Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

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% a® WW; COMMK C0T3»T«. PE ;SCV ESt, J' -r w‘1'5 8 M O 1 Father Ambrose Mullen, third president of the college. Educated in Italy and ordained in Philadelphia, he served both as Prior and President from 1865 to 1869. The College Commencement Pro- gram for 1856, shown at left, is a cherished relic of Villanova » earlier days. Apparently the procedure of commencement has changed very lit- tle through the decades. Musical recitals, student valedictories and the distribution of diplomas and awards were the order of the day. Second Reopening The Fathers hoped that classes would he resumed at least within two years. For various reasons, chief of which were a lack of sufficient finances caused by the De- pression of '57 and the uncertain times of the Civil War, the college was not re- opened until 1865, upon the restoration of peace and after a suspension of eight years. Earlier studies were the traditional liberal arts courses. In a prospectus issued in 1850, the regular courses of studies at Villanova comprised Latin, Greek, English, history, geography, mathematics, logic, rhetoric, poetry, natural and moral philosophy, and chemistry. Modern languages were offered as special courses. With the resump- tion of class work in 1865 the course of studies remained much the same with the addition of bookkeeping and music. The next year, 1866, drawing was added. In 1866, M. Pierre Amu, a graduate of Heidelberg, was placed on the teaching staff. M. Amu remained at Villanova as professor of French and German for more than fifty years. Thus, in 1867, we arrive to the end of the first quarter century of Villanova's history. We leave to our successors the continuation of the history in detailed quarterly installments in order that the complete pictorial history will he available when the Centennial Year of 1943 arrives. Thanking God for the self-sacrifices and keen judgment of the early Fathers, we close this belated celebration of the Silver Jubilee. Twenty-seven

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Some of (he Pioneering Father» associated with (he reopen- ing of Villanova in 1865. Sealed, Left to Right: Pacifico Ncno. Louis Edge. William Harnett. Patrick Stanton. M. Gallagher, Thoma Galberry. Philip Iz o. Second Ron: James Waldron. Michael Collins. P. Crane. Ambrose Mullen. Edward Donnelly. Third Ron : Thomas Middleton. James Darragh, Francis Sheeran. Edward Daily. Six former presidents are in the group: Fathers Harnett. Stanton. Mullen. Middleton. Sheeran and Galberry. Later Fr. Galberry became Bishop of Ffartford. Connecticut. Father William Harnett, Villa- nova's second president, was a Philadelphian. He studied in Italy under the direction of Stephen Belle- sini, who has since been raised to Blessed. Fr. Harnett taught and officiated from 1845 to 1857. First Reopening With the passing of the troubles in Philadelphia, the Fathers determined to reopen the college. Classes were resumed on September 6, 1846. At the close of the school term the first public commencement was held at Villanova. Such exercises had been held before, at the close of the first and second years of the college, but those were private affairs, consisting merely of the awarding of prizes. In the Spring of 1848, a petition was made to the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania, asking for a charter for the college. On March 10, 1848, Hon. Francis R. Shunk, Governor of the State, signed “An act to incorporate the Augustinian College of Villanova, in the County of Delaware, and the State of Pennsylvania. It is interesting to note that between 1789 and 1850, thirty-eight Catholic Colleges for men were established in the United States. Eleven have survived as colleges or universities to the present time. Villanova was established for the dual purpose of educating candidates for the Church and for the world. Up to this year all cleric members of the province, with only one exception, had been sent to Europe to make their studies. Now they were to be kept at home to pursue their ecclesiastical course. Mr. Charles Egan, a native of Cork, Ireland, was received into the novitiate on May 18th of the year 1848, be- corning the first cleric novice at Villanova. Fr. Harnett, prior, was also novice-master. The ecclesiastical department has always been a distinct branch of the college. Gradual expansion was evident until 1857. The Fathers were helping to carry the nirden of attending the outlying missions of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. This was causing a shortage of men at the college. After long delibera- non, the Fathers concluded that the interests of the Catholic Church in America would he best served by closing the college department, and devoting their zeal and energies wholly to the missions.

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«;”c • ’• UvsiS»- , ■u V kjrfk'J lai' iE °° 3 ‘5 sss- ™ S '-w ■ V J g£ 3“ L m « '»' ” . -V. . pf'V uf » °r ‘ U| sfesfig » lo c° b cr»p °n w by »P9 ‘ 6 . -V. I JSr Member. J -i W U» Tui r' f: W' ' Sfefgsr.=— ?tSk »SL’S«w sessili • -•“ “ ' ' Sg K .-- Scientific jpp.ir.itii» and books forming the nucleus of a line library came from Europe with the pioneering Fathers. The library was opened in a large and beautiful hall in the second story of the College Building. It was augmented by books from St. Augustine’s Church which was burned in the riots of 1844. Some of the books carried away during the lire arc being returned to Villanovj even to this day. Sports and other activities seem to have played an important part in the life of a Villanova stu- dent even from the very beginning of the college. Walking, hunting, swimming, skating, and base- hall were the favorite sports. Of these baseball and hiking were particularly popular. During season- able weather a baseball game was played every Sunday afternoon and during the other recreation periods. Every free day the entire student body was divided into three “crowds” for the purpose of hikes. Not a lad was excused, no matter what his plea, save sickness or lameness. Other favorite games were Hop, Step, and Jump; Hank-a-dea, Prisoners Base, Duck-on-Davy, and Tag. Foot races were among the tricks of speed, besides many sorts of jumping games, such as: pole vaulting, high jump, as well as broad and long. One of the prefects, afterwards a priest, was for many years the college champion, with a jump of twenty-two feet to his credit. Marbles too were among the many diversions that raised the spirits of the collegians dubbed, no doubt, at times, by hard class work. Seniors, at least some of them, were as fond of playing marbles as were the juniors. In addition to the sports activities, there were societies in which the students were occupied during their free time. Included among these societies were such organizations as the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Debating Society, the Dramatic, St. Augustine's Library Association, and the Cornet Band. The last mentioned was one of the first societies in the school and owed its origin to one of the early professors who was himself a skilled musician and noted for his ability as a clarinet player. Baseball wo popular at Villanova os early a 1867. This pajje from an old scorcbook, still extant, is the record of a Came between the Seminarians from St. Charles Borromco and a representative nine from Villanova. Father Mullen, then President of the College, was a rabid baseball fan and served as umpire in this as well as many other games. —— Baso Ball Club. M i t if n j 2% v I S ft a ■ Ik i 1 Hi i 3 I 1 1 i 3 2 1 J I 3 1 1 3 t 1 X S 1 3 1 X a 2 X i t 3 7 S 7 T2I )t.ufans tthl J ! y I I n ?' y - .y I It ■' S ■ S’ST J I I I U y y.s u d ii ii n ' r' ■ h 'o t -t-1 ■b 4(Jd. Ii III ■••■o' '■ • 7 ' 7 y I j 3 j I i j j i d tr t l II yjd j p „ Base Ball Club. • , jJjs Jy IMTy HU-4 n, y f f s r - ww. 1 'wltv 6 S’ z y V J J d, 'A'. ■ V a