Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

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pleted in 1848. This new building was the first in a long series of expansions throughout the history of Villanova. The story of our college is not entirely one of suc- cesses. but rather one of overcoming the difficulties that have stood in its path. Hazards to its existence arose twice within the first few years of its lifo and forced it to close its doors, even if temporarily. In 1848. the reper- cussions of the wave of anti-Catholicism prevalent in the country forced the college to suspend operations. Again in 1857. the doors were shut os a result of the pressing need for the few priests to work in the missionary fields. But these set-backs, as serious as they were, could not discourage tho tenacity and spirit, nor douse the fire in the hearts of the true Villanovans. Villanova determinedly reopened in 1865. and since then has stood steadfast through wars, depressions and panics, through fires and crises, and has survived, not unscathed, but yet indomitable. Two devastating fires plagued the college in 1928 and again in 1932. The first destroyed the College Hall and the second razed the Monastery, both of which were new buildings at the time, having been built but a generation before in 1902. From the small beginnings on the Rudolph farm. Villa- nova has oxponded into a 166 acre campus containing Thi wo a typical Latin clan in 1894. Father McFadden, not re- lated to our contemporary, wo the initructor. It it interetting to note the dignified pote when the group wot photogrophed. In comparing men' attire today with that of the late 19th century, only minor deviation are obviout. The low collar of the tuit twenty-eight buildings. The lotest, the Naval Science Building, the Library, and the Chemical Engineering Building ore adjudged to be the most modern structures of their type in this section of the country. The initial impetus to the expansion program was given by Father O’Dwyer, who os president in 1848 had the first school building constructed. Since his time there have been few years when some sort of construction has not been taking place on the campus. The College Build- ing wos completed in 1874. the Chapel, in 1886. the Monastery and the College Hall in 1902. Mendel Hall was constructed on the ruins of College Hall after the fire, and a few years later, in 1932. the burned Monas- tery was rebuilt. A modern Stadium and Field House appeared on the campus thot same year, and just last year, the Naval Science and Chemicol Engineering Build- ings were completed. The new Library opened soon after the last two, and added much to both the beouty and culture of the campus. This is something of the past. You see the present. As for the future of our college we can see nothing but con- tinued success and expansion. But no matter how great it becomes, it will remain forever to us, the simple, warm and friendly Augustinion College of Villanova. coot and horter tloeve enabling french cuff to eitend one half inch beyond fhe jleeve ore port of the pre-requitite for a well dretted man today. The bow tie and windtor knot ore a popular today at they were in 1894.

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Fn . ,o9' 9 Aen l«' ■ ;;»««- -,rt£i»' k “'ua ’d o J »• °‘ C. °“e -ere d n)rr r Scfcoo c r°y d • Kt'UiJP,9d bY o S’,,;0', '» eoW is»';■'• ■ 4T°' Ct'? ' «. ’ ‘o'—.... • ' -SrtrtJ I '' 0. „„ » 'o . 9 ‘“«mg. ‘ ,,0“ a ,0 » FQUNllATIUjY DEVELDPME1VT EXPANSION S;. Thomas of Villanovo. the well-known Spanish saint of the sixteenth century. Since that day. the college and the surrounding countryside has been popularly colled Villanovo. Advancing along the academic pathway. Villanovo soon received formal recognition and legal acceptance from Governor Francis R. Shunk of Pennsylvania, who in 1848 granted to the Augustinion College of Villanovo in the County of Deloware and the State of Pennsylvania. a charter to teach and grant degrees that would be recognized by other colleges and universities in the United States. It wos not until seven years after the charter had been granted that the new college exercised its prerogative and oworded the first Bachelor of Arts degree bearing the name of Villanovo. Until the turn of the century, Villanovo had been strictly an arts college. The curriculum, not unlike that of the Arts School today, included the study of English. Greek, Latin. History, Mathematics. Logic. Rhetoric. Phi- losophy. and modern languages. The students in the early days were governed by strict rules, forbidding snuff, tobacco, liquor, bad conduct and misbehavior. All led regular lives, arising ot 5:30 in the morning, and get- ting to bed by 9 in the evening. The entire college, priests and resident students, was housed and taught in the monastery until the new college building was com-

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CHAPEL The twin spires of the College Chopel dominate and tower over the other buildings and justly so, for Christ should be the center of every student's college educa- tion. The chopel is centrally located in o place of con- venience where the residents can easily make daily Mass and evening chapel and the day-hops con stop for a visit. The chapel was completed ond the corner stone was laid in 1883, and. by the grace of God. was spared from serious damage in the Monastery fire in July. 1932. From the opening day of the Freshman year to the Baccalaureate Mass on Graduation day. the chapel is the center of the student's spiritual life. Early in the year, there is a day of spiritual recollection, and later, at the semester break in January, there is a three day retreat to enable the students to stop ond analyze their spiritual position. These ore the special aids and are im- portant but not more so than the Daily Masses and eve- ning chapels which help to keep the students alert ond spiritually on their guard. In the semi-darkness of the cold winter mornings and in the warm bright twilight of the spring evenings, men of Villonova can be seen walking to and from their chopel. The College Chapel it the focol point of all religiout activity in o Villanovan't life. His hours spent in meditation or participating at Matt. Bonediction. ond other religious rituals constitute on inte- gral port of tho two-fold effect of his coreor. a Christian gentle- man and a scholar. Completely redecorated at the turn of the century, the Chapel's interior lends to the solitude and peace of mind a student experiences during his periodic visits. Eoch year several alumni return for an occasional visit or to pro- nounce their nuptiol vows.