St Xavier College - Xaverian Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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patronage of the immediate vicinity of Cincinnati. Struggling against what really were heart-breaking situations, the College carried on, until, in 1890 we find it celebrating its golden jubilee. From this time forward, Xavier entered on a new era; an era of progress, expansion, and some prosperity. From this time on students began to attend in ever increasing numbers, which not only gave added revenue, 'but encouraged the Faculty to greater programs. Extension lectures, then special graduate courses were inaugurated as early as 1896. The step, while actually premature from the financial standpoint, added almost immeasurably to the reputation, and general stanv dard, as well as to the influence of the College in this vicinity. Pressing de mands for other departments and improvements made it advisable to discon- tinue such work till larger resources could be realized. Departments of Econv omics and College of Commerce were added in 1911,.and shortly after a course in Journalism, which was however abandoned five years later. In 1918, a comprehensive system of Sociology was begun, and which is enjoying right up to the present time, a most gratifying success. These classes, along with others of the Arts type are attended by members of the teaching sisterhoods in and about the City, for whom they were originally intended. On October 1, 1918, a unit of the Students Army Training Corps was established for those of the class who had been inducted into service. This S. A. T. C. group received academic instruction of a kind adapted to its needs until its was dis- banded. At the instigation of prominent Alumni, mostly of the legal pro- fession, a Law Department was opened in the fall of 1919, and continues to the present in a very prospering condition. The institution at Seventh and Sycamore Streets is a busy one indeed. From nine o'clock in the morning till two twenty-five, the High School Classes are conducted for more than six hundred boys, necessitating the use of every available space for lectures, recitations, laboratories, and attendant work. Extension courses are carried on from three otclock until five, and then the Night School Classes in the evening follow. The situation which the College occupied 0n Sycamore Street, being in the heart of the City, had many advantages in the matter of accessibility, but also a very great disadvantage from the standpoint of building room, and campus facilities. The Faculty, always aware of this draw-back, began as early as 1847 to find location in the East Hills. The so called Purcell Mansion on Walnut Hills was acquired, and Preparatory Classes conducted there for twu years under the direction of Fr. George A. Carrell. The undertaking was too premature, the situation remote for the then existing means of commmunis cation, and so the project was abandoned. The second effort at branching out was made by Fr. Albert A. Dierckes, S.J., who bought the property at the corner of Gilbert and Lincoln Avenues in Walnut Hills. For six years, until 1912, the Branch High School was located here, when, realizing the need of still further expansion, it was moved to the Avondale Athletic Club, which building and grounds had been purchased the previous year, This action marked the beginning of a New St. Xavier College, a College which is growing in leaps and bounds, a College which is a College in the true sense of the word, and to which the rest of this article is devoted. Kt Page Twentysnine

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The Present St. Xavier College 0 read of or behold progress invariably delights men who are doers by nature, it satisfies an inner longing for perfection which they feel, and stimulates them to greater efforts in their own pursuits The many friends and admirers of St. Xavier cannot but feel satisfaction, and additional personal impulse when considering the strides which the College has made and is making, in the face of real obstacles and handicaps. In the last six years St. Xavier has developed, and accomplished marvelous things which all are able to see, but which few fully appreciate, because the men who are doing them prefer to act rather than talk; this they will continue to do, until the heroic work has its consummation, and the tale of it all be told by those who come aftert Since we cannot tell the story, we confine ourselves to consider- ing what has been done, and what is manifest. A happy selection indeed was made of the ground on which Xavier stand:. The buildings form an imposing array, facing as they do upon the winding course of Victory Boulevard, and looking down from the crests of gentle slopes on which they are situated. Bordering on the Boulevard is the campus, with one of the finest baseball, and football fields in this part of the country. The stadium, which encloses the football grid, and from which many a fast and furious game has been watched by thousands, came in 1921, and is the gift of Mr. John L. Corcoran, after whom the entire playing field is named. iI'ennis courts, and an excellent running track complete the facilities for ath- etics. The old Avondale Club House, now the recreation building, though no longer desirable for class purposes, and hence, not to be considered as a hall, still, by some dictate of tradition, continues to hold its place in the minds of the students as the nucleus around which the rest of the buildings necessarily cluster. It is old, and out of harmony with the other structures, but it is solid. and is as amusement providing as it is red. The time will come when it will be no more, but it will live long in the minds of those who spent so many happy, boisterous hours beneath its roof, The epoch making session of the Fall of 1919, the opening of the Science Hall, which marked the separation of the College from the High School, simultaneously reduced flThe Club House to the little more than club house position which it now holds,eit is the grub house. A definite and comprehensive plan has been adopted for the further de- velopment of the College, and is being carried on to completion as rapidly as funds can be raised. The Alumni Science Hall, the gift of the Alumni express- ing their appreciation, and devotion of their Alma Mater was completed in 1919. At present, until the Arts Hall is built, it. is being used to accommodate the major portion of the aggregate classes. It is fully equipped and arranged for complete science courses, and needs only to be officially converted as such. It provides light, roomy, sound-proof lecture rooms, and laboratories, and is modern in every respect. The Administration Building, or Hinkle Hall, came to completion 3 short time after the Science Hall, and was the magnificent gift of Mrs. Frederick W. Hinkle, who has in so many other ways contributed to the realization of a Greater St. Xavier. It is intended to be the central unit of the forthcoming group, and the key to the entire architectural scheme employed. Accommo- dations for a faculty of fifty are provided by private rooms, recreation centers, 8. spacious roof garden, a chapel, and dining room. The roof garden commands a complete view of the spacious campus, and the Boulevard for a mile or more each way. In the early part of last summer, 0924i the new Dormitory was finished, thus adding one more part to the necessary whole. It was made possible by the generosity of the friends of the College, Alumni, and welI-wishers alike, who so willingly donated either to the room fund, or to the furnishing. Each room was equipped with attractive. homey outfits, and every care taken to make the student occupying it feel as much at home, and contented as possible. Provision is made for one hundred or more resident students, and at more than reasonable rates. More wings are to be added to the building in the future, when expansion demands, and finances permit. Pane Thirty-ono