Ursinus College - Ruby Yearbook (Collegeville, PA)

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death in 1890. financial assistance tendered by Robert Patterson of Philadelphia enabled the building of Bomberger Memorial Hall, which was completed in 1891. For the next three years Dr. George . illiard and Dr. Henry . Super, respectively, served as president, and it was I)r. Henry T. Spangler who introduced the group system of courses. For many years Bomberger Hall was the center of all academic activity including the science laboratories. The library was located in what are now rooms 6 and 7. 11 classrooms and offices were also located in Bomberger. Vdjoining Stine Hall were two tennis courts and an old barn which was used for storage. The gymnasium was located on the same site as the present one. but it was a long narrow structure entirely separated from the dressing room, a small building nearby. Since the founding of the college, extra-curricular activities have played an increasingly important part on the campus. The Zwinglian Literary Society was started a month after academic instruction began, and the SclialT laterals Society appeared three years later. The musical activities of these early years included Choir. Orchestra, and Glee (dub. In athletics, baseball was at first of major importance, but it later gave place to football. In 1897 the first Ri in was published and named in memory of Professor Samuel Vernon Ruby. The present college paper, the W kkki.y. was started in 1902. Dr. George L. Omwake. vice-president since 1909, became president in 1912. During the twenty-four years of his presidency the College experienced its greatest expansion. The dormitories were remodeled and a new dining room and kitchen were added in Freeland Hall. In 1922 the Miimni Memorial Library was erected as a tribute to the I rsinus students who served their country in World War I. The Eger Gateway was built in 1925 by George P. Eger of Reading, father of Sherman . Eger, M.D.. who graduated that year. In 1927 the present gymnasium was constructed by improving the old structure. Dressing rooms, offices, a gallery, and a stage were all included in the improvements. Previous to the erection of this stage, all dramatic activities were carried on in the chapel of Bomberger Hull. I he gymnasium was named in memory of Robert W. Thompson (1912) and George II. Gay (1918), noted athletes, both of whom died in their »»'“»• in k.» in 1Q9

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I rsinus College celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, the first class having entered in September. 1870. corporation was organized and the Directors held their first meeting in Philadelphia on February 10. I860. I hey selected the site which bad formerly been Todd's School. In 1848 Freeland Seminary bad replaced this school, and the Seminary was now incorporated into the College as a preparatory department. Idle College was named for Zacharias I rsinus, one of the followers of I Irich Zwingli. Sw iss reformer and founder of what came to be known as The Reformed Church in The 1 nited States. Zacharias I rsinus was one of the authors of the Heidelberg Catechism and a professor in the 1 nivcrsity of Heidelberg. Germany. cademie instruction was begun on September 6. 1870. in the seminary buildings, which are now known as Freeland and Stine Halls. However, the need for expansion led to the addition of Derr Hall in 1872. The enrollment was limited to men students until 1881. when women were admitted on equal conditions with men. A dormitory called Olevian Hall was used for the women students. This building stood on the site of the present Pfahler Hall of Science. The I rsinus School of Theology was opened in 1871. but was moved to Philadelphia in 1898. The Academy was discontinued in 1910. Since that time I rsinus lias been devoted exclusively to work at the college level. The Reverend John H. A. Bomberger was one of the founders of the College and became the first president in 1869. He wrote at that lime: “The institution owes its establishment to the liveh interest felt by its founders in tin advancement of education in the higher branches of learning, upon the basis of Christianity, and with chief regard to religious ends. W itbout the leadership of Dr. Bomberger and the constant devotion of bis followers, the College would not have survived. Following bis i Horn hergor Hull.

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the twin dormitories were built which hear the names of two benefactors of the College, Andrew R. Brodbeck and Cyrus H. K. Curtis. It was the lattei who in 1931 provided funds for the building of the Pfahler Hall of Science, which was named in 1944 in honor of George E. Pfahler. noted x-ray authority of Philadelphia. During Dr. Omwake s presidency the enrollment was almost doubled, the faculty was enlarged and the curriculum expanded, dded to all these improvements was the growing interest in extra-curricular activities. A women’s athletic program was begun during this period. Fraternities and sororities were officially recognized in 1929. The Lantern, the most recent publication, was begun in 1933. Because of illness President Omwake was compelled to retire and in 1936 Dr. Norman E. McClure, an alumnus and a member of the faculty, was elected to he seventh president of the College. During the college year of 1935-36 a committee of the faculty was appointed to administer the affairs of the (Hri inn Hull, a dormitory for girls uhich stood on thr stir of I’fuhlrr Hall of Science. «