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Page 21 text:
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IN the early years of the nineteenth century, the grounds which today we know as Villanova com- prised the estate of John Rudolph, a Catholic merchant of Philadelphia. The beautiful estate had been appropriately named Belle Air. Mr. Rudolph died in 1858 and in the year 1841, the estate was offered for sale. Such an excellent opportunity for a private country scat or a public institution could not long remain unnoticed. Rev. Thomas Kyle, O.S.A., of St. Augustine's, Philadelphia, and Very Rev. Patrick Moriarity, O.S.A.. Commissary of the Province, recognised it as the ideal location for an establishment of the Augustintan Order, and on Wednesday, October 15, 1841, the day before the one appointed for the public sale. Belle Air was purchased by them for $18,000. On January 5. 1842, the title to Belle Air was granted to the Brothers of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine. The first members of the Order to reside at Villanova were Brothers Dennis Gallagher and Jeremiah Ryan, who, in the spring of 1845. were sent from St. Augustine's, Philadelphia, to Belle Air for the purpose of opening the mansion. According to traditional accounts, Father O’Dwyer, of St. Augustine's, said Mass in the parlor oratory of the mansion and blessed this new Monastery on St. Augustine's Day. August 28. 1845, placing it under the special patronage of St. Thomas of Villanova. No more appropriate selection for the patron saint of the infant establishment could have been made than that of St. Thomas of Villanova. He was a man of truly saintly character, distinguished particularly for his charity to the p x r. With the first Mass and dedication, the institutum was no longer to be known as Belle Air, but henceforth as Villanova. The name of Belle Air, however, has been cherished in tradition to this day. School was begun on September 18, 1845, with an enrollment of six students. During the next two years an enrollment of forty-five was in attendance. The instructors were three priests and four lay teachers. The first floor of the mansion was devoted to classes, the faculty oc- cupied the second, while the students were housed on the third floor. That the life of early Villanova was not one of great comfort may he gleaned from the fact that, before the year 1844, the students' lavatory was in the old wagon-shed of the Rudolph estate. Eleven Villanova, 1842
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Page 22 text:
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The first new college building was com- pleted in 1844 and the students were then moved out of the Monastery, leaving it entirely to the faculty and community. The first pros- pectus of the college was issued in 1844 and it may be of interest to note that the fee was: For pupils over 12 years of age, $125 per annum, payable half-yearly in advance.” At this time the Know-Nothing furor was at its height in Philadelphia and the tran- quillity of Villanova was seriously threatened. St. Augustine’s Church in the city was burned and it was feared that the same fate would befall Villanova. Every precaution was taken to safe- guard the students and as time passed, the movement gradually subsided. A new chapel was erected during the summer of 1844 and blessed on September 1. This was used for classes on week days. But even with this addition to the material adjuncts of the institution, mis- fortune befell her. and because of the expense incurred in rebuilding St. Augustine's and in bringing lawsuits against the City of Philadelphia for damages suffered in the recent riots, the Fathers decided that they would have to close the college. On February 26, 1S45, classes were dismissed and were not resumed until the following semester. The college was reopened on September 6, 1S46. The first public commencement was held on July- 21, 1847. Fr. O’Dwyer was president and with him were associated Fathers Ashe, Hartnett and Kyle. Messrs. Ainslcy and Gibney were retained as lay professors. In 1848 a petition for a charter was made to the State Legislature and on March 10 of the same year the governor, Francis R. Shunk, signed An Act to incorporate the Augustinian College of Villanova in the County of Delaware and 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 inaugurated. In February. 1S49, was completed the first of the college buildings that we know today. It was only intended as a wing, for such a structure would suit the requirements and it was expected that the needs of the future would lie cared for by a main building to be erected later. This building has weathered the onslaughts of time for eighty years and is today the east wing of Alumni Hall. A large and beautiful hall was opened on the second floor of the wing as a library and reading room. The hall was opened to students during free hours and all day Sundays and holidays. Fr. O'Dwyer, the president, after a pro- tracted illness, died on May 24, 1850. On his death Fr. Hartnett was chosen president, but was suc- ceeded the following year by Fr. Moriarity. Nothing of particular note occurred until 1855. At the commencement of that year the Bachelor of Arts degree was conferred upon James F. Dooley and Henry C. Alexander. This was the first time that the college had exercised its powers of granting degrees. The following year Fr. 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 authorities decided that their interests would be best served by temporarily closing the college. So. on Commencement Day in 1857, the students were told of this decision and were bidden farewell. Eight years passed away before the college was reopened. In the meantime, the Fathers had seen their missionary efforts crowned with success, and with Fr. Mullen as president, classes were resumed in September, 1865. In the years following, the institution prospered greatly under the supervision of Fathers Mullen. Galberry and Stanton as presidents. In the year 1871, a disastrous fire was narrowly- averted in the monastery building. Tuvlve
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