University at Buffalo - Buffalonian Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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, swarms V s vU t 0 1931 Clif New Campus 1931 Greatly increased registration and overcrowded facilities suggested the advisability of a new plant for the College. In December 1926, Commissioner Frank C. Perkins proposed to the Council a plan looking toward the development of an educational center on the Buffalo State Hospital grounds. Finally after several proposals and changes, an agreement was reached between representatives of the city, and Governor Smith. The City of Buffalo was to take the Jersey and Fourteenth Street property while the State conveyed to the city, ninety acres on the State Hospital site. Seventy acres ofthe site was to be made available for use by the city for educational purposes, and twenty acres for a new State Teachers College. The city was to erect a new College at a cost not to exceed one million and a half dollars, and to move the reception building of the State Hospital. Following the approval of the Common Council and the Legislature, plans were drawn early in 1928. These plans visioned for Buffalo a splendid new College adjacent to the city's finest park and educational institutions. Four college buildings with a quadrangle were planned, namely, the main college building, vocational building, school of practice, and gymnasium. A president's residence and athletic field were also included in the development. The labors of Mayor Schwab, Governor Roosevelt, the late Henry W. Hill, Gregory U. Harmon and Edward H. Butler were important factors in this project. A simple program marked the ground-breaking ceremonies on November 7, 1928, while impressive services of a state and civic nature saw the laying of the cornerstone on October 9, 1929. Presided over by Dr. Rockwell, a history making ceremony took place in the unfin- ished auditorium in the presence of the Board of Managers, the Mayor and members of the Council of Buffalo, representatives of the State Educational Department and Board of Regents,state oHicials,and representatives of Buffalo educational institutions. Following the ceremony Edward H. Butler, using the same trowel which his father had employed in 1913, laid the cornerstone of the main building. The graduating classes planted the first ivy on the new campus in June, 1930. In October 1930, an announcement was made of three gifts of chimes for the tower of the main building. The E bell was presented by the Class of 1930, the C bell by the ELMS staff, and the D bell by an anonymous donor in memory of three former principals. To these bells, a bell from the old campus, a gift ofMrs. Robert Livingston Fryer, was added to complete the set of chimes. The first event in the new college took place on November 10 when the Buffalo Symphony Society opened its concert season in the auditorium. Moving to the new campus started December 17, 1930. A parade of students from the old campus to the new and another impres- sive ceremony opened the College on January 12, 1931. Messages of congratulation were received from Governor Roosevelt and Commissioner Graves, and personal greetings came from many civic leaders. Thus in its new setting, in the midst of splendid educational institutions, almost unlimited possibilities in cultural and recreational fields beckon the State Teachers College of Buffalo to a new day of development in elementary education which her eventful history of growth and service has shown in the past. -HARRY S. DOUGLASS 20

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