Slippery Rock University - Saxigena Yearbook (Slippery Rock, PA)

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Through the efforts of these men and women, twenty thousand dollars was raised. A meeting was held, a board of trustees was appointed, and plans got under way. Men of the town offered their services in erecting the buildings. The women sewed carpets from rags which had been donated, and made curtains and bedding for the dormitory rooms. In 1889 the three frame buildings were completed. At last the people of Slippery-Rock saw that their dream had become a reality. Although the buildings were finished, no work had been done on the grounds. Fortune favored the people in the form of snow on the date of inspection, February 1, 1889. The ugly grounds were covered by a soft white blanket. Hope mingled with apprehension as the people awaited the decision of the Inspection Committee. Great was their joy when Governor Beaver recognized the school as a State Normal School. In his remarks, the Governor said that in accepting the institution he was recognizing the supreme faith and worth of its founders. The school launched its career March 26, 1889, with an enrollment of 168 students. The term lasted for fourteen weeks. The first faculty included I. N. Moore, J. C. Ricketts, W. A. Beer, Maude E. Bingham, and Lizzie A. Marshall. James E. Morrow acted as principal for one year. Dr. Maltby was then appointed and served for twenty-five years. Under Dr. A. E. Maltby, the school progressed slowly but surely. Old Main, the West Gymnasium, and the present high school (the one which will be vacated this year) were the strictly additional units which were built on the campus during his regime. Two of the three original wooden buildings burned down and were replaced by the present chapel and South Hall, while the other frame structure was enlarged and remade into the building which burned down in October, 1937. The once ugly campus became one of the beauty spots of Western Pennsylvania, and the Normal School itself became one of the leading teacher training institutions in the state. When Dr. Maltby retired in 1916, Professor I. N. Moore was appointed acting principal for one year. In 1917 Dr. J. L. Eisenberg took over the presidency. It was under his administration that the school received the status of a Teachers College in 1927. At this time two new buildings were erected, the East Gymnasium and the Elementary Training School. The Hut was also built. Dr. C. S. Miller succeeded Dr. Eisenberg in 1934. During his administration, a million dollar building program has been completed, and the training of the faculty has been increased to the point where it is now the best trained faculty group in the State, as far as State Teachers Colleges are concerned. Under this million dollar building program five new buildings have been erected: the Maltby Memorial Library, Science Hall, the Secondary Training School, North Hall, and the president's residence. During the early years of the School, the literary clubs played an important part in the social life. There was no movie to entertain the clamoring students in those days. As a result, two literary clubs, the Philomathean and the Bryant, sponsored many plays, debates, and other programs. The majority of the students belonged to one or the other of these two clubs. They indeed proved a vital cog in the social life and the training of the students. Disaster struck the school three times in the form of fire. On March 13, 1897, the boys' dormitory was completely destroyed by flames. The chapel was burned on June 26, 1896. The present South Hall and Chapel were erected at that time, and old North Hall was encased with brick and enlarged. On October 16. 1937, fire destroyed North Hall completely. The progress of the College must be accredited to the perseverance and high ideals of the townspeople, the administrators, the faculty, the student bodies, the alumni, and its numerous friends in its service area. Let us hope that the future will see a continuation of the progressive march of the College. May her future sons and daughters not only honor her traditions but also enrich them! 7

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Invitation to the inspection of the new buildings fifty years ago. VOV4 t1. 7 The year 1939 marks the Golden Anniversary of the founding of Slippery Rock State Teachers College. As we scan the history of these past fifty years, we come to a fuller realization of the progress and real worth of the school and the powerful influence it has exerted upon this community and upon the lives of its students. The first institution of higher learning in this immediate vicinity was founded by Alfred D. Lee of Ohio. It was built below Christley Bridge under a huge hemlock tree near a spring, and therefore, was named Hemlock Springs College. Because of financial difficulties, the venture proved to be a failure and the school was forced to close. Nevertheless, this first venture had instilled in the minds of the people of the community the idea of higher education for their young folk. In 1887 a meeting of the townspeople was called to discuss plans for building such an institution. The group first discussed the idea of establishing an academy, but soon they came to the conclusion that an academy would not completely satisfy their needs. Upon investigation it was learned that Slippery Rock was in the Eleventh Legislative District and that the district was eligible for the establishment of a normal school. It was decided that such an institution would best suit the needs of the community, and within a short time the townspeople began to lay plans for its erection. The great problem that presented itself was that of financing the construction ol the Normal School. Men canvassed the town and nearby vicinity to secure donations. Subscriptions were sold at five dollars a piece. Citizens of the community offered ground upon which to erect the buildings. Not to be outdone by the men, the women formed a society known as the Ladies’ Normal School Association. Many were the strawberry and ice cream festivals they held in order to secure money. All the food for such a festival was donated. The women sewed, baked, and conducted many other enterprises in order to gain a little money for the school fund. 6

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