Syracuse University - Onondagan Yearbook (Syracuse, NY)

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A SftBtnri} of grants? ImuFrsttg BY DEAN FRANK SMALLEY IT was a happy inspiration that suggested to friends of Genesee college, located at Lima, that such an institution could be of more service and of wider useful- ness if transplanted to a great and populous urban center, than could possibly be the case in a small village, remote from a city and with indifferent transpor- tation facilities. It is undoubtedly true that a rural location has some advantages. It is also true that much is claimed for the small college found in such an environ- ment. But after all the pros and cons have been duly considered it will be found that a university destined to cover a wide field and include all or most of the departments of educational work must seek a site of large population, where great business enterprises are carried on, where students of sociology and poli- tical economy can best work out their problems, where the numerous clinics of the hospitals afford indispensable instruction to future M.D. ' s, where budding lawyers may study the courts in operation, where engineers may easily see the practical operation of the principles they are studying, where musical concerts and art collections afford large opportunities for culture, where many school rooms are open for the study of pedagogy put in practice, where libraries, general and professional abound, largely increasing the educational facilities of the uni- versity. A great university must be in a city; whose supplementary advantages are almost equivalent to doubling the endowment. As the founders of Syracuse university projected large things for the insti- tution and sought the largest possible development they seem to have been in- spired with the true spirit of prophecy when they laid the foundations in a grow- ing city destined to a great future. In February 1870 a provisional board of trustees was appointed and on the 13th of September following the present beautiful location was selected. July 19th, 1871, the contract for building the Hall of Languages was let for $136,000. H. N. White was architect. The writer well remembers the laying of the cor- nerstone of the Hall of Languages August 31st, 1871. Among the distinguished gentlemen present were Chief Justice Sanford E. Church, Andrew D. White, president of Cornell university, the Rev. Dr. Richmond Fisk, president of St. Lawrence university, the Rev. Dr. Cummings, president of Wesleyan university and the Rev. Dr. E. 0. Haven, president of the Northwestern university, Judges Andrews and Comstock and W. H. Bogart. 13

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JOHN D. ARCHBOLD, President LYMAN C. SMITH, First Vice-President JAMES B. BROOKS, Second Vice-Pr esident BENONI I. IVES, Third Vice-President WILFRED W. PORTER, Secretary and Treasurer iixeruttbr (tammxttis THE CHANCELLOR CHARLES ANDREWS JAMES B. BROOKS E. R. REDHEAD LYMAN C. SMITH FRANCIS HENDRICKS HENDRICK S. HOLDEN iFmanrr mtft ihtwatmntt (Dtmmttte? THE CHANCELLOR ALEXANDER T. BROWN EDWIN NOTTINGHAM JAMES M. GILBERT WILLIS B. BURNS Aitfoittmi (Committee E. R. REDHEAD GEORGE B. W ATKINS WILLIAM H. PECK ihtimrana (Enmmittrr WILLIS A. HOLDEN E. R. REDHEAD EDWIN NOTTINGHAM ICiuial dmumitiw CHARLES ANDREWS JAMES B. BROOKS EDWIN NOTTINGHAM 12

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Awaiting the completion of the Hall of Languages a city block did duty as a university building, and on September 1st, 187.1, forty-one students assembled m the chapel, the top floor of the Myers block, while five professors sat upon the platform. These men were Daniel Steele, president of the college, and Professors French, Coddington, Brown and Bennett, who had been formally inaugurated the previous day in Shakspere hall. It was the beginning in Syracuse of an en- terprise destined to be in a comparatively brief time the largest and leading in- dustry of the city. The dedication of the first building, May 8th, 1873, was the beginning of the occupation of the campus. Bishop Peck, one of the greatest of the founders, presided. Those dedicatory services were impressive and his- torical. The principal speakers were Presidents Barnard of Columbia university and White of Cornell, Bishop Janes and Chief Justice Church. President White was eloquent, as always. He uttered unconsciously a prophecy. He said: You ought to have a chime of bells to scatter melody over these hills and through these verdant vales. John Grouse later fulfilled the prophecy. The Hall of Languages was the center of activity. In this ' commodious building for twenty-five years practically all the college work, except that of medicine, was done. In 1898 the Steele hall gave more adequate quarters and facilities to the departments of physics and biology as in 1889 the John Crouse college had accommodated the College of Fine Arts. No additional buildings were erected during the administrations of Chancellors Winchell (1873-4) and Haven (1874-80). Dr. Winchell could not easily be beguiled from his beloved studies to the thankless work of the executive. Dr. Haven, rich in every virtue, ' 4