University of Oregon - Oregana Yearbook (Eugene, OR)

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G , .V . . 0 V., .,., ,,..,. , , .. . ,. , ...,.4.. ,. ., . . , . .. ... , my A -:I W 4 yung.,-,P .F . X- zz, ..,:::l,- A offered by the Union University Association. The bill creating the University passed October 19,1872 lts main provisions were that a board of nine di- rectors was to be appointed, six by the Governor and three by the Associa- tiong the University was to be supported at first by the interest from the sale of the 72 sections granted by Congress, and the Association was to pro- vide a site and construct a building for the University, to be turned over to the state January l, 1874. lt was further provided that the value of the prop- erty thus conferred by the Association should be not less than Sy'350,000.00, and that it must be accepted by the State lloard of Land Commissioners. The part of the old homestead clainr of llilyard Shaw on' which the trad- er's cabin had stood was selected as the most available site by the Association. The eighteen acres which were purchased had been obtained from their orig-- inal owner by J. H. D. Henderson, from whom the deed was received. Now began a campaign of enterprise and sacrifice which reflects endur- ing credit on the fathers of the University. The legislature had authorized the Lane County court to appropriate thirty thousand dollars toward meet- ing the terms of the bill. However, strenuous objections were rtised in some quarters over the proposed taxation. Accordingly the menilbers of the Union University Association decided to ask no aid from the county, but to rely on their own public spirit and that of their neighbors to raise the amount. The response showed the patriotism of the pioneers. They contributed not only money, but household articles, farm produce, live stock,-anything which could be turned into cash. In collecting these contributions, Hon. ll. F. Dorris and Hon. T. G. Hendricks, the only two living members of the first Board of Regents, were mainly active. Theirs was the difficult task of sat- isfying the demands, of the contractors for mloney with which to pay the workmen and continue the work of construction. An incident showing the way in which these demands were often met is told by Mr. Hendricks. One morning Mr. Dorris an-di myself arrived at the building to find that the men employed in its construction had refused to go to work unless they were paid their over-due wages. Finally we persuaded them to go to work that day by promising to have sufficient funds to pay their wages in the hands of the contractors before night. Accordingly, Mr. Dorris and I set out in opposite directions, each with a horse and buggy, Before evening T had col- lected a load of farm produce, and when we met at the building at the ap- pointed time, f found Mr. Dorris leading a cow behind his vehicle. Wfith the proceeds we were able to tide over the pay-day and keep the work moving. Mr. Dorris says: Many farmers willing to help us, but having no money to give, turned over eggs, chickens, vegetables, hogs, sheep, beef cattle, horses Twelve

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, ., . . . , W... .. .,..,.V. -- ,.,.., ,...... .. v.v..... .wvr V- . . . . ..-a,.. . --. A 4 .V . ,. ...L . and grain in great abundance. Wfe appealed to the several organized granges in the county and received liberal gfts from them. liven the school children were asked to contribute, and I believe they subscribed over 31,000.8 ln spite of the utmost efforts of these men, the enterprise would not have succeeded had not the legislature extended the time for the completion of the building to January 1, 1877. The Association submitted statements and pho- tographs showing the progress of the work and proving that it was acting in good faith, and had no trouble in obtaining the necessary concession. ln june, 1876, the building being nearly completed, and sufficient sub- scriptions having been pledged to pay all contracts, the Association invited the State Board of Land Commissioners to make the inspection provided for in the bill. Accordingly, on july 30, 1876, the board inspected and accepted the property. The first building, Deady lrlall, was named in honor of judge Matthew P. Deady, of .l3'ortland, the first President of the lloard of Regents. It is still the most striking object on the campus, Perhaps we may not admire its peculiar style of architecture. nor its appointments, but we cannot but revere it as a monument to the sturdiness of the fathers of' the University. The Regents now met to choose a Faculty and provide courses of in- struction. John VV. johnson, of l'ortland, was named as President, and Mark Bailey, of McMinnville, and Thomas Condon, of Forest Grove. as professors in the College of Liberal Arts. ln the preparatory department, Mrs. Mary E. Spiller was chosen Principal, and Miss Mary E. Stone, Assistant. Although the University was now duly established and in operation. it was by no means free from encumbrances. The Association was unable to collect about seven thousand dollars which had been subscribed. and conse- quently the contrictors still held claims against the property for this amount. The visit of Henry Villarcl, builder of Northwest railroads, solved the problem. Mr. Villarcl came to Oregon in 1877 to investigate the possibilities for further development of this country, and he was invited by judge Deady to inspect the University. Being deeply interested in higher education. he ac- ceped the invitation, and was given an enthusiastic welcome by the Facutly. students. and townspeople. inquiring into the financial condition of the insti- tution, he was informed of the seven thousand dollar debt, with the result that he cancelled it and enabled the Association to fulfill its pledge to the state. The story of the first commencement, in l878, is graphically told by Mrs. Ellen Condon McCornack. the only woman in the first graduating class of five, and still a resident of Eugene. The exercises, she says, were held in the third story of Deady Hall, Tlzi1'tcc1z