Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

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•V- VIIMNOVA By 1872 Villonovo hod grown from th« singlt building which hod comprised the Rudolph home to the four structures shown above. St. Rita's Hall, center, was the original building. On the right is the college building, which now forms port of Alumni Hall. At the extreme left is the Gymnasium, and next to it the Chapel. Lancaster Turnpike was then little more than a dirt rood olong which the stage coaches travelled, but it was nevertheless an important thoroughfare for the day. Any analysis of the founding and growth of Villa- novol College will, of necessity, reflect the story of ex- pansion, prosperity, and disaster in the history of our notion. So inextricably has the development of Villa- nova been bound to the progress of this country for over one hundred years that every period of notional change has been mirrored in some woy. however small, in the history of the school. But unmistolcenly through both, shine high ideals of improvement and the deter- mined will to forge ahead as the needs of time de- mand. Villonovo stands ready for the future secure in the knowledge of her glorious post and of her accom- plishments in fulfilling the high standards of Catholic and American education she has always nurtured. Classes began formally ot Villonovo in September. 1843, in a smoll group of buildings purchased by Rev. Patrick E. Moriority. O.S.A., from John Rudolph, owner of the land which hod constituted the Belle Air Estate. With o limited number of classrooms, a faculty of six. and ten students, Villonovo very unimpressively began its first Fall term. During the next one hundred years, however, it was the fortune of students and professors to know intoler- ance. to cope with depression, and to shore in the na- tional emergencies of four wars. It was due to onti- Cotholic demonstrations which swept this area in 1844 that Villonovo was forced to close in February. 1846. These outbursts were of short duration, however, and in September. 1846. with a total enrollment of 24 students, the college was able to re-open its doors. The faculty, students, and college continued on this basis until March 10. 1848, when Villonovo was incorporated in the County of Delaware in the State of Pennsylvania. Thus assured of her lego! existence. Villonovo prepared for the futrue. The future was not immediately bright. A few years later the panic of 1857 and its resultant depression forced the college to suspend operation once again. The Civil War. in its course, extended this period of inac- tivity until 1865. when the school was again able to re-open. From its very beginning Villonovo had been con- cerned with survival, but with the erection of its first gymnasium in 1869 the promise of expansion began. This promise was continued in the issuance of the first college catalogue in 1871. The book described the col- lege and explained the educotionol organization, which then consisted of three years of preparatory work and o four years Arts course. At this time Villonovo was pri- marily an Arts College. Shortly after this the Villanova Alumni Society was formed and began the active work which has since proved extremely beneficial to the school. When Villanova’s golden jubilee was celebrated in 1893. the college boasted a faculty of 31 and a student body of 90. The physical increments of half a century had indeed been small, but what was there had the firm foundations of a permanent institution. The next 10

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WE PAY TRIBUTE TO FATHER HIEKEY This yeor, for the first time in the centuries-old history of the Order of Saint Augustine, an American Father was elected Prior General. On April 26. the Very Reverend Joseph A. Hickey, O.S.A., J.C.D., S.T.M., was chosen to succeed Reverend Charles Pasquini, O.S.A., for a six-year term in the highest office of the Order. Ordained in Rome in 1906, Father Hickey returned to Villanova a few years later and filled various offices here during the following years: teacher, director of the preparatory seminary, Prior of Corr Hall, Regent of Studies, and President of the College. Previous to his recent election, he had served for twenty-two years as Assistant General of the Order and had resided at the Villanova Monastery during the last six years of his term. It seems especially fitting that, during this year which marks the beginning of a new era of expansion and development of the school, a man who for so many years has been sincerely interested in the problems of Villanova should be honored with the office of Prior General. As students of Villanova. we offer words of praise and congratulations ond add a fervent prayer that he will receive the necessary spiritual guidance and aid. 9

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THROUGH THE YEAHS holf century wos to see the increases that hove placed Villanova in the high collegiate status she enjoys today. In 1899. Rev. John J. Fedigan. O.S.A.. believing in the college, started work on College Hall and the Monas- tery. These were completed in 1902. and Father Fedi- gan's dreams for the expansion of Villlonova started to be realized. Three years later the Engineering Deport- ment wos instituted, and the gains were consolidated with the establishment of a Science School in 1915. This wos followed by the formation of the Summer School three years later, in consequence of which an extension school was placed in operation the following year. 1919. Throughout the latter years of this period the col- lege hod not been unoffected by the first World War. Villanova opened her doors to military students, and an Army Student Training Corps was maintained until late in December. 1918. Almost immediately following the war. the college began onew a period of growth, so thot in the late twenties it became necessary to establish a business school program and erect the Com- merce and Finance Building. It was during this time, with an enormously increased enrollment, thot Villanova secured the position she maintains today as one of the leading Catholic colleges in the notion. In 1928 one of the series of disasters which mark our history occurred when College Hall was destroyed by fire. With the same zeal that prompted Villanova's inception and growth, the college Fathers built again, and Mendel Hall was constructed to replace the demol- ished building. Despite the notional depression and the consequently lessened enrollment, the present Field House wos finished in 1932. In the same year a second major fire struck the campus and destroyed the imposing re- minder of the school's ear'ier days—the Monastery. Once more, and without delay to the educational pro- gram. Villanova quickly replaced the building, and by 1934 the present day monastery was completed. The era that followed. 1934-41, was a period of con- tinuing accretion ond consolidation. They were quiet years compared to the decades that had preceded them and in contrast to the years of upheaval that were to come. This peace, however, was broken by the ad- vent of the second World War, just as Villanova pre- pared to commemorate her centennial anniversary. Alumni Hall, only edifice remaining on today's campus from the group which comprised (he original college, ot one (ime housed oil of Villanova's scholastic facilities. Other buildings since hove been destroyed by the fires which hove marred every era of the school's history. In July. 1932. the lost big fire destroyed the monastery as Summer School students lobored to save what they could from the burning structure. Today—rebuilt, enlarged, beau- tified—buildings like Mendel Hall stand as an enduring tribute to the industry ond perseverance of Augustinion Fothers of more than a century.