Nebraska Wesleyan University - Plainsman Yearbook (Lincoln, NE)

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iii-1:9-9 - f A- Rf .W 5 U JC ll was Q- X52 fy Xiu I X 5 ,w 1 lull I UU 017 1 1 1 l Little would one have realized in 1880 that at some future time the forty-four . N ' acres that Nebraska Wesleyan occupies today would be the home of a great university. ' Little would one have thought that on the same fields where the meadow lark chirped - so gayly and the prairie dogs played hide and seek, would be in but a few years. the ' N home of Nebraska Wesleyan, sending men and women to the missionary fields in China, India, and Africa, to business enterprises throughout this nation, or to the A many homes which compose its foundation. Yet, such has been the case. Busy N X workers broke the sod in 1888 for the erection of a building destined to be the be- V ' ginning of a university. N 1 V 4 From a very early day in the history of Nebraska the Methodists of this state ' have been interested in higher education. Their first effort resulted in the founding of Simpson College in Omaha, in the year 1855. In 1856 John Evans attempted to establish a center of 'learning combined with a theological school at Oreapolis. His H , eiforts failed to bear fruit. During the year 1879 the Methodist Episcopal Church I, of Nebraska established a college at York. At -Central City another seminary was ' i established, which was to become the Nebraska Central College, while Mallalieu Uni- QF versity was established in 1886, in the West Nebraska conference. 'EC , In 1886 a commission, under the leadership of Bishop Charles H. Fowler, was 1 empowered to draw up a plan of unification of the colleges of the three conferences ' l ' of Nebraska, and to found a university to the development and support of which the entire Methodism of the state should be committed fork all time. l When their plan had been adopted, bids were submitted by various towns for the i location of the university. A proposal from the citizens of Lincoln, providing for a I gift of 850,000 cash and considerable real estate, was accepted. A board of ministers and laymen was elected. Thus our Nebraska Wesleyan was established at University Pla-ce, described, in the first pamphlet of the university as a plat of H440 acres, overlooking the city of N Lincoln . The campus of the University was to consist of 44 acres of land in the ' center of this plat. The first building constructed was at the time considered the most imposing in the West. Today it is known as the Main building. School began on the 25th of September, 1888. Herbert RJ. Esterbrook, now man- ager of the Lincoln Bible House, was the first to register. The enrollment was only 96. Many 'interesting stories are told of the first days. The school was situated a few miles from Lincoln so that students should not be subject to the temptations and extravagancen common to city students. An early ,catalog carries this state- ment: H If parents will inform us of 'the arrival of their daughters at unseasonable hours, we will be glad to see that they are provided with proper escorts. No saloon in I town. Three miles from Lincoln by ELECTRIC CARS, out of city excitements, il temptations, and higher prices . Classes were announced in thlose days by a small dinner bell placed upon a pole, located at the rear end of the building. At that time there was but one College, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Depart- ment of Music, Art, Elocution. Therel were also the Military and' Preparatory Depart- ments. Three courses of study were provided for, the classical course leading to the A. B. degree, t-he philosophical leading to the Ph. B. degree, and the scientific 'leading to the B. S. degree. V .U fl IL 5 WFWS TNI MJ lil-il ' X9 e u - - in - , H ', ,Vw iii t26l