Seton Hall University - Galleon Yearbook (South Orange, NJ)

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SENIORS

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SETON HALL AZARD ZIT FORWARD”, ever the watchword of Setonia and the rallying cry of her loyal sons — how typical of the spirit that rose like Phoenix from the ashes of three disastrous fires, that grew from a tiny frame dwelling to her present magnificent quarters. From the very day that Bishop Baylev took possession of his newly created See of Newark, he set as his goal the foundation of Catholic education in New Jersey. Toward this end, he determined to establish a diocesan college Avhich should afford excellent advantages for secular education and which should embrace also a theological department for the training of future priests. After casting about for a site for his new college, Bishop Bayley finally decided to purchase the property owned by the Young Ladies’ Academy of Madison, New Jersey. This institution had been directed for some time by Madame Chegary, a noted educator of her day. It consisted of a small frame dwelling and several barns situated on high ground and surrounded by Avillow trees. Bishop Bayley named the college Seton Hall” in honor of his illustrious aunt, Mother Elizabeth Seton, and on September 1st, 1856, the college was formally opened with five students answering the first roll call. Under the able supervision of Father McQuaid who was chosen first president of Seton Hall, the college began to flourish right from its inception. Before the close of the first year, the number of pupils had increased from five to fifty-four. Within three years, the original quarters had become too small to accommodate the demands of a growing institution. Because of this, and also because it was found that Madison was too far away from the cathedral to be convenient for the theological students, Bishop Bayley de- cided that it would be necessary to locate elsewhere. After many months of careful searching, a new site was finally chosen. This property, situated on the South Orange-Newark Turnpike consisted of a large white marble villa in the Italian style, surrounded by superb gardens and stately trees. There were, moreover, sixty acres of very fertile land, a farmhouse, stables and many animals and implements. 1 he new Seton Hall was to be self- subsistent. About twenty acres of the grounds were set apart for recreation purposes, and the students provided with a gymnasium, as well as baseball and football fields. 1 he remaining portion of the land was given over to farming purposes. The foundations of a new college building were laid alongside the villa. In structure and archi- tectural design, this edifice was in strict accordance with the other. The marble villa was occupied by the seminary department; and the college building having been completed in a few months, Seton Hall opened its fifth scholastic year and its first season at South Orange with fifty pupils. The period between 1860 and 1866 is one of marvelous growth and success. After her removal to South Orange the college rapidly grew in popularity and her Page Twenty-nine