University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

Page 13 text:

Brackenridge also argued his case before the Pennsylvania Legislature (which met in the State House in Philadelphia). Pittsburgh should have a school, he told his fellow legislators, because it was wanted by the people; because the Pennsylvania Constitution dictated that public schools be erected in every country; because the establishment of a school in Pittsburgh would introduce money to Pennsylvania from the whole frontier country; and because the strength and dignity of government rests on the education of its people. The Scotsman ran into immediate opposition from another legislator, William Findley. Findley published an article Observations Upon the Address of Hugh Henry Brackenridge, Esq. to the Inhabitants of the Western Country. In the article, Findley argued correctly that the proposed school was illegal since it held neither property nor endowment. Realizing that he was temporarily outdone, Brackenridge returned to his constituents and promised them that the deal was not over. An orliit nc pti n of whol ih Oakland lompvt thould loot Mm oft , fv d« »l»pm nl. TK drawing wot mad m or+r MW at Hi m v ft tfw pr t nl Sch nl y fo»mt loro non wot fuiabnd At bvddmgi w . I b n ih hi , all m d i d off . Or li or hit tvr . Hi ahr (ompvi t b mtdtltd oft r Hi fomavt Aoopobt m 0r . A walk or , ih Ml thawt budding that w r compl l d occardmg lo Hi Mott , plan: Old Illy nr—g. Thaw. Alba. Fcnntyhrania. Hi — .«! Induihbt I ■ and Alumni. A n w odminittratian. ddf . nt tiudantt, changing dvugnt ond cat factor c«nrnbvf d r ih compvt w n w know, li t int«r t ing r t haw it might ha. I k d. 9

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One of the first things that he did was to bring in John Scull, Joseph Hall, a printing press and some type from Philadelphia. The manpower and machinery enabled him to start the Pittsburgh Gazette. He then used this paper as a tool to obtain his other desires. After the paper had earned Brackenridge a seat in the State Assembly, he accepted responsibility for incorporating the Presbyterian congregation in Pittsburgh in 1787 and for creating Allegheny County in 1788, Pittsburgh being named as the county seat. In a Gazette column of September 2, 1786 entitled Observations on the Country at the Head of the Ohio River with Digressions on Various Subjects , Brackenridge laid out his case for education in the frontier town. Academies are the furnaces which melt the natural ore to real metal; the shops where the thunderbolts of the orator are forged. The function of the town of Pittsburgh is greatly to be chosen for a seat of learning; the fine air, the excellent water, the plenty and cheapness of provisions render it highly favorable. 8

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Three thousand acres of land were then on sale along the northern shore of the Allegheny River, across from the location of the Fort. Despite his promise to his people not to be forgetful of obtaining what he could of the land, the deal fell through for lack of funds. Not despairing, Brackenridge quickly turned to the Penn family and accepted as a gift for the proposed Academy, four lots making up a square block bounded by Smithfield, Cherry, Second and Third Streets. The acreage was known as Ewalt's Field. (The site today is occupied by Kaufmann's parking garage, down town, and is marked by a plaque mounted on the side of the building. All of the original structures were destroyed by the Great Fire of 1845). The final obstacle to be mounted before the bill could pass the assembly was procurement of an endowment. The clever statesman persuaded the legislature into a grant of five thousand acres of unappropriated wilderness land in Lawrence and Butler counties. Few realized that Brackenridge would sell them for nineteen thousand dollars, to be used as the endowment. The session was also busy with other matters, including the selection of delegates to the Continental Congress, which was to debate revisions to the Articles of Confederation, and possibly draff a new constitution for the country. Pennsylvania governor Ben Franklin was in attendance at that session. r A v»ow 4 I ho Srhonloy Formi oioo foood 1900. Tho lorogrovnd of lK« photograph I howl tho tiro now e«upiod by tho Cothodiol ol looming, fifth Aronvo rvnt along I ho Wf. bonlod by o row of houtot. Tho HoopJo of St. Fovft Cothodrol on bo toon .n tho botkgroond, contor. Wobtto Moll Motol. Motion Inttftuto, Hoim Chopol. ond tho fttttburgh Athlohc Attoootion building woro obtont from tho 1900 londxopo, 10