University of Vermont - Ariel Yearbook (Burlington, VT)

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(Contents University Classes jMedics Athletics Organizations Women

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It seems highly fitting in this book based on tradition of Vermont that we should point out one salient feature. In June of 1825 the Marquis de Lafayette, with trowel in hand, laid the cornerstone of the Old Mill, revered by all Vermonters. Then, in June of 1925, just one hun- dred years later, the Hill was again the scene of such a ceremony. With the same trowel which had been em- ployed by Lafayette, the Hon. James B. Wilbur spread the mortar which was to hold in place another corner- stone, that of the new Ira Allen Chapel.

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Wi)t jFounbing of l ermont By Walter H. Crockett tate Constitution Jformulateb in a Cfjaotic eriob £ earliest Vermont Constitution, formulated in 1777. differed from other early State Constitutions in at least three important provisions: ( 1 ) It forbade human slavery. (2) It granted full manhood suffrage. (3) It declared in favor of a single State University. When this constitution was accepted by the Convention at Windsor, the region then known as the S ew Hampshire Qrants was in extreme peril. The Station was at war with great liritain. The frontier settlers had abandoned their homes, liurgoyne ' s army was approaching from Canada. The inhabitants were few and the people were poor. Only about fifty years had elapsed since the first permanent white settlement had been made m Vermont. Only seventeen years had passed since the first triumph of the ' Uritish arms in Canada had re- moved the dread of French and Indian invasion, and settlers had begun in earnest to make homes in this State. It is, therefore, a noteworthy event, that amid dangers and discouragements, great and manifold, these hardy pioneer leaders had the vision to see beyond the troubled years of the present, a State in which education should hold its rightful place, with a University as the crowning fea- ture of a system of learning. cAt this time there were only a dozen colleges and universities in the United States. To the critics and the doubters it may have seemed absurd for these pioneer farmers to consider a broad and complete system of education, culminating in a University. Looking back across the years that intervene, it seems to us a superb example of faith and courage. Bartmout!) regibent ' s (Btitx ©eclineb f nearest college was T art mouth, located at T)resden (now Hanover). SH.. H. The new State of Vermont was threatened on all sides by perils and jealousies. cAs a part of its system of strategy a portion of S ew Hampshire was annexed, including T)resden. President Wheelock sought to interest the new government in T)artmouth College and a township named Wheelock was granted to that institution by the Vermont Legislature. cAn offer was made to educate all Vermont students free of tuition charges, at T)artmouth or at a branch college, provided the missionary, glebe and college rights, granted by Qovernor Went worth of S ew Hampshire in this region, and later by the State of Vermont, should be turned over to T artmouth College. tiAfter due consid- eration the offer was declined. $)roposalg for locating t e nibcrfiitp 3|iV 1785 one of the prominent and wealthy citizens of the State, Clijah Taine, offered £2,000 toward founding a college in Williamstown, where he re- sided, and the offer was renewed in 1787 , neither of which was accepted. cA Nine ■ ■»■- ■ - • ■ ■ ZZ ZZZI]