Ursinus College - Ruby Yearbook (Collegeville, PA)

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These military manoeuvring? were hugely enjoyed. Right about face, left about face, forward, march, were words in the mouth of the youngest student. In 1865 Freeland Seminary was leased for a period of five years to Professor A. II. Fetterolf as principal and Captain II. H. Fotterolf as steward. During Professor Fetterolf's principalship the aim was to keep a school superior to that of former days. The school was successful and half the number of students remained when Ursinus College commenced in 1870. The school had many unruly boys from the towns and severe chastisement was regarded as defense of virtue in those days. Four strokes of the razor strop on the bare back was a cure for truancy ; for tearing down the limbs of cherry trees to procure cherries the switching of the offender with the limbs lie had broken until all were in splinters in the presence of the whole school was a reminder that this offense must not be repeated : and for private offenses the student was taken to that Gehenna where now the sewage collects, to he flogged until he cried for mercy and promised to do better. To put an unruly student out of the classroom by physical force was no uncommon occurrence. The teachers during Professor Fetterolf's administration were the principal. J S. Weinberger. Jared T. Preston, and Alexander McKlrath. The act of incorporation of Ursinus College was granted by the Legislature of Pennsylvania. February 5, 1X69, and five days thereafter the corporation was organized at a meeting of the Directors held in the City of Philadelphia. The property of Freeland Seminary was seemed subject to an unexpired lease then held by A. H. Fetterolf. The name of the title of Ursinus College was accepted i the lessee, and the first annual catalogue of the officers and students of Ursinus College appeared in 1869 for the academic year of 1868-69. The formal opening of Ursinus College took place on Tuesday, September 6, 1870. In a partial respect Ursinus College was a continuation, under an enlarged and more comprehensive form, of Freeland Seminary, and it was reasonable to expect that many would rejoice in its advancement to the stature of a college, and to manifest a lively interest in its prosperity. Before Ursinus College was in operation a report had spread that Ursinus was going to be a school to prepare ministers. A controversy was raging in the Church and the management of the school was more or less alfected by this spirit, and it was soon manifest that for the nucleus of the school dependence must be placed on another class of patronage. Some of the old patrons were offended, saying that the school was not what it used to be. There remained a remnant of the dear old Xi Rho Delta Society, which had three degrees, called the Academic, the Pythagorean, and the Platonic. This society became inane, and the Schaff Literary Society succeeded it. The establishment of the normal schools by the State was a death blow to the academies. Before they were established it was the province of the academy to instruct young men to become teachers, to prepare them for college, to afford 25

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Examinations were held at the end of every quarter and a public exhibition at the close of the year. The exercises became very popular and did much to arouse the spirit of debate and to cultivate a taste for dramatic performance. In 1859 the Millersville Normal Institute, under the supervision and principalsliip of its founder, was recognized by the State authorities as the first normal school under the law. and year by year others came to the front, all of which were superior competitors with the academies, as the former had the aid of the State. The outlook was unfavorable. Meanwhile, county superintendents were holding institutes in the counties. The only defense was to Face about and try to do what the sup rintendents and normal schools did. In this Freeland Seminary was reasonably successful. Books on normal methods were bought, the best methods were taught, institutes in the school were held, which became popular, and the school continued to be a teacher of teachers and thus survived. The greatest enemy to the schools in the North was the Rebellion. Many female schools depending largely on Southern patronage were soon wound up. The firing on Fort Sumter only fired the patriotism of Freeland Seminary. No institution was ever more loyal. Anti-slavery agitators were always welcomed at Freeland Seminaty before and during the Rebellion. The very name, Freeland, tells it', own story. But when the draft was put into execution twenty-six students left for their homes in one day. The school was alarmingly decimated and more or less demoralized. These men preferred, if drafted, to be accredited to the districts from which they had come. The invasion of the Keystone Slate was threatened and the training of home guards became the order of the day. There arose a lively trade in hooks treating on military tactics. Teachers studied this new science more eagerly than classics and mathematics, and a West Point academy was right in the little village. W: rKNNSVI.VAMA FKMAI.K COI.I.KCK. At one time it was thought the wisest plan to save the school would be to establish a normal school in the district, to Ik? located at Freeland. Meetings were held to take the initiatory steps and stock was solicited with a promise of profits which would accrue from such a school. Great opposition was aroused by the neighboring schools, and when it was ascertained that no profits could accrue from a normal school the scheme was abandoned. 24

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them a preliminary education for the study of law, medicine, and theology, and to fit them for bookkeeping and business. The list of men educated at Freeland Seminary includes many noteworthy names, among whom may be mentioned the scientists Hoffman, Moyer, and Rotlirock ; the jurists and barristers Swartz, Albright, Gotwalts, Strassburger, Yanderslice. Snyder, Hunsieker, Corson, Kratz, March, and Hobson; the journalists Marseilles and Hoover ; in the political arena. Captain I'etterolf, A. I). Fetterolf, Faust, Urner, Lindermau, Boyer, and MacYeagh ; the bankers Pri .er and Christman ; the manufacturers and business men Swift, Posey, Krauss, Webb, and Partridge; the educators lion. David B. Brunner, Prof. Henry F. Leister, Superintendent Geo. W. Weiss, and President A. H. Fetterolf, and the physicians John Todd, Henry G. Groff, J. H. Sheet ., Levi Oberholtzer, Granville Pri .er. Reuben Wenrich, James G. Mensch, William J. Ashenfelter, Harvey Kratz, B. K. Johnson, Jacob C). Knipe, and David Sell rack. Rev. Wilbur Coffman, Rev. Benjamin F. Apple, Rev. J. H. Hendricks, Rev. Daniel I). Trexler, Rev. A. B. Shelly, Rev. John L. Landis, and Rev. Wm. H. Fox are representative clergymen. General John R. Brooke, also a son of Freeland, is invested with martial glory. In the course of events Freeland Seminary helped Ursinus College greatly, and the establishment of the College happily transformed and perpetuated the educational work commenced on this spot bv Freeland Seminary. WASHINGTON HAI.I. C0J.I.EG1ATH lNSTHTTlv TRAPPK. 26