorls and builders express' great surprise at their low cost, while every one is delighted with their beauty and convenience. The cost of the equipment including furniture, apparatus, machinery, etc., was about 3330.000 which has sin-ce been increased by about S15,000. I6

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.J ' n-- sg A Brief Historical Sketch of the University and of the Decatur College and Industrial School On May 13, 1900, Mr. James Millikin, an honored f-itizf-n and success ful business man of Decatur, made a formal proposition ro In-, XY. J, Darby, secretary of the Educational Society of the 1'unilif-i-linifl l'l'o'4FlJYtQ- rian Church, and Rev. A. W. Hawkins. pastor of the t'llllll'H'l'l51ll'l l'rcsl-jv- terian church at Decatur, to found an institution uf le-rwiiiiifr in lr:--ratur under the auspices of that denomination. A ff-xv days aft'-r. thc proposi- tion took definite form, in Substance as follows: Mr. Millikin offr rfal to donate Oakland Park as a Site for the new f-villain? 1,1111 inf- mn, ..f 11-.-ft hundred thousand dollars in cash, provided the synodg of llltllmlifl. lllirm-is and Iowa of the Cumberland Presbyterian chin-ch would raisf- or-b lnn.'lr-'fl thousand dollars and the city of Dec-:itnr a similar :lnionnr for ns sup- port. A few weeks afterward he expressed his flctr-rininzni-in to -1-ntrilmte a still larger sum for its inaintenance which adfl.-fl gr.-.lily in thi- -'liil'.ll- sia-sim which his original proposition had zilrl-:nly :ironw-fl. A College Commission was appointed at tht- Hrtoli--r lll'f'lll:l1F of th-- synods named for the purpose of raising: the :inionnt l 'Illlll 1l from the church. It organized at Decatur, tictohcr 23. livfifl. A roininiixw- --f ci:- izens was appointed to solicit the city's quota which lll'llll 'lll'ltf'lj' origqnzizcll and proceeded with its work. On .l:nin:iry 1. 1901. Mr. Nlillikin uns 1--tififd that his conditions had bc-en mct. The Commission and a Vitizcns' t'onnnittcf-, aft--r sw-wliiiu nun-'h tins-- in negotiating with thc Board of 'Frnsii-rs of Lint-nln l'nix.-rsixy snr. i- f .erence to a union of thc two institutions. :igri -1-l l upon 1'-il.-in .nn--it-liiwr -. to the charter of thc llnivf-frsity. which provifl-wl that i1 sh-inlll -lennzc tw name to Lincoln Collcgre and along: with thc proposfwl lh mitnr -illvszo an-l Industrial School con1stitntc'l'ln- .lainrs Millikin l'nn.-1-sity .ls 1 .-- '- ig -' --1-1 Ccssor of Lincoln Uliivcrsityg that tho ltoiird of 'l'ins1----s -if 1h-- l'i ww-my should be nppoirrtoql lay tln- tlirw- synoels nnine--l. 1-r.i-iiirtllx ir tl- 1-.wo TTl!llll'lQl' as the trustees of Lincoln l'niN'vl'sity' had li i--' n .vi-iioint-2-l. ai -l tt it each collogc should lu- ll'UYl'l'llt'tl Ivy .1 lt -f-. il l-on--l --1' in lr ng- is 1:-1--' ' '- 1 ' the said Board of 'l'rnstc-cs. in ronjnnr-lion with the l'1f'si-l-111 --f it .X I -i versity. 'Vlicy also dcfincd tin- rights :intl prixilvi:-s of --,nah ...Thru i' l SD9f'lfiC:llly sol. fortll lllv tllllll'H of 1':l1'l1 lililllal qinil --f tin- l'iosi-l- it --' -' University. The :nncndvd chart--r xu-nt into opvrzition on il-- .l4ll'l'll .-ww Nrii' I-i 11'-ol The lncinhcrs of thc first lloard of 'l'lll?'l f--- s urn- as ff-ll--xi-. XY J lvzl-x lf:

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The corner stone of the Liberal Arts building was laid by the Llasgnic fraternity on June 12, 1902, Grand Master George M. Moulton. officiating. The address was delivered by Dr. W. H. Penhallegon. of Decatur. Relying upon the promises of the general contractor that the main building would be ready for occupancy in September, 1902. the board an- nounced the opening of the institution at that time, but was later compelled to postpone it until 1903. The building was dedicated on June 4, 1903, with imposing ceremonies. the dedicatory address being given by President Theodore Roosevelt. ATUOHS' the other Speakers On the program were State Superintendent Schaeffer of Pennsylvania, and representatives of the leading collegeg of the state, of the various boards of the church, and of the different interests of the- city of Decatur. A vast throng attended these exercises. the occa- sion being one of great interest to the city and vicinity as well as to many friends from abroad. The exercises cf the opening day. September 15. 1903. were attended by a large company, a most gratifying proportion being prospective stu- dents. The organization of the classes showed that students had enrolled in every department in which courses were offered and that every class from the first academic to the junior collegiate had a sufficient number of memlb-ers to perfect an enthusiastic organization. Even the Senior class contained three prospective candidates for the bachelor-'s degree. The total enrollment for the first year was 7123 for the second year it was 764. representing 23 different states and territories and 163 cities and towns. , The present members of the general board of trustees of the lfniver- sity are as follows: W. J. Darby, president: VV. C. Uutten. vice president: H. E. Starkey, secretaryg S. E. Walker, treasurer: A. C. Boyd. li. G. King. L. D. Beck, W. H. Elvans. L. B. Stringer, F. E. Heil. .l. l-Z. Vfilliamson. George B. Spitler, J. C. Fisher, A. H. Mills, R. L. Vannice. The present members of the Board of Managers of the Decatur College and Industrial School are, E. A. Gastman. president: A. R. Montgomery. vice presidentg S. E. Walker, secretary: O. B. Gorin. treasurer: T. T. Roberts, W. J. Wayne, J. K. McDavid, A. R. Scott, Theron Powers. Adolph Mueller, E. P. Irving, and A. R. Taylor, ex-officio. Honorary members. Mr. and Mrs. James Millikin. The faculty is listed eisewiiere. College Commission The College Commission already mentioned was incorporated nn-lt-r th-- laws of the State and tlnough its w.sc ani nnliring efforts has not only raised large SUIUS of money for the institution lint has arouse-I wldt'-spri-.nl interest concerning it throughout the patronizing synods. Ur. W. -T. l':H'N' has from the first been its guiding spirit. though In-arttly se tiiw ndvd' hy scores of the leading pastors and laymen of the church. Rev. A. VV. Hawkins, pastor of the tfnmlwrland Presbyterian vlnin-It at Decatur at the time of the original proposition by Mr. Mtlltkln. soon after resigned his pastorate and became the financial agent of the vom- mlsslon. With marvelous energy and a most infections enthusiasm. he Visited it large number of localities and had great satisfaction in so--tnu the labors of the commission and of the local committee crowned with IT