Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

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1 signed “An Act to Incorporate the Augustinian College of Villanova in the County of Delaware and the State of Pennsylvania.” By this charter, the President and professors were empowered to grant degrees. At the same time, the College Seal was adopted and the Ecclesiastical School was inaugurated. The first of the college buildings that we know today was completed ii? February, 1849. It was intended only as a wing as in that status it would sat- isfy the needs of the moment and a main building could always be added to meet any future requirements. This building has withstood the weather for eighty years and is the east wing of Alumni Hall. A large and beautiful hall was opened in the second story of the wing for a library and reading room. This was open to the students during the vacant periods and on Sundays and holidays. On May 24, 1850, Father O’Dwyer, President at that time, died after a protracted illness. At his death, Father Hartnett was chosen President and was succeeded the following year bv Father Moriarity. In 1855, the Degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred upon James F. Dooley and Henry C. Alexander. This was the first time the college had exer- cised its power of conferring degrees. The following year, Father Hartnett returned as President of the college. Shortly after this, the college faced its second great crisis. The missions of the Order were demanding attention and the General of the Order decided that their interests would be served best by temporarily closing the college. On Commencement Day in 1857, the t • v» students were notified If } of this and bidden If It ft-— farewell. In S e p t e m b e r, 1865, classes were resumed with Father Mullen as President. T h e President’s chair was occupied in the succeeding years by Fathers Galberv, Stanton, Middleton, and Coleman. The next development of ■ the Fathers was Sixteen

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an academic or higher education. It had an enrollment of six students at the opening; two years later, the student body had been swelled to forty-five. The faculty consisted of three priests and four lay teachers. The first floor of the mansion was confined to classes, the second to the faculty, and the third to the students. In 1844, the first new college building was completed and the students were moved out of the monastery, leaving it entirely to the faculty and the community. The first prospectus of the college was issued in 1844. During this time, the “Know Nothing” furore was at its height in Phila- delphia and the tranquillity of Villanova life was seriously threatened. St. Augustine’s Church in the city had been burned and it was feared that the same thing would happen to Villanova. Great precautions were taken to safe- guard the students and then the movement gradually expired. In the summer of 1844, a new chapel was erected and blessed on September 1st. This was used for classes on weekdays. At this point in her advance- ment, misfortune befell Villanova, because of the expense incurred in the re- building of St. Augustine’s and in bringing lawsuits against the City of Phila- delphia for damages suffered in the recent riots. For this reason the Fathers decided that the college must lx closed and on February 20, 1845, classes were dismissed and were not resumed until the following year. The college was again opened on September 6th. The first public com- mencement was held on Julv 21, 1847. Father O’Dwver was President and with him were associated Fathers Ashe, Hart- nett, and Kyle; also Mr. Ainslev and Mr. Gibney who were re- tained as lav profes- sors. In the year 1848, a petition for charter was made to the State Legisla- ture, and on March 10th, the same year, the Governor, Francis A. Shunk, Fifteen

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erection of a fitting clmpel, the present Church of St. Thomas of Villanova. Father Coleman was succeeded by Father Sheeran and he, in turn, by Father McKvoy. After the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the College on June 21, 1893, the growth of the college took on a new aspect. In the first few years of the twentieth century the twin buildings, Monastery and College Ilall were erected. This work was carried on under the direction of Father Delury. It made pos- sible the inauguration of the Kngineeering School. In the years that followed, this development was extremely rapid. Under Fathers Dohan, Dean, Driscoll, Hickey and Sullivan who succeeded each other as presidents of the college, the work of improvement was carried on. In 1915, the School of Science was established, and in 1921 the School of Business Administration made its appearance. There was also the rebuilding of St. Rita’s Hall after a fire and the renovation of the Academy after the war. In 1926, Father Griffin took over the duties of President and has been most successful in that office. The great misfortune to Villanova in the shape of the disastrous fire last year was a great handicap, but the labor of the Fathers with Father Griffin at the helm, has succeeded in giving us two buildings where only one stood before. The first of these is Fedigan Hall and the second is Mendel Hall. These two structures are modern to the last word and create a splendid atmosphere for study. There can lx no doubt that the new Villa- nova will forever re- main a mute testi- mony to the spirit and courage of the August inian Fathers and will ever remind us of that priceless gift, “The Spirit of Villanova,” w h i c h they have in their untiring efforts be- stowed upon us. Seventeen