Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-12
STORY OF A SCHOOL.
Early History Of the Pittsburg Acad-
emy Which Developed
INTO THE WESTERN UNIVERSITY.
Lack of Financial Support and Ugly Politi-
cal Complications.
NAMES OF THE FIRST STUDENTS

Local pride in the Western University,
which is fast taking high rank among the
educational institutions of the land, makes
the facts, herewith presented, concerning
the early history of the Pittsburg Academy
which eventually developed into the Uni
versity, of exceptional interest to the people
OF this part of the State. The facts are from
collection Of most entertaining manu-
scripts found among the papers of apron
inent citizen of Pittsburg, now deceased.
The Pittsburg Academy was the nursery,
says one of these manuscri pts, in which were
disciplined the minds destined to mold the
future Of q frontier military town. Many
who were trained under its auspices had a
most important influence upon the close of
the last and the first half of the present
century. The academy was incorporated
by act of the Legislature of the Common
wealth at the session OF 1857, and was
constituted beneficiary by liberal dona-
ton of Western lands. 1t would
be useless now to rehearse the
financial troubles that embarrassed it dur
ing its early history, or enter into an ex-
animation of management that party
feuds caused to be so fercely, and probably
so unjustly, denounced. In the opening
years OF the nineteenth century men hold
ing positions of the highest trust in the
management of the academy were made the
shuttiecock of the battle-doors of the then
newspapers of the town-journals rejecting
the fierce antagonisms of the people that did
not hesitate to invade the church or the
school to gain political ascendancy and per-
sonal triumph.
Calls for Financial Aid.
The institutions financial dificultie got
into the public prints. The following
notice, which appeared in the Gazette of
October II, 1900, contains an intimation that
the people were not sufficiently aroused to
the importance of a polished education:
The trustees of the Pittsburg Academy are
desired to attend at the house of William
Morrow on Friday evening, the 3lst instant. at
6 o'clock. Punctuality is requested, as bust
ness of Importance is to be submitted to them.
By order of the President,
PRESLEY NEVILLE, Secretary.
In the same paper, January %, 1901, we
find an invitation for home and distant pat
ronage; frank admission of occasional de-
iciencies in the treasury. with sharp ap-
peal to delinquent friends, and for punctu-
ality in the future. 1t concludes as follows:
1t is proper to remark for the information of
those who live at distance who may wish to
avail themselves Of the benefit Of the institu-
ton. that from the present moderate prices in
the Pittsburg market, boarding IS considerably
reduced below the high rates which the former
market prices rendered necessary. There are
now In this borough more or better chances for
good and for cheap boarding than can be found
elsewhere.
This notice occupying leading place and
spread over a half column, bears no official
earmark. although evidently emanating
from the Board of Trustees.
A card over the signature Of the Rev.
Robert Steele is found in the Gazette of
January, IA, 1908, announcing his separation
from the Pittsburg Academy and his pur-
pose to accept of a limited number of pupils
in Latin, Greek and the usual English
studies at the rate of S4 quarter. DR..
Steele was at that time pastor Of the Wood
street First Presbyterian Church, under a
salary SO limited that he had to resort to lay