Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

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The World War brought a military atmosphere to the campus for the first time. The days of the student were full ones from the shivering roll-call at reveille until the solemn taps blown in the evening. After the November Armistice of 1918, enthusiasm for the Army Student’s Training Corps waned rapidly, and on December 11, 1918 the unit was disbanded, and Villanova re- turned to normality. The growth of Villanova during the twenties was remarkable. It was to the administration’s credit that the college was able to keep pace with the economic expansion throughout the country. During this period, the school of Commerce and Finance was established, and with that, the organization of the curriculum was set up to function under four separate Deans, each in charge of a school. It was almost immediately necessary to provide more dormitory space, and Austin Hall was constructed in 1924. The disaster of fire struck the campus in January, 1928. The old College Hall was almost completely destroyed, yet with accommodations reduced to a minimum, with crowded confusion, the students remained absolutely loyal; not a student left the college. With much work and effort on the part of the adminis- tration, a new and modern Villanova grew out of the ashes. On the site of the destroyed building was erected the present Mendel Hall. In 1930, Fedigan Hall was completed, and in 1931, the Commerce and Finance building. Further building not neces- sarily connected with the post-fire construction was carried on. The north side of the stadium was erected in 1929; the field house was constructed next to the stadium in 193 2. The spectre of fire again struck the campus in the summer of 1932. The new monastery was destroyed. This financial blow, coming on the heels of the recent College Hall fire and the subse- quent building program, was heart-breaking. Nevertheless, the new Monastery was completed in 1934. Major building operations came to a halt with the completion of the Monastery, but by September 1943, four private residences adjoining the campus had been acquired by purchase. 1943 saw the campus once again transformed by a global con- flict, as the Navy’s V-12 unit, fore-runner of our present N.R.O. T.C., was established. The placid college life again became erratic and hectic, as the educational tempo was accelerated to meet the pressing demands of war. As in the first War, Villanova graduates served their country well, and were consistently a source of pride to their Alma Mater. In June 1946, the V-12 unit was dissolved, and the organization of a permanent Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps followed. The campus has undergone tremendous expansion since the post-war period. The overwhelming influx of students at the war’s end forced Villanova to initiate an extensive program of construction. During 1947, ground was broken for the Library, Chemical Engineering building, and the Naval Science building. The construction of Sullivan Hall in 1954 marked the beginning of a far-sighted building a year” program. Dougherty Hall was completed in 1955, Sheehan Hall in 1956, Garey Hall in 1957, a new Commerce and Finance building in 1958, and at present construction is proceeding on the new Science building. Villanova University’s development in the past one hundred and eighteen years has been remarkable. There is a great amount of history and tradition encompassed in the growth span from John Rudolph’s humble barn to the four-million-dollar Science building. The men who have directed and guided Villanova through the years, the Augustinians, deserve credit and praise. But more than this, they are worthy of the perpetual gratitude and loyalty shown by the hundreds of graduates who have passed through the doors of their University, Villanova.

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Our The 1960 Commencement exercises will mark the completion of Villanova University’s one hundred and eighteenth year of existence. The complete and authentic history of this period has yet to be formally written. Within the contents of this sketch we are attempting to present informally the highlights of the University’s progress through the years to the present position which it now enjoys. Villanova had its humble inception on October 31, 1841, with the purchase of the Belle Air Estate from its owner, John Ru- dolph, for the sum of $18,000. Upon purchase of the estate, plans were immediately put into effect to open a college, to be named appropriately after St. Thomas of Villanova. Classes were opened on September 18, 1843, with ten students enrolled. Villa- nova was indeed off to a modest beginning. Historic Prosperity at the college was short-lived, however. In 1844, the Know-Nothing riots engulfed Philadelphia, and a wave of anti-Catholicism ensued. Its effects were felt out in the coun- Past. . . try” as Villanova closed her doors for the protection of all con- cerned. The college managed to re-open in 1845, but due to in- creasing difficulties, it was forced to close again the following February. Strenghtened by financial support, the college re- opened a second time on September 6, 1 846, with a total enroll- ment of twenty-four students. Villanova’s growth was rapid in the next eighteen months and, on March 10, 1848, the Governor of Pennsylvania, Francis Shunk, signed An act to incorporate the Augustinian College in the County of Delaware and the State of Pennsylvania,” thereby giving Villanova its legal existence. At the same time, the college expanded. In April of 1848, a new building was begun and com- pleted the following February. That building is now the east wing of Alumni Hall. Campus life was somewhat different under the more stringent regulations of those days. The students were restricted to the campus under penalty of expulsion; minor offenses against disci- pline were punishable by the memorization of Latin excerpts. Students rose at 5:00 a. m., and were required to be in bed by 9:00 p. m. Silence was enforced at all times in the dormitory, as well as the washroom and study hall. In 185 5, the first A.B. degree was awarded, and the first M.A. was conferred in 1857. After the Commencement of 18 57 hard times descended — professors as well as funds were scarce. The Panic of 18 57 finally forced the college to close her doors a second time. This time the doors were to stay closed for eight years, through the Civil War, until the restoration of peace in 1865, that classes were resumed. The present University chapel was begun in 188 3, and com- pleted when Bishop Ryan of Philadelphia blessed the edifice in July, 1887. In 1889, Father Fedigan, then president of Villanova, under- took the construction of two immense new buildings, College Hall and the Monastery, both razed by fires in 1928 and 1932 re- spectively. The Villanova of 1893 included then, a fine chapel, and adequate college hall, a small gymnasium, and the monastery. Before 1900, Villanova may be said to have been a Liberal Arts School almost exclusively. Previously, scientific branches had been taught as part of a general Arts curriculum. To keep pace with the national trend, various professional schools were esta- blished; the school of Engineering was opened in 1905, and in 1915, the Pre-Med course was introduced. The Summer and Ex- tension Schools were already in preparation and became realities in 1918 and 1919 respectively. 10

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An institution’s progress can be easily measured by its physical development. ViUanova in 1842 was merely a small cluster of farm buildings, but by 1900, it had grown to a moderate-sized campus. Continuous building dating from the turn of the century produced the campus of 1929, pictured to the right. Shortly thereafter, two sepa- rate fires caused a serious setback, but the rcconsruction undertaken immediately restored the campus appearance. As the College approached its Centennial, plans were already being made to increase greatly the existing facilities. The College . ♦ . Construction of College Hall, now Mendel Hall, began early in 1900. The entire facilities of the college were located there. Villanova’s contribution to the war effort was officially recog- nized by dedication of its serv- ice flag in 1918. Mendel Hall, a gutted shell, as a result of the fire of 1928. A new and more modern building was reconstructed.