Milton College - Fides Yearbook (Milton, WI)

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A-x-m h History of Milton College 95.27.94 T was about eighty-five years ago that what is now Milton College came kw t a? fitgt'ile :5 into this world. Established for the welfare and best interests of the M young people of the community, the school has passed through the stages of select school, private academy, academy for the preparation teachers, and now is one of the ranking colleges of the state. The existence of this school has been made possible by generous sacrificing on the part of a few individuals who have always been able to meet the needs of the institution. The school at Milton has always existed for the good of the people of this section and has become the Alma Mater of many hundreds of men and women throughout the country, who look upon the days spent at Milton as among the best and most significant of their lives. The history of Milton College in itself: presents an interesting study. There are many sources of material. Not all of these are in agreement in many of the details, but each and every historian seems of the opinion that Milton has had a wonderful past, and that much credit is due those who have made Milton Col- lege and all that it is doing for the youth of today a possibility. We have attempted to make this edition of the Fides truly representative of the history of the College. Pictures and words will be found throughOut the pub- lication which deal with the days of old. It is necessary at this point. then, only to sum up the history of the College as a whole. Settled in 1839 The Honorable Joseph Goodrich, sturdy pioneer of indomitable energy, New England ancestry and Saxon family, emigrated from Western New York in the early spring of 1839, and after thirty-four days of travel arrived, on March 4, at what was then known as Prairie Du Lac, and now known as Milton. Here, with his family, he built the first log cabin in Milton. At that time there was one log house in Janesville and another one in what is now Fort Atkinson. Joseph Good- rich welcomed all, and after staking out the large tract for the public park, gave land to settlers. He was the first landlord, first merchant, first postmaster and first town treasurer in Milton. It was not long after the establishment of the community that the need for an educational unit above the district school was felt. So, it was in 1844 that Joseph Goodrich erected the first school building, which for about ten years, was located near the northwest corner of the park, at a position just north of the present Page F ourteen

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132 09111 Qcahemp Page Thirteen

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Japt W! 1 11'1'1' 1 g I 114:1: White House railway track. It was a one-story affair with a cupola graced by four spires. There was also a large sign, Milton Academy, over the front entrance. The purpose of the school was to accommodate the young people of the vicinity seeking higher learning. About sixty shared the advantages during the Erst year. For a year or so it was necessary to hold classes in private dwellings, and it is said that the old barn-like structure shown in this section was used as Milton Academy for a period of two years. This fact is evidence enough of the spirit that dominated the lives of those who are responsible for the establishment and continuance of the institution at Milton. The fact that there was no place to meet was a minor matter. The education of the young must go on at any cost. Further indication of this is furnished when we realize that in 1855 a new brick building was completed which had dimensions 44 by 40 and a height of three stories. This was erected at a cost of over $5,000 on property donated by Joseph Goodrich, and was paid for by the stockholders of Milton Academy. It is said that this building at that time was second to no other educational institution in the state. The building was what is now the front portion of the Main Hall. Early Teachers It seems that the First teacher in the little old Academy was the Rev. Bethuel C. Church, who had for eight years been principal of a private school at Alfred, N. Y., which afterward became Alfred University. Then the Rev. 3. S. Becknell Page Fifteen 1:60.27: 4914 :1:on gt 1 Hif'i TC 5 f3,