Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

Page 16 text:

COLLEGE HISTORY Original Buildings 1850 INETY-FOUR years has she lived—our Alma Mater. She has rejoiced and sorrowed, struggled and enjoyed periods of repose, hut always she has kept her eager eyes fixed on the golden banner in the heavens. She has followed the words emblazoned thereon Veritas, Unitas, Caritas.” She sees even beyond that to a cross from which shine out letters in glittering gold, In hoc signo vinces.” To every true son of Villanova it should be a pleasure and a journey of love to wander back into the beginnings of our beloved Alma Mater. At the beginning of the nineteenth century there was no Villanova. It was Belle-Air. On Octo- ber 13, 1806, John Rudolph, a Catholic mer- chant of Philadelphia, bought a farm of one hundred acres from Jonathan Miller of Haver- ford township. He afterwards enlarged his farm by purchasing four neighboring tracts of land. Rudolph was born in Philadelphia about 1760 and had served as a lieutenant in the Revolution- ary War. When he bought this farm there was an unfinished building on it. He completed it and then moved from town and in remembrance (it is said) of his father's native place in Eng- land, called our present Villanova, Belle-Air. We, who arc so blessed with convenience in this day, will be surprised to learn that Mr. Rudolph drove every Sunday to Philadelphia to the nearest Catholic Church. The many details of Belle-Air life we must pass over. Rudolph died March 30, 1838, and was buried at St. Mary's, Philadelphia. Belle- Air was advertised for sale to take place on Thursday, October 14, 1841. The day before the one announced for the public sale, Belle-Air was purchased by Rev. Augustine Kyle, of St. Augustine's, and Dr. Moriarty, commissary of the province. On January 5, 1842, title to Belle-Air was granted to the Brothers of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine.” During the same year, on August 28, the feast of St. Augustine, illustrious doctor of the church and founder of the Augustinian order, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated on our cam- pus for the first time. It was then that the Estate of Belle-Air became known as Villanova, being placed under the patronage of St. Thomas of Villanova, a saintly bishop, loved for his charity towards the poor. On the 18th day of September, 1842, classes Villanova 1857

Page 15 text:



Page 17 text:

am Alumni Hall opened with an enrollment of six students. The faculty consisted of seven professors, who con- ducted classes on the first floor of the Belle-Air mansion. In the short period of two years the student body increased to forty-five. Soon Villanova's reputation spread far and wide and it was necessary to expand. Thus it was in the year 1S44 that the first new college building was constructed, classes being trans- ferred to it immediately. The first College pros- pectus was soon issued and during that same summer a new chapel was completed and dedi- cated. Due to the Know-Nothing” uprising, which was at its height in Philadelphia during this period, the Church of St. Augustine in that city was burned and its reconstruction involved such a tremendous expense to the Augustinian Order that it was necessary to suspend classes until the following year. Reopening in 1S46, the first public commence- ment was held during the July of the next year. Father O'Dwyer officiated as president of the College and associated with him were Fathers Ashe, Hartnett and Kyle. Also Messrs. Ainslcy and Gibncy, who were retained as lay professors. In the year 1848 the State Legislature granted a charter and on March 10th of the same year. Governor Francis R. Shunk signed “An Act to incorporate the Augustinian College of Villa- nova in the County of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania. 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 School of Theology inaugurated. The years prior to 1855 were marked by the Villanova College 1922