University of Detroit - Tower Yearbook (Detroit, MI)

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In the presentation of an anniversary yearbook for ‘a university, it is fitting and proper that a history of the school be reviewed. It is difficult to imagine how an area of land that formerly was a malarial swamp has evolved ‘into Michigan’s only Catholic University. In a nutshell, this is what has happened to the University of Detroit in the course of the last century. The actual history goes back more than seven dec- ades. It was in July of 1877 that it was announced that “the Fathers of the Society of Jesus are going to open in the City of Detroit an educational institution to be known under the title of ‘Detroit College.’ ”’ With the aid of Bishop Casper J. Borgess, who turned over his cathedral and residence, the Fathers established the school in the old Trowbridge Mansion, with a faculty of five and enrollment of sixty. With the growth of en- rollment to two hundred students, in 1899, the authori- ties purchased another residence across Jefferson ave- nue. This is the present site of Dowling Hall. In 1911, the school became officially known as “Uni- versity of Detroit.”” New colleges were added rapidly— the Engineering College in the same year, the Law | School in 1912, and the College of Commerce and Finance in 1916. A building for the College of Engineer- ing was constructed in 1921, through the generous en- dowment of the Dinan brothers, and housed the first Aero. Engineering department in the United States. A desolate plot of land covering 75 acres, in the Northwest section of Detroit, was chosen by Father John P. McNichols in October, 1921, as the site of a new campus for the University, and although many of his friends looked upon the plan skeptically, he never- theless went ahead with his program. Father McNichols’ dream began to materialize in 1921, as the earth for the stadium was turned, and in the succeeding years, what was once a cow pasture and tangle of underbrush arose as a great University. Four years later, a faculty building, Commerce and Finance, Chemistry, Engineering, and Science build- ings, along with a Memorial Tower were begun. It is not difficult to see that the growth and expansion of the University was due to the vision and energy of Father McNichols. In recognition of this, our City Council, upon his death, on April 26, 1932, changed the name of Six Mile Road to McNichols Road. The job of taking up where Father McNichols left off fell on the shoulders of Father Albert H. Poetker, S.J., who possesed a highly developed insight, and re- ceived the admiration of all for the way he planned the re-financing of the University’s debt. He was more than active during the depression, serving as mediator of Detroit’s labor disputes in the troubled thirties. As the University gained financial equilibrium, Father Poetker planned to further the expansion program and although Holden Hall was not finished until 1946, it was through the efforts of this priest that out-of-town men now have a dormitory on campus. Another building, a million and a half dollar library, completed in 1950, can also be attributed to this indus- trious priest, and to Father William Millor, who served from June, 1944, until September, 1949. In September of 1949, Father Celestin J. Steiner, S.J., came to the University. The following year he an- nounced a $20,000,000 expansion program. With the organization of an expansion committee, composed mostly of alumni, enough money was raised to have ground broken for ‘““The Alumni Memorial,” a multiple purpose struct ure, late in 1950. The same year, plans were announced for a Student Activities Building. The students themselves have also pitched in. A gi- gantic Spring Carnival in 1950 and also in 1951, raised close to $100,000 for the Activities Building. This has become an annual affair. As a major part in the 250th anniversary of the city of Detroit, the University presented a musical extrava- ganza, written, directed, and produced by Father Daniel A. Lord, S.J. The show, entitled “City of Freedom,” was recognized as one of the most spectacular ever wit- nessed by a Detroit audience. This year, the school will be. honored once more by Father Lord, who will again put on a show, this in honor of the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the University. The initial celebration was held on January 27th at the Veterans’ Memorial Building. Ten thousand alumni and friends of the University attended to honor Father Steiner and the working of Jesuit Education in Detroit. In the shadow of the thinker, and adjacent to Saints Peter and Paul Church, stands Dowling Hall as it is today.

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old Trowbridge Mansion, with a faculty of five and enrollment of sixty, served as the home of the Umversit Jetterson Campus In 1883, the first graduating class passed through the University. Its members were: standing; W. H. Reaney, T. C WUcKeogh, J. E. Lacroix, Conrad Sporer; seated: E. A. Nolan, John A. Russell, Rev. J.P. Frieden, S.J.,J.W. Kearns

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The first structure for the “new” campus was a stadium situated in what had been a cow pasture only a few years before. McNichols Campus At what is now McNichols Road and Livernois, an old streetcar makes a turn-around at the end of its route.