University at Buffalo - Buffalonian Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

Page 14 text:

1 1931 fii riv . i The Normal School 1866-1914 N 1866 the Legislature ofNew York State authorized the establishment of four new Normal I schools in various parts of the state. Spurred on by the magnanimous offer of Jesse Ketch- um, a plot of ground north of the city in the block bounded by Jersey, Fourteenth, York and Thirteenth CNormal Avenuej, was designated for the new Normal School. To carry through this project the financial co-operation of city, state and county was necessary. A procession of Masons headed by the Mayor, the Common Council, and other officials, marched to the grounds for the elaborate cornerstone laying ceremony on April 15, 1869. John B. Skinner headed the first Board of Managers appointed in September, 1870. Other Board members were Francis H. Root, Honorable Grover Cleveland, William H. Greene, Albert H. Tracy, Dr. Thomas F. Rochester, Joseph War1'en, Allen Potter, and Dr. Henry Lapp. Appointment to principalship of Dr. Henry B. Buckham, a graduate of the University of Vermont, was confirmed by the Board on January 21, 1871. Seventy-Hve young women, eleven young men and a faculty of seventeen members were present on the opening day in September. On October 25, 1871, in the presence of distin- guished guests and ofiicials, the formal opening took place. The new edifice was constructed of brick, three stories high, and was claimed to possess all the necessary modern improve- ments. A total investment of one hundred thousand dollars was represented in the project, of which eighty thousand dollars was made available from bonds issued by Erie County and the City of Buffalo. Following the resignation of Dr. Buckham, after successful work at the Normal School, Dr. James M. Cassety was appointed principal of the institution on June 14, 1886. Dr. Cas- sety was a graduate of Harvard University and his teaching experience included work at Albany, Cortland and Fredonia. Dr. Buckham headed a Normal school at Monmouth, Ore- gon, until it was closed, when he went with his family to California. He passed away in 1913- 1n June, 1887, a Science building was started at the north end of the main building. Con- nected by the Bridge of Sighs, this new building served as gymnasium, Natural Science Department, and chemical experimentationf, The erection of the principal's residence, authorized by the legislature in 1889, was com- pleted in 1894 at a cost ofS10,000. As a semi-private attempt the kindergarten was started in 1892. Dr. Daniel S. Upton, former principal of Technical High School, was appointed princi- pal on July 30, 1909. He was a graduate of Olivet College and Cornell University. Dr. Cassety retired from active educational work upon his resignation. The addition of a Household Arts and a Vocational department in 1910 found the old building wholly inadequate. After strenuous efforts by Edward H. Butler and Senator Henry W. Hill, plans for a new building were formally approved on March 6, 1912. The first publication of the school, THE ELMS, appeared in June, 1912, and the following year the Rfcord appeared as a quarterly magazine. Not until June 14, 1914,did the students bid farewell to the old building at a banquet and reunion. 14

Page 16 text:

,,L,SM7e5qEQi ,p 1Sy32 -.'Qi RYHV 1914-1930 The agitation for the erection of the second Normal School building, standing today at Jersey and Fourteenth Streets, was started by Edward H. Butler as early as 1902. A bill sponsored by the late Senator Henry W. Hill for the drawing of plans was signed by Governor Hughes on June 21, 1910. Due to the intricacies oflegislative methods an appropriation was not available for starting the plan until March 6, 1912. To continue work in the old structure during construction of the new, on the same plot of ground, wings were planned flanking the Science Building on two sides. Connecting these wings was the main facade of the building with a tower modeled after that of Independence Hall at Philadelphia. Back of this facade was the wing containing the gymnasium, auditorium and science rooms. A brief but impressive ceremony marked the laying of the cornerstone of the building on October 9, 1913. President Butler, of the Board of Managers, introduced the speakers of the day, and afterwards, in the presence of distinguished guests, faculty and students of the school, he laid the cornerstone at the entrance of the new structure. The death of Mr. Edward H. Butler on March 9, 1914 was a great loss to the Normal School. He bequeathed a sum of five thousand dollars to the school for Library purposes. Mr. Robert Livingston Fryer succeeded Mr. Butler as president of the Board. In September, 1914, classes were started in the new building. Mr. Robert Livingston Fryer passed away on October 15, 1915 and Edward H. Butler, Jr. became president of the Board. In memory of her husband, Mrs. Fryer presented the Tiffany Clock for the tower, and a bronze tablet to the School. School 38 was aHiliated with the Normal School in September, 1916, for additional practice teaching facilities. The first Summer Session was inaugurated the following year. During this Summer Session in 1918, Dr. Upton passed away suddenly on July 30. On January 30, 1919, Harry Westcott Rockwell was formally appointed principal of the Normal School. Dr. Rockwell was a graduate of Brown and Columbia Universities, and came to the school following successful work at Pelham, New York. In March of that year came the double ceremony of dedication of the new building and installation of the new principal. The Board of Regents gave the Home Economics Department, in July, 1919, the privilege of offering a four year course with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. In September, 1920, the Vocational-Industrial Department was reorganized through the transfer of a similar department from Albany State College. In June, 1922, the Normal School celebrated its fiftieth anniversary during commence- ment week, with appropriate ceremonies. The General Normal course was extended from two to three years' duration in September of that year. On April 25, 1925, the Board of Regents approved the establishment of an optional four year course for elementary and junior high school teachers leading to a degree of Bachelor of Science in Education. This important step forward was definitely authorized on June 24, 1926. With it came many important additions to the faculty. - 16