Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-12-27
West Sunbury Academy and the Banquet.

OQIy Qdu It's ccchiS W nAN'-
"Dolf' Rebstock taught term of private
school there in the Spring of 1858, and
Rev. Sam1 Williams a term in Fall OF the
same year; and towards the close of that
year, or perhaps in the beginning of the
next. q stranger who called himself Will
liam Thomas, located in the town.
1t did not take the people of the village
long to fhd out that this new man was an
extraordinary scholar, besides being man
of high character, and at their request be
opened private school and taught three
terms. His object in doing so seems to
have been to obligs his neighbors and oc-
cupy his own mind; for he is said to have
been minister of the gospel from the
South whose full name was William
Thomas Hamilton, and who sought in q
quiet northern village, a retreat from do
mestic trouble. He is said to have stopped
at Harrisville for time after leaving Sun
bury, and to have then returned to the
South.
In 1855, Rev. William T. Dickson and
his wife, while on their way from Maine 10
Tennessee, stepped at W. Sunbury to visit
some friends and were induced to remain
there and open high school. The Dun
lap building was secured, and the name
W.Sunbury Academy given it. The school
was opened, and it prospered remarkably
until the outbreak of thu civil war, when
many of the students enlisted in the"Dick-
son guards" which went to the front under
command of Capt. Louden; and Rev. Dick
son himself enlisted rs chaplain of a regi-
ment.
| After the war Rev. Dickson returned
aud again took charge of the Academy,
but it seems TO have Jagged. He then
went to Pine Grove where he remained
eleven years, and then came back to ".
Sunbury, where he died in 1877. Mrs.
Dickson, with assistance, continued the
Academy for a while, and then the Princi-
palship was given to Rev. Geo W. Bean.
Since that time, A. M. Cunningham,
Henry Shanor, R. II. Gil6llsn, W. W.
Logan. R. W. McGranahsn. Thomas Mof-
fit, Samuel Christley, F. e. Knoch, and
now C. b. Robertson have been Princi-
pals.
The new Academy, a handsome and
commodious, building, we'll adapted to Its
purpose, was erected in 1887. The whole
community subscribed to it. and they can
well be proud of the result of their efforts.
During the principalship of Prof. Logan,
in 1884, course of study was Determined
upon, and since that time, the Academy
has been granting diplomas to the students
who completed the course. And this
brings us TO the banquet of last Thursday
evening, (Dec. 20. 1884, winch, We under
stand, originated with some of the Alumni
of the Academy that is with those who
hold these diplomas.
These young men and women, with the
invited guests, including some of the trus
tees and part of the faculty Of the instita-
ton, assembled at the Hotel Willard, after
the Institute lecture of that night. and lad
abundant time previous TO the opening oi
the dining hall to renew their acquain-
tsnce of former years.
1t was after IL P. NJ. when the doors
were opened and the people filed into the
handsomely decorated dining room, and
sat down to the we'll filled and we'll sp-
pointed tables, for which the Willard i.
becoming famous.
After the repast. DR.. Hockenberry well
coined the guests in some Medico-humorous
remarks which were fully appreciated.
Howard Painter of the alumni respond
ed. He spoke in glowing terms of his
ALMA mater, and his sentiment "Long live
West Sunbury Academy" was heartily
cheered.
T. NJ. Baker Esq. responded to the toast
"Our Academy" giving history of it,
and commenting on its influence.
Allen W. Kelley, responded to "0ui
Alumni" referring to their success 10 the
professions and III business; and also to the
duties aud responsibilities Of teachers.
A NJ. Christley Esq responded to "Our
A,umnae," and as Roy is a gallant ladies
man. they Jared well at his haods, aud his
remarks received their enthusiastic approx
al.
Rev. McGranahan responded to "Lighte
and Shadows Pedagogic," giving some OF
his experiences while Principal of the
Academy, and wishing it great future
under Prof Robertson.
Audley Campbell, a student and son
of !. 5. Campbell of Cherry twp, respond
ed TO the toast Here" and put in u few
clearly spoken and well worded ''chirps
from the nest" the school "where we are
at" the enc ON toe hill whose light cannot
be hid. 1t has turned out one U. S. Sens-
tor, one Congressman, and several other
prominent men. 1t has just closed pros
porous term, and has a great future before
it.
Rev Breaden was called upon to speak
of "0ur present Faculty" He thought
his text was large one, but he mastered
it, and the faculty present was informed
that in good looks, ability and learning it
stood second to none.
! Rev. Decker was called upon To
speak of the power behind the throne, the
trustees, who, he said, were always much
abused set of men, but that those of W.
Sunbury Academy gave the Faculty their
hearty cooperation aud thus greatly aided
| in the success of the institution.
George FL. Graham spoke of his attend
ance at the Academy, after attending the
Butler Academy and Witherspoon Insti-
tute in 1S4s. He praised the trustees and
quoted "Abou Ben Adam"
Prot. Knoch spoke of DR.. Hockenberry' IS
medical lectures and Rev. Broaden +
lectures on moral science; and wished
W. Sunbury Academy an everlast-
ing God-speed.
Prof. Mccullough said that W. Sunbury
had furnished some of the best teachers III
the county.
Prof. Robertson said that success was
only reached through education, etc.
1t was now nearing 3 A. NJ. and it was
| thought advisable to close; so everybody
stood up. aud j,ined in singing "Au!d
Lang Syne," and the banquet and reunion
were ended; but in closing this meagre ac-
count of the banquet We cannot help but
refer to the extraordinary ability and YER
satility displayed by DR.. Hockenberry, the
toast-master of the evening. There's
many diamond (some of them perhaps in
the roughly ON the hills and in the valleys
of Butler county, and he is ons of them.