Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

Page 23 text:

1892 to 1917 In 1905, to meet a rapidly expanding industrial nation's need for trained men, Villanova opened a School of Technology and instituted courses in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Neither care nor expense was spared in the erection of new labora- tories and equipping them with apparatus of the latest design. By 1909 there were in use at Villanova the drafting room, and laboratories for Dynamics and Heat, Testing, Electrical Measurement, as well as the Dyna- mo, Mechanical, and Chemical Laboratories. At the sixty-sixth annual commencement, June 15, 1909, Villa- nova graduated its first engineers: John A. White of Williamsport, Pa., and Edward J. Kirsch of Rosemont, Pa., civil engineers; John J. Smith of Altoona, Pa., electrical engineer. At commencement exercises in 1910, the last year of Father DeLurey's administration, the President of the United States, William Howard Taft, was awarded an honorary degree. President Taft also addressed the graduating class. The Rev. Edward G. Dohan was Father DeLurey's successor. During Father Dohan's tenure many fur- Oriqinally tho Belle Air Mansion. old St. Rita'» was used by the college irom the beginning. In 1902. It was converted Irom a student dormitory into a preparatory school lor Augustlnlan novices. In 1912. a little more than a century alter it was built. St. Rita's burned to the ground. Five suburban lire companies (ought the blaze, which inflicted a loss to tho college of approximately $103,000. II»

Page 22 text:

The only offering o! this 1904 Dramatics Society was Sire and Sons , a thrso act drama presented at the Garrick Theatre in Philadel- phia on Juno 9. 1904. Patrick O'Connor was in the title role oi the sire. Count Danicheif. and Francis Roonoy was Count Valdimlr. his son. O'Connor and Rconoy wore tho only officers, mem- bers of the society's business com- mittee. The Society's moderator at the time was the Rev. Lawrence A. Celurey. O.S.A., the President of tho collogo. These students all received degrees of Bachelor of Arts. The graduating class of 190S was one of tho last three groups of graduates consisting exclusively of suc- cessful B.A. candidates. Four of the six graduates were seminarians. Thomas Kiley. third from left is now the Rev. Thomas A. Kiley. O.S.A.. professor of classics at Vkllanova. At the commence- ment exercises on June 14. 1906 the medals for gentlemanly conduct, for Christian Doc- trine. and for Philosophy were awarded to Messrs. Woclsey. Kiley. and Corcoran, re- spectively. The seminarians at Vlllanova in 1905 formed almost 10% of the stu- dont body of 213. which included grammar, preparatory, and college students. Whon tho new college building was completed in 1931. old St. Rita's Hall became the prepara- tory hall for students studying for the priesthood. Back row: Ioseph Per- kins, John Condon. Jamos Daley. George Loomis. Middle row: Mor- timer Sullivan. Edwin McKonna. John Howard. Conleth Gallagher. lames Egan. Michael Drisccll, William Reil- ly. Joseph Powers. Thomas Kiley. Front row: Edwin O'Neil. John A. Howard. Howard Millor. Stephen Foran. Fr. Vlger, Charles Bakor. Luke Powers. Matthew Corcoran. 18

Page 24 text:

 L iTT Wednesday J B$inetvcl 'indents at omas olUqc Co,,t4k BiiMformni TREE1 Evenio O CL) iarvova GoU« tNTER ATIC • -vunstrxl] 'r“' lW- ouh |l JJJ. »w»'T° ,w-