The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1891-07-03
PRIDE OF The WEST!
THE BLACK HILLS COLLEGE,
HOT SPRINGS, s. D.


It's F;:cu!ty. Short Biographies Of
Each. Weak ef the Past Year Course
Of Study.
The extreme necessity for any
thing generally finds it's counter
part in the thoughts of a few men
or of some organized society, whose
object and aim is to look into the
wants of the community or state at
large and to fulfill all possible
needs, at least to the best of their
ability. This necessity or that,
frames within the human mind an
idea and that idea communicated
soon arouses in others the thought
of some grand opportunity opening
up and creates desires to do some
thing for the benefit OF the human
family, and prompts action.
The necessity of a high grade
college or university for the Black
Hills country had doubtless occu-
pied the minds of the Black Hills
Mission for many years, and it was
only by active cooperation, earnest
and pcrsevcring work of this organi-
zation that the foundations of a
christian college and christian edu
cation were laid. The cxigcncies
of this western region required just
such an institution. 1t was doubt
less the conviction of the founders
of this college that in order to have
a complete, liberal education, for
libcrality in ones views seems
necessary at these times, learning,
morality and religion must be COM
bined; that the essential thing to
the full development of the faculties
of perception and reason must be
christian truth, received and obeyed
in the spirit of love; and with this
as the spring of all righteousness,
the individual life of the state can
and will be made pure and healthful.
1t was with these apparent ideas
and a desire to forward the cause
OF truth, morality and the kingdom
of our Heavenly Father that great
sacrifices of time, thought and
money have been made by every
friend of the institution. Dark
days have overshadowcd the work
as it progressed and financial diff
culties have arisen, but the object
to be accomplished inspired those
who had undertaken it to new
hopes and new aspirations and
with firm wills and a determin-
ed purpose, the work went on
undaunted. You have watched the
result and the writer deems it i'm
prudent to say that success would
and did come, save only from such
an effort with such noble purposes.
On the 18th day of August, 1857,
a committee received propositions
from communities desiring the To-
cation of the college and in the
following November the present
building site was chosen. Soon
after the articles of incorporation
were secured chartering the college
as such, but with the powers of a
university. The city, at the time
the plan of the instituting of col
lege here was conceived, was but a
small town and the condition of the
peoples monied resources were
limited, but with loyalty second
only to that to ones country, they
contributed large sums neverthe-
less, and willingly and cheerfully
fulfilled every obligation. Nor is
this all. The same loyalty pervades
the heart and soul OF the friends OF
the college now as it did when first
asked for contributions. And with
this manifest spirit, the faculty and
trustees of this new institution have
made the present degree of pro-
gress possible.
The college building is beautifully
situated on plateau overlooking the
city and in the vicinity of the Soldiers
Home, and not far from the magnifi.
cent $4,000 bath house now in course
of erection. The building is tifty-four
feet wide and seventy-four feet long,
three stories high and constructed Of
gray sandstoncs, found in this region.
The recitation halls are large, commod-
ius and well lighted, and all who have
visited the place pronounce it most
beautiful structure, which with its
picturesque surroundings-the magni-
ficent mountain scenery-makes this
portion of the city an especially attrac-
tive one.
The campus contains about fifteen
acres of land in one Of the choicest
parts of the city and the entire prop
erty has been so enhanced by the
growth of the city as to represent to-
day more than $4,000. The college
has still a few beautiful and desirable
lots for sale, their disposal, at cash
value, forming a part of the original
sum subscribed. $4,000 has been
realized from property sold thus far.
At the beginning of the college year,
September is, 1890, only Is students
were enrolled. but by the end of the
year ~ scholars We're in attendance.
At the beginning of the year thor.
ough organization of the school was
, necessary, and because of the necessary
time required in accomplishing it the
/ solid results of the term were not fully
| realized. The second and third terms
, however, were witnesses of the thor.
: oughness which will characterize the