St Francis College - Motus Yearbook (Biddeford, ME)

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library, and Friary. F ollowing these reno- vations, the Barbara House was razed and the last building of the original cam- pus passed into oblivion. In .1962, the college was again faced with a housing shortage. So, later in that academic year, Frederick Hall was built to accommodate eighty students. This dormitory was designed by and named for Father Frederick Belanger, O.F.M., one of the founders of the high school and the first president of the college. Within a year three more dormitories had been built, each housing seventy stu- dents. In keeping with the tradition of the founders, these residence halls hear the names of prominent towns in Fran- ciscan history: Assisi, Padua, and Siena. The college was still striving for its goal of full accreditation. Nineteen sixty-five was a year of reno- vation. The iisoph wing of Saint Francis Hall tthe third floor of the original high school huildingl was done over to pro- vide some desperately needed physics labs. The iifriaryi, section of this same building t the first HoorJ was converted to faculty oHices. The student center taf- fectionately called tithe hangU was given a modern facelifting as well as a new name e College Spa. Extensive land- scaping was carried out, new parking lots were installed, and paved walk-ways criss- crossed the campus. The gymnasium was enlarged to include a stage and a small storage space, and recognition was given to the Decary Brothers when Saint Francis Hall was renamed for them. Last but not least, the chairs in the cafeteria were all painted bright rainbow colors. The Planning and Development Com- mittee announced an expansion program that they had been working on for some time. This was not a flimsy, haphazard eplan; rather, it was a realistic develop- ment program, the result of prolonged study and assiduous deliberation on pos- sible future problems. The plan included a seventy-five thousand volume library, a student center, and a gymnasium. How- ever, these buildings will come only after additional dormitories are built. This photo, taken forty-six years ago, shows the Jnrdan-Tattersun House which was to become Stella Maris Ilullt Construction proueeds on the three new Vrry Rev. 1? lugence Boisvert, 0.F.M. dorms iPadua, Siena, Assisi? in 1963. ivaincial Superinrl, blesses Frederick Hull in 1963. Ht: i:- assistod by Father Frederick Hl and Father Clarence. Frederick Hall, the first nf lln: nvw dnruls, was t-mnplaivd in 1963. 15

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The main building, originally called Saint Francis Hall, was renamed in honor of the Decary Brothers two years ago. T1155 0W1: dorm area in the old iisoph wing A study hall in sessicm 0n the north side was unnverted to physics labs in 1965. of the second floor of Dccary Hall in 1951. Saint Francis College reuaived its State Charter in 1953; U-rl Harold D. Carroll, Apostolic Syndic; lter. Norllmn 'Ilhihodeau, high school principal; Rev. Frederick Belangur, first college president; tkwemnr Cress; Nupuleun Nudeuu, Biddefurd Rep- :csentative t0 the Maine Legislature. 14 The reputation of this fine high school spread throughout the area and applica- tions soon increased. Although applicants were welcomed, there was a space prob- lem created by World War II. The Franciscans showed their persistence and resourcefulness by purchasing neighbor- ing houses and building the athletic field. In 1949, ten years after the entrance of the first high school class, construction was started on a large addition to the already existing academic building. Ap- propriately called Saint Francis Hall, this addition furnished solutions to many proh- Iems: housing for two hundred students in open dormitories, and the Flood House was razed. Thus we see two milestones in the physical growth of the college. In 1953, the Maine Legislature em- powered Saint Francis High School Col- lege to grant Bachelor of Arts and Bache- lor of Science degrees. The following year saw the Hrst graduates of the newly formed college. The next step in the de- velopment of the institution of higher learning was full accreditation, which at this time seemed to be a vague dream. The next six years saw nothing extra- ordinary in our growth. It did, however, bear witness to the rising cost of main- taining both the high school and the col- lege. The Franciscan Fathers dedicated all their eHorts t0 the urgent cry for higher education and, therefore, Saint Francis High School had its last gradua- tion in 1960. In 1961, the college haught Berryis Store from Mrs. Alfred Berry. It had been used as a grocery store and filling station, but the college converted it into our stu- dent center. Ten acres of land were also bought at this time. The following year the F riars took another step in the fulfillment of their dream of an accredited college. This advancement included the purchase of Stella Maris Boarding School and an ad- ditional eighty acres of land from the Sisters of the Presentation. This added property brought the campus to its pres- ent size of one hundred and fifty acres. In June the boarding school was reno- vated to house the administrative offices,

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college becomes fully accredited Dean Fink has a few remarks for the Janu- ary gathering. Dr. Hugh L. Hennedy, Professor of English, reminds everyone to strive fur academic excellence future. 16 in the . 0 God, our help in ages past . 1 Towards the end of March, 1966, we had three very important people visit our campus. These visitors formed an evalua- tion committee that represented the New England Association of Colleges and Sec- ondary Schools, and they were here to see if Saint Francis College met the re- quirements for accreditation. When the committee left, everyone was confident that the college had measured up, and measured up well, in the three day study. Then, the ohicial word came: ttThe trus- tees of Saint Francis College take great pleasure in announcing that the College has been accepted for membership in and accredited by the New England Associa- tion of Colleges and Secondary Schools at its annual meeting December 2, 1966. Following this announcement, an Ad- ministrative Memo was released inviting everyone to a general assembly ttto under- line our recent accreditation. No one expected the news that was to come at this assembly. President Laplante explains the reasons for the appointing of Saint Francis College's first lay president. Telling of his sincere interest in Saint Fran- cis is Dr. Edward Blewett, president of 'Wosthrcmk Junior College. Rev. Conrad L'Heurenx, the first Sin; dent to enroll at Saint Francis 11.! Scheul, reads the Prayer of 53' The Glee Club implores God for aid Francis In close tht- assmnhly. and guidam'v for the future of the college.