Washington College - Pegasus Yearbook (Chestertown, MD)

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Introduction Colin Ferguson Second President 1789-1804 In 1723 the Kent County Free School, built upon an earlier school ol 1709, was established in Chestertown. It continued as such until 17SL ' when the Board ol Visitors, anticipating an attendance ol two hunched students and Eeeling thai many ol these desired to (enter upon a course ol philosophy and must repah to some other state at a very ; i ievous and inconvenient expense to secure then edu- cation) decided to enlarge then plans and add couises in the aits and sciences ol hiehei nature. l)i. William Smith, lust provost ol the University ol Pennsyl- vania, came to Chestertown in 1780 as rector oi the Chestei Parish Chinch. He became principal ol the Kent Count) School and was largel) responsible lot the raising ol ten thousand pounds needed lot the establishment ol the college. George Washington contributed lilt guineas and his personal consent to have the school named in h s honor, Washington Col lege. In 1781 he was made a membei ol the Board ol Visitors and Governors; and In 1789 he received the degree ol Doctoi ol Laws. When St. John ' s College was founded in 1781, the- two institutions were collectively called the University ol Maryland. The litsi o t ;u !u- ation exercises at Washington College were held on la I I, 178 . Francis Waters tilth .nut Ninth President 1817-1823; 1854-1860 The college was pailialh supported by the State until 1NII1 when the- Legislature suspended grants Foi several years. In I8 ' ' 7, to add to the distressing times, a fire swept awa the one building which compiled Washington College. In 1845 a new building was elected on the ' I I ill from I u nils which the state finally allotted and from contributions and lotteries. Richard W. Ringold was president at the time ol the erection ol the new building. To add to the one building on the hill and to meet the needs ol more Students and new courses, East and West Halls were erected in 1854. During the Civil War the college los( both prestige and students. In 1 889 Chai les W. Reid became president, anel it was under his direction and c (insistent haul woi k that Washington College gain- ed in numbers and prestige what it had lost during the Civil War. In 1892 almosi 120 students had entered Washington College. In the summer ol that same year the community built a gymnasium, which was equipped In the generosity ol the Board.

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It affords me peculiar pleasure to know thai the seat of learning under your direction hath attained to such proficiency in the sciences since the peace: and I sincerely pray the great Authin of the Universe may smile upon the Institution , and make il an extensive blessing Id I Ins country. G. WASHINGTON

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In 1896 Noi ma] I [all (offic iall named Reid 1 hill in l ( )li2. after the fourteenth president, Charles VV. Reid) was built. This build- ing program was furthered In the erection ol an administration building in 1906, during the presidency ol James W. Cain. In 1916 this building was demolished 1 fire, but it was immediately re- built almost identical in ever) respect. In 1912, with the contin- uing benevolence ol the State, the old gymnasium was replaced with a new one. tailed Cain gymnasium, it being named after the fif- teenth president, fames W. Cain. Charles W. Reid Fourteenth President, 1889-1903 Since 1923, when the administration ol Paul Emerson Tits- worth, Ph.D., 1. 1.. I)., begun, the college has steadily gained in size, population and academic standing. In 1926 Washington College was accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Second- ai Si hools. It also hii a me t|iiite active as a member ol the American Association ol Colleges. In 1933 Dr. Gilbert W. Mead became president ol the college. Dr. Mead ' s administration was marked by continued academic pro- gress and expansion ol the physical plant ol the college. Hodson Hall, Dunning Hall and the George A. Bunting Library were erect- ed between 1936 and 1940, during his administration, and the plans and financing of Somerset Hall arranged. Like all other colleges and universities, Washington College had its trials and tribulations dining World War II. Male enrollment decreased as the young men ol America turned their thoughts and actions from the American way of life to the beaches ol Anzio, Normandy, Iwo fima, Okinawa, anil Bataan. Willi the death ol Dr. Mead in 1949, Dr. Frederick C. Livin- good, Dean ol the College, served as president until the inauguration of Dr. Daniel X. Gibson in 1950. With the termination ol the war years, Washington College increased in population anil hii an all- time high ol over 500 students. James R. Micou Professor ami Yii Professor Emeritu ISSV-HIL ' T Paul E. Titsworth, Eighteentli President, 1923-1933 Since Dr. Gibson became president the college has progressed in all aspects of college life, academically, in enrollment, physically, and in activities. Dm ing his administration Mima Martin dormitory lor women was constructed, the Snack-bar was moved to the base ment of Hodson I [all, and that building enlarged, a new gymnasium completed, anil plans made foi the erection of a student service cen- ter, renovation ol the fraternity houses and a new wing on Somerset building.