Spring Hill College - Torch Yearbook (Mobile, AL)

Page 33 text:

EAST l2N'l'R.'XNCli QUAIJRANGLIQ When Spring Hill opened its doors for the first time under Jesuit regime, Fr. Francis Gautrelet, S. J., the first Jesuit President, found ninety-three students listed on the roll. Year by year this number in- creased, passing the one hundred mark, approaching the second hundred and passing that until it reached the peak during the year 1859-1860 with a register containing two hundred and seventy-three names. This steady and encouraging growth was halted in the following year by rumors of war. In 1860-61 the registration dropped back to ninety and hovered near that mark until the end of the Civil War. With the prog- ress of reconstruction Spring Hill kept a steady pace. Those in charge were just beginning to forget the horrors of the strife that had caused such a disruption when the disastrous fire on the night of February 4, 1869 left the main college building, the two frame houses and the church a mass of smouldering ruins. Nothing but the brick building which is now used as an infirmary remained. Undaunted by this new setback and confident of being able to overcome the ravages of the fire just as they had overcome the ravages of war the Fathers under the direction of Rev. J. Montillot, S. J., the then President, planned the erection of a new Spring Hill. With the assist- ance and encouragement of Rt. Rev. John Quinlan, Bishop of Mobile, whose deep interest in the reconstruction of the College gained for him the title of Second Founder of Spring Hill, the large building which now houses the Faculty and the High School Department was erected. By December the eighth of the same year classes were again resumed. 3 INTIQRIUR UF Ul.lJ CIIA PFI.

Page 32 text:

INTERIOR UF OLD LIBRARY HISTORICAL SKETCH ODESTLY and without boasting Spring Hill College claims the dis- tinction of being the first permanent institution of higher educa- tion in the South. On May 1, 1830, Right Reverend Michael Portier, D. D., marched at the head of the first group of students into the first classroom for the first class held in any Alabama college or university now in existence. On that day the State of Alabama placed itself ahead of practically one-half of the states in the Union which did not have Within their borders any college or university. The story of its founda- tion and preservation, however, is a concrete illustration of struggle with adversity and triumph over vicissitudes. During the first decade and a half of its existence the infant college saw its administration changed no less than six times. First it was conducted by the energetic founder, Bishop Portier, and a small group of his diocesan clergy. Then it was placed in charge of the Fathers of Mercy who were forced by adverse circumstances to retire after a short regime, replacing the administra- tion of the college in the hands of the Bishop. After a brief interval the Bishop once more handed the reins of government over to the Eudist Fathers, but these zealous men found it impossible to cope with the pre- vailing difficulties and a third time the Bishop found the college on his hands. Still seeing the necessity of giving the institution a permanent system of administration and prevented by his Widespread activities from assuming control of it himself he called upon the Fathers of the Society of Jesus in 1847 to devote their efforts to the management of the college. A band of Jesuits from France arrived in Mobile on Janu- ary 17, 1847, and took charge of the college which has been under their care uninterruptedly until the present time.

Page 34 text:

The succeeding years were not altogether unfruitful. True, the numerous epidemics of yellow fever throughout the South tended to hinder the increase in registration. However the disease never pene- trated to the healthy heights upon which the Collge was located. Hence the business of development and expansion went on. It was during this period, from 1885 to 1905, that the Spring Hill that we know was laid out. First came the erection of the building which contains the dining halls of the Faculty and of the High School and College departments. In 1898 the gymnasium, auditorium and band room was built at the west end of the main building. Two years later Yenni Hall, which now pro- vides accommodations for science lecture rooms and laboratories, and the handsome Mortuary Chapel were constructed. In 1903 the Grotto of Lourdes was erected and the property con- taining good old Kostka Hall was acquired. In the following year came the Natatorium and the year after that saw the erection of the kitchen which adjoins the refectory building. The beautiful Chapel which com- mands the quadrangular group was erected in 1909 and has the distinc- tion of being the most imposing, if the youngest, in the old setting of Spring Hill College. No recollection of the scenes around the campus would be complete if it did not bring out in high light the beginnings of the new and greater Spring Hill College. Planned for years but started only when the sepa- ration of the College and Academic Departments in 1927 made it pos- sible this new plant provides the most modern facilities for collegiate education. Mobile Hall and the Thomas Byrne Memorial Library, both brought into being within the short space of three years, constitute a perfect nucleus for the remaining units of the Greater Spring Hill. We look at these newcomers to the campus and become thrilled by their beauty and modernity. They indeed are the forerunners of a new style, a new growth, a new center of campus activities. But their attrac- tions, their facilities, their newness cannot in any way depreciate our in- terest in the older Halls. In the old as well as in the new, in the founda- tions of the first century as Well as in those of the second do we take our pride, for in these ancient walls are the memories and traditions, the ideals and the principles for which Spring Hill stands, has stood and will stand forever. CLD VIEW OF THE 'll l I I QUADRANGLE