Pomona College - Metate Yearbook (Claremont, CA)

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AND It was in 1883 that the large group of Congregational churches in the valley de- cided southern California needed a college. Almost settling in Beaumont or Red- lands, the founders finally decided on North Pomona. named the college Pied- mont, changed to Pomona in deference to the home city. In rural Claremont. they then decided. was the freedom from distraction and dissipations of the city needed by college students. Holmes was dedicated in 1893. The chapel, which seated 300. was used as the community church. was nearly doubled in size in 1904. Nearly every department has once headquartered here. L 'THE STCRY OF IT! The founders of Pomona were in such a hurry to get it going in the fall of 1888 that they could not wait for the completion of the Central Building, got accommodations in Pomona in a five room cottage at the corner of White l Avenue and Fifth Street, of which this building is a replica. The vine- covered arbor was used as a recitation room, the hedges as vaulting bars. This was College avenue in about 1904, soon cj In 1893 everyone had thought Holmes would be eno physics, and the second floor for biology and cr 1

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BUILDING IS A LONG ONE For a time Sumner Hall WAS Pomona College. The college had Pomona men lived in Sumner until 1908, when Dr. D. K. originally been located in North Pomona, but was moved to Pearsons, with 525.000 to give. proposed that a dorm be Claremont upon the purchase of this building, which was then built. George Marston contributed some, also, and the Hotel Claremont. History instructor Iohn Kemble likes to dis- building was up in 90 days. The north section was used :lose that his office upstairs was at that time a bathroom. by ,the music department until it was crowded out. Esons hall had been built, the third of Pomona's important campus buildings. for some time. The basement was used for chemistry, the first floor tor m. The president's room and the business office were also in this building. The campus today occupies ' about 50 acres, has nineteen buildings. It has been made possible because of the gen- I A erosity of friends from Bos- ton to San Diego. who have endowed it with approxi- mately S7,000.000 worth of buildings, landscaping and equipment. There seems to be something about the place that attracts their in- terest and respect to the extent of reaching down for generous gifts. without which Pomona would be nothing but a dream. Q