Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

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▼ THE 9 3 5 BELLE A I R ▼ Two Graduates of Villanova in the County of Delaware and State of Pennsyl' vania.” By virtue of this charter the president and faculty were empowered to grant degrees. At the same time the college seal was adopted and the ecclesiastical school inaugurated. FIRST DEGREES The years from 1848 to 1855 were uneventful, with the exception of the completion of the present east wing of Alumni Hall and the sorrowful death of Father O'Dwyer. Father Hart' nett was the president next chosen, but was succeeded the follow' ing year by Father Moriarity. At that year's commencement the degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred upon James F. Dooley and Henry C. Alexander. This was the first time that the college had exercised its power to grant degrees. The following year Father Hartnett returned as president of the college. The Order faced its second great crisis when three missions demanded immediate attention. The authori' ties 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 bid farewell. The fathers, however, never abandoned their hope and idea of educating Catholic youth. Eight long years passed. In the meantime, the Augustinians had seen their missionary efforts crowned with success, and, with Father Mullen as president, classes were resumed in September, 1865. In the years following, the institution prospered greatly under the supervision of Fathers Mullen, Galbery, and Staton as presidents. NEW BUILDINGS A long'contemplated college building was begun on April 1, 1873. This structure was completed on February 3, 1874, and named Alumni Hall. At the same time a new post'oflice was opened, the nearest one heretofore having been at Haverford. Dur ing the succeeding years, not particularly eventful, the president's Fourteen

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▼ the 1935 BELLE AIR and most kind to the poor, St. Thomas was indeed an inspiration. In his honor the institution was called Villanova, but the hallowed name of Belle Air remains as a cherished tradition. SIX STUDENTS Desirous of joining in the work of educating Catholic youth and anxious to honor God in the name of St. Augustine, Villa' nova took up the task of fitting young men for their life's work. On September 18, 1843, classes opened with an attendance of six students, which increased to forty'five within two years. The faculty consisted of three priests and four laymen, who taught on the first floor of the Belle Air mansion. Expansion became necessary as the name of Villanova began to spread far and wide. Her reputation as a “teacher of distine' tion’’ became established. Thus it was in the year 1844 that the first new college building was completed, classes being transferred to it immediately. Shortly after, the first prospectus of the College was issued. That same summer a new chapel was erected and blessed on September 1st. The First Class 1847 THE FIRST FIRE The first stroke of misfortune to the Augustinian Fathers occurred about this time when the Know'Nothing uprising was at its height in Philadelphia. St. Augustine's Church of that city was burned and its reconstruction involved such an expense to the Order that classes were ordered suspended until the following year. Reopening in 1846, the first public commencement was held during July of the next year. Father O'Dwyer was president and with him were associated Fathers Ashe, Hartnett and Kyle. Messrs. Ainsley and Gibney were retained as lay professors. RECOGNITION In 1848 petition for a charter was made to the State Legis' lature and on March 10th of the same year the governor, Francis R. Shunk, signed “An Act to incorporate the Augustinian College Thirteen

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▼ the 1935 BELLE AIR chair was occupied in turn by Fathers Middleton, Fcdigan, and Coleman. The Fathers now concentrated their efforts upon a new and fitting chapel. So, on July 3, 1887, the present chapel of St. Thomas of Villanova was dedicated after four years were spent in its construction. Its architectural beauty and attractive design are outstanding. It reechoes the traditions of those many students who have daily gathered under her pinnacled towers to do homage to God. The college, presided over by the successors of Father Cole' man—Fathers Sheeran and McEvoy—celebrated on Wednesday, June 21, 1893, her golden jubilee. Progress TWENTIETH CENTURY PROGRESS With the dawn of the twentieth century Villanova started to take rapid strides in progress. In 1901 the new twin buildings. College Hall and Monastery, were dedicated. This addition per mitted the establishment, in 1903, of the Engineering Department, which has since been ranked among the foremost in the country. These commendable achievements occurred under the leadership of Father Delury, who occupied the presidency for fifteen years. He was succeeded in turn by Fathers Dean, Driscoll, Hickey, and Sullivan. In 1912 St. Rita's Hall, the original Monastery, was com' pletely destroyed by fire. But again the authorities courageously combated the misfortune and set out to rebuild. As a result of their efforts, the present St. Rita's Hall arose. Corr Hall was begun and the School of Science was augmented. Thus equipped, the Augustinian Fathers were prepared to extend further their influence into the field of education and Catholic action. THE WORLD WAR Once again was Fate destined to intervene with the successful activities of the Order. War had been declared, and with our country's entrance into the struggle Villanova became the site of 1912