The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-01

county i'm the Senate made a speech
against its sale, showing by the records
and laws that Ii was set apart for univer,
that ii should be used for the site OF a
university. and could not be sold for the
benefit of the State University or any
other purpose. When Senator Gavin had
concluded Senator Hughes said he had not
examined the case as closely as had the
Senator from Marion. and was now salts
fed that the Legislature had no right TO
sell the property, and moved the indefinite
postponement of the bill, which was done,
and the question OF disposing OF or inter-
fering with this square has never been
suggested since that time.
UNIVERSITY SQUARE.
University Square was set apart by the
Legislature of 1927 for university purposes.
and at their session of 1892 they authorized
its lease for term of thirty years for
county seminary, which resulted in the
erection of two-story brick building on
the southwest corner, fronting on New
York street. The first teacher to occupy
the same was the late Gen. Ebenezer Du-
mont He was succeeded by WE1iam Sulli-
van, Rev. William A. Holiday and other
noted teachers. 1t was the fl rst church of
Henry Ward Beecher, and was used as
meeting place for number of churches
winch were too weak TO erect buildings OF
their own. A number of offers were made
TO lease portions of the square for churches.
female seminaries. etc., but were not carried
out and as late as 1850 the Governor and
State officers were authorized by the Leg
lslature to sell an acre of the same to the
indiana Asbury University. for a medical
praisement, $780, deemed too high,
and the sale was not made. 1t was occupied
as city High School from 1853 to 1859. and
was torn down in 1860. AT this time the
west half Of the square north of the semi
nary was used as a playground, while the
east half was a clover field and was &C.
caslondlly used as a cow pasture, until IL
was inclosed in high board fence for
balloon ascensions, fireworks, etc, and
the local papers of that time mention an
exceptionally fine exhibit of fireworks CIV
en- there as late as July f. 1850. Subsequent
ly the ground was cleared and used as
drill ground for Indiana troops, and 1t was
the rallying ground for the Silver Grays
and other companies of home guards that
enlisted to do battle with the redoubtable
rebel raider John Morgan.
THE square remained an open and un-
slightly common until 1866, when John S.
Spann, DR.. Mears and other citizens resid-
subscriptions from their neighbors amount
ing TO 5000, which was expended in grad
ing the same and planting trees. After
which it was inclosed in a high picket fence
and closed against mischievous boys, van
dals and COWS for over ten years. in order
TO give the trees an opportunity to mature.
The fence was removed about fifteen years
since and walks laid out. For several years
the city florists maintained the flower beds
free of cost, and evening concerts were
given there during the summer months
Several years since the Odd Fellows CT In
diana erected a splendid bronze statue of
ex-Vice President Schuyler Colfax, in the
southwestern part Of the park, placing the
same upon an emblama'tic PEDESTAL. 1t was
in this square that ex-President Harrison
received and addressed the hundreds OF
delegations that visited this city to call
upon him, during the memorable presi-
Dental campaign of 1885,"