Ripon College - Crimson Yearbook (Ripon, WI)

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the Rev. J. W. Walcott, minister of the Con' gregational church at Menasha, a former educator who had a little money, tO take over the proposition and hold it for the convention until the churches might take it off his hands, an agreement which was en' tered into by Mr. Walcott, who completed the building, and opened a school therein on June 1, 1853. This building is the main part of the present East Building. The first class to enter in June, 1853, were all young women, the male depart' ment not being opened until September of the same year. No college classes were formed and no college work was attempted. A second charter was obtained from the legislature Eeb. 9, 1855 , being substantially a reenactment of the first charter, it being feared that the former charter had become void through lack of corporate user for over two years. The convention voted to take the property over from Mr. Walcott, and directed the building of a dormitory at a cost of 310,000 The convention also asserted the right of denominational control, vacanf cies on the board of trustees to be filled by the board from nominations made by the government. This dormitory, for many years known as Middle College, and now known as Smith Hall, was begun in April, 1855, but was not fully completed until 1863. The delay in the construction caused a great deal of feeling, locally, public meetings of protest and condemnation were held, resulting in misunderstandings between some of the subf scribers to the new building and Mr. Wal' cott that proved most harmful to the growth of the college. In September, 1861, the buildings and SFOUHCIS Were granted to the government to be occupied by the First Regiment of Wis, consin Cavalry, and the East Building and the campus were so occupied until Novemf ber 28 of that year. During the year 1861f 2 classes were entirely suspended, owing principally to the financial distress of the college, but Mrs. C. T. Tracy, who was oc' cupying two rooms in Middle Building, conf ducted a private school on her own account, and Martha Wheeler fwho later became Mrs. George Paine of Oshkosh, occupied other rooms in the same building and taught music to private pupils. School was reopened in September, 1862, amidst great discouragementg there being an overhanging debt of ten to twelve thousand dollars, and it being almost impossible to colf lcct on the pledges that had been made to the support of the college. Teachers were nevertheless engaged. The trustees elected Reverend William E. Merriman as president April 23, 1863, and with his acceptance a new era began in earnest. The class entering in the fall of that year, was the first Freshman class, and four years later, in 1867, the first college class graduf ated. Dr. Merriman was able to report to his trustees in 1864 that the outstanding mortgages had been paid, and the work of completing the East and Middle Buildings had been done. Because of the friction that had been prof duced during the administration of Mr. Walcott and the brother and relatives of William S. Brockway fwho had died some years previouslyj it was thought best to ap' ply to the legislature for a change of name, and accordingly April 11, 1864, the name became Ripon College in lieu of Brock' way College. Dr. Merriman was instrumental also in the erection of West College building, ground for which was broken in 1867, the funds being largely subscribed in Ripon. In 1868, bv action of the Winnebago convenf 144 1

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g session. le college? honor of as put up t the bid' name be' :kway for the name the char' e charter is therein md, estabf . . an :st orderf, conveyed ii arrangef se of two Phalanxg Jut on the by three nably not t that in were made shed upf, l was laid ding went e summer, or lack of :ll through being opf t Convenf gregational an a transf :onvention lebt, then mplete the the spring poor and vheat crop vas unable s, however ', appealed A f 'f'A--1 -- -T-.a...,,,,, ,W-:Lit TYQI -my -4 . ,I n -Qilm F' MT Q , axe- - 1 iw ,J ix' ,H 5 L -mt-fDMgssMN3.!,,.,,li W, -wi VJ LW ,PJ LOn1g She,S,St00d ,mid cloud and sunshine Wmlb' braved the storm Loyal hearts now give thee gregfm Praises true and warm. g Ia1:.se.oe....s,ss...fJsi'.'f.T3rdL 5 v W 3 f F V TU if! Q is U X1 5 iffilf Vhx P !k-gh 'FWF ' 4 hr!!! M ,fm 1 v he r W4 VU FH: 35 5 nh 3 Vff hi 'UE Qfi .HM W J M 1, M Lis x 1 ,, bil Sp sfief I. if K mi J at J A' 53, ago ,og M? a ag FJ H M E Uh? 5 ax W 1,151 U rg Qui ll ' lf I 1' ,H 2? if SM 1 yy H! Ll 3 5 J 5 G -Af f ,E Hip 1 A-.A I G4 Fi hm! M, Lrrw Vx hr o '40112 5 rg! 1 f 15 1 th A -Y my HF , , .1 f V wx W ' 1 .f I, Q , ff,-, ,V I

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ntil Novemf e year 1861f ded, owing :ress of the who was oc' uilding, conf iwn accountg iter became lij occupied g and taught Ember, 1862, ere being an lve thouszmd mssilvle to col' een made to zzicliers were stees elected , :is president icceptiince Il uf that year, cl four yezirs class grziduf tri report tcm fiutstzuidiiig tlie wurk of lle liuilelings zid lween prcif ifin ui' Mr. relatives of .Ll died swnw ml lvewl lu zip' nge Ill' nzune, A, Llie nzime -ii fi! lirueli' 'mal :flew ill iii' llllllhlllljl, Ill IH67, Ill' in lilllfrll. lll plz, m41llV!'ll' i,, Lift the chorus, speed it onward Shout from sea to sea Hail! to thee, our Alma Mater Hail! All Hail! to thee. 15