St Josephs University - Greatonian Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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-X Qc' Fif?f?' The Present Col lege

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1934 THE GREATONIAN Civil War, Father Barbelin marshclled his forces so well that the next two years brought a new high mark in attendance-one hundred and sixty-two-with all the former studies, save philosophy, having been resumed, Not only the attendance but all kinds of activity boomed. Ex- hibitions of all kinds, especially short plays and debates, were given to the assembled student body and their friends. lt was courageous advance like this, in the face of the most appalling difficulties, that was to bring success ultimately. Shortly alter the end of the War, the dream of ex- Lansion was once more brought to the fore, and, in l866, Father Barbelin purchased a spot three miles northwest of 'fOld .t. ' ' S Joseph s. ln this, the second move for a greater The Old College Building College that he had instigated, he saw the final realiza- wth and Stiles Streets tion of his labor of years, thought that he was at last to Now the Prep School behold the plans of decades take final shape in the form Of bricks and mortar, the permanent home of the new College. Death overtook him before his work was completed and it was Father Villiger, the former Vice-President to Father Barbelin, who laid the corner-stcne of the new church erected cn the site in June of l868. December saw the opening of the new edifice, and from then an, progress was rapid. Eighteen hundred and seventy-nine saw the opening of a parish school and ten years later b'0UQht the dream of dreams--the rebirth and reopening of St. Joseph's College. A long and heart- lefldlfisl struggle it had been, and a worthy one, and it had been waged by men of courage and clear v.s:on. The succeeding years brought long strides in a program of expansion that was placed before The leaders of the new College. At the turn of the century, the fiftieth anniversary of the College was Celebmledt Nine Vears later, the buildings grouped about the school were still further increased when The need of a faculty house was realized. ln l9l7, with the appointment of the Rev, Redmond J. Walsh, S. J., as President, the government WGS Once OQGJVW plunged into war. The College immediately volunteered assistance to the country both by utilizing its buildings as a Students' Army Corps base and by having seven hundred and twenty' four Of her students enrolled in all branches of service. Fourteen of these gave their lives to the cause. The VGOF following the War, the Rev. P. F. O'Gorman, S.J., was named President. His term lasted 3 WSOF when he was succeeded by the Rev. Albert G. Brown, SJ. During this time, a movement came Obcful lo Sellarate the College department from the l-ligh School, a movement that was actualized dUl UQ The term of Father Brown. A9091 eXDansion came to the fore when it was planned to erect new College buildings on a new plot Ol Qround. l-leretafore, St. Joseph's had offered one solid course of seven years, at the close of Which the Bachelor of Arts degree was awarded. The campaign was begun, generous donations poured 'nf SUCOUVGQIHQ the proposed expansion. The site at Fifty-fourth Street and City Line Avenue was Gcguired and developed, the breaking of ground for the initial buildings being held on September 27, l925. Since then, an additional building, the John E. Lonergan School of Mechanics, has been erected, the dedication taking place in April of l933. Thus, in outline, is the history of St. Joseph's College written. lt is the colorful story of a 5lVUQQlG'f'a struggle valiantly carried on by sincere, devoted men motivated by their all-inspiring DUfDOSe of God's greater glory. We, the Class of l934, acknowledge in no uncertain words, the lllU5TViOus battle which these men fought in establishing the College, and we pledge our unselfish SUPDOW and cooperation in any and all future expansion, which we trust, with God's help, will even Uulslflli the past. Greater and higher Catholic education is the end in view, and we, the products at that education, dedicate ourselves to the fulfillment of that end. Fifteen

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Campus THE College, late in the afternoon of a cloud-strewn November day .... massive walls and finely chiseled granite, fading into a background of wind-stripped trees, browned grass, leaden skies .... the Tower, climbing stone on stone to take its sentinel guard upon the brook' '.... the meager light filtering from the west, throwing thin shadows across the deep well of the Quad' '.... somber Gothic beauty reaching its full- ness .... rough flagstones .... rain-washed walks .... and over all a brooding silence . . . the College sinking into the night .... lights spring up in high windows . . . . voices drift across a shadow-filled stadium . . . . for below the last departing cor roars away, throws a sudden stab of light upon a forsaken tennis court .... the last voice has stilled .... Indian summer, winter, SDVUWQ, and the year has gone .... others follow .... twilight deepens .... night closes .... and there remain only memories ..,.