Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

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4 II Close-up of Rudolph House where Mass was said until the Chapel of Our Mother of Consolation was constructed in 1844. The col- lege bell in the locust tree was recast from metal salvaged front the bell of St. Augustine’s Church which originally was used in the tower of Independence Hall—the predecessor to the Liberty Bell. The old college bell has been located at the Church of St. Nicholas of Tolentine, O.S.A., Flushing, Long Island, and was brought to Villanova for the Centennial Celebration. Villanova in 1872 was not a large place. To the right is the College building, completed in 1844. In the center is St. Rita's Hall, which had been the old Rudolph home, and to the left the chapel and gymnasium. In the fore- ground is the Lancaster Turnpike, then little more than a dirt road, along which the stagecoaches traveled. It was nevertheless an important thoroughfare, as it is today, for it led to Conestoga where the famous wagons were made.

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LATIN VULGATE: emoixTiT cmeamp with t.i HEBREW, CRF.EK. AND OTHER EDITIONS. IN DIVERS LANGt'AGESj THE ENGLISH COLLEGE AT DOW AY. ANNO ifo . purer »»»co»»i i«k »• THE CLEMENTINE EDITION Of THE SCRIPTURES «na iiMttnoiiu nniMtin THE PRINCIPAL DIFFICULTIES OF HOLY WRIT. MINUO AND SOLD »» CARET, STEWART, AND U. ILKC.U. The Rudolph family, the ancestors of Villanova’s for- mer owner, followed the old custom of recording important family events in their Bible. John Rudolph made Belle- Air his home from 1806 until his death in 1838. Before the establishments of a mission at Cobbs Creek in 1828, he used to drive to Philadelphia to Mass each Sunday. Below: This indenture, drawn up between John Rudolph and a near-by farmer named Blackston, stated the terms of employment of the latter’s daughter as a domestic servant in the Rudolph Household. [ HIS INDENTURE ,aa V d ' ■ »• . ds e s 5 eeds' ' y X. 4Sty . - KttS pul hrewtf. Irtl by Ihrw yrtKnu doth sofununJjynd «.! ■ tm (nf . J] mi taari. pul h rwU H v x, i . ' - ' ‘ 1 1... V € +.,| u kirafc .n. tr V. «ad mj«vry of 7%v7T.-. i=J. tkttOx rnirnr Ji »n tpfxcohcr, lu kiw iU •ft ✓ a a V . .V ’ . .,■ s u: fee a • iw snd farv . ted lo ibe fufl «ml sod uiaV C j| Ar c M+Jt A (frdr ?' «i I) : i«n Uk «. « «I spprmdtt k»f uid «iftr ux) iIiiru Ciitbfully XttU mf. i ' r «mi kerp. tbtir baful command ererjr where r »d.:j '«bey, the •N»a da TO .t»m»gr w ber uad niMer snd mmfTM, nor K( h M W done by ‘Stn. «tJm»' l»tiir. oi nork tberroF to her uad r.-. :• and m». m «. «Nr «lull net rreuc her uid inivi snd nmnu i good , rx« lead ibres visrrfally m any. fix KsS wx roman fomicsooo. ace contract matrimony «id» the smd iens, she tte0 nor pixy t conk, dice. or sop «lawful «• “- «hereby her mid ms.ter snd mutret msy h»« duw Jf »M her own good, nor i( gwd f ocVerv reUi Umcr from her laid asivr »nd mnnres. tlx dull nrnhet boy nor wll. »V sh.H nos sbwnt Uridf dsy no» rug bom her tmd ««ms, sr.1 mu m'i ttmu, mmbni ihew ksrt. Me rr r TA Vrt T„ ,Y1 „ s r.«hful spyrmac m«M u dur,ng uV uid Kns... AM) itaLid msivr rr«s dull use » utmom of i „ redraw to teach iM mix tamrucud. lbs u i spyernU. m Ox irsdr an.! «yawof were appointed as the first community at Villanova. On August 28, 1843, the feast of St. Augustine, Fr. O Dwyer as first president celebrated Mass in the parlor of the former mansion, now a Chapel dedi- catcd to the honor of St. Thomas of Villanova, an Augustinian Saint. Classes opened on September 18th. There were seven students the first day. A few days later three more were added. This mere handful was Villa' nova s modest beginning. To assist the three Augustinians on the faculty were a secular priest, Fr. Bonduel, and two laymen, Mr. E. Ansley and Mr. J. Dalton. The subjects taught were English, mathematics, history, Latin, Greek, and modern languages. Chapel, refectory, kitchen, classrooms, and study hall were on the first floor of the main building. The faculty had its rooms on the second floor, while the floor above was fur nished with dormitories for the students, but things ouribhed so well that in a short time new buildings a to be erected to house the incoming students. Yet this prosperity was short lived. In 1844 a wave of anti-Catholicism swept over Philadelphia which finally resulted in the burning of St. Augus- tine s and whose blasts were even felt at Villanova. The Augustinians lost so much during these riots that ,t required all their energies to survive. The college was able to open in 1845, but due to increas- ing difficulties it was forced to close the following February 20th. Plans to reopen were begun immediately. Large aims vvere collected in America and Europe; the lames of bigotry burned low, and things were begin- ning to take on a brighter aspect. The college,

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'ST. DELAWARE COOKTY. ANNUAL COMMKNCKMENT, Tk. onatKrrt — ■ top V . C cuoa ■ o CM. MEMOKY. ruiM MUSIC. SOCIETY Taoa Al music. ’' CY AOM1NTO FITLRO 1»K LAjNSTnr«; Jio.X. MUSIC. CHRISTI ANITV—iu result». I MI.AM 111 11 1- M U S I C ; nfsTmistme «trux»» iu cnrtrr.iR« oiones, MUSIC REV. AMBROSE MULLEN, O.S.A. Rev. John P. O’Dwyer, O.S.A., was the first president of Villa- nova. ... In the last Provincial Council held in Baltimore in May, 1849, Fr. O’Dwyer, by the most unanimous vote ever given by the Bishops, was elected to fill the Bishopric of Savannah.” Before consecration his health failed and he died in 1850 at the age of 34. Father William Harnett, Villanova’s second president, was a Philadelphian. He studied in Italy under the direction of Stephan Bcllesini, who has since been raised to Blessed. Fr. Harnett taught and officiated from 1843 to 1857. Father Ambrose Mullen, fourth president of the college. Educ- ated in Italy and ordained in Philadelphia, he served both as Prior and President from 1865 to 1869. The College Commencement Program for 1856, shown at left, is a cherished relic of Villanova’s earlier days. Apparently the procedure of commencement has changed very little through the decades. Musical recitals, student valedictories and the distribu- tion of diplomas and awards were the order of the day. REV. JOHN P. O’DWYER, O.S.A. REV. WILLIAM HARNETT, OAA.