The times., 1897-09-05
OLD GEORGETOWN COLLEGE.
A Historical Review and Description
of the Famous University.

sites OF the country. Founded before the
city Of Washington existed, it has always
been looked upon as the first educational
institution OF the District, and is now re-
garded asone Of the best in the United States.
tits the alma maj er OF many distinguished
men OF this country who have adopted va
rious modes of eIevating themselves in the
world, and who have ultimately reached
the highest steps on the ladder of honor,
fame aud fortune. Senator'S, judges, sci
entists. doctors and lawyers are included In
the graduates of this university. Young
men have left their homes from foreign
countries to receive their education here.
They have come from European countries,
Mexico South America aud even the West
Indies and when they reached the end
of their collegiate course, they left with
heavy butIovug hearts for their alma mater,
1t is hdtdly necessary for me to men ton
the ability OF the instructors of the Society
of Jesus Every member OF this society is
worthy to teach, and all are scholars of
high standing.
The university has site at the west
ern terminus of Georgetown that co.ld
hardly he equaled in the District OF
Columbia. An unsurpassed view of the
city can be enjoyed here in the tow..r that
rises in the ceLter or the new building
facing the east. Every Government build
ing can be distinctly seen here, and iurning
your gaze 30 the west, the south and he
sout heast YOU have view OF the Potomac
River as Tar as your eyes can reach You
can see the Chain Bridge, the Aqueduct
Bridge, and the Long Bridge, by simply
moving your eyes
This beautiful site was the choice of the
Rev. John Carroll, first archbishop of Balti-
more. who made the selection not long after
the Revolutionary war In the year 1889
the first building was erected OF tliese
spacious grounds, and is still standing, be-
ingthecent one in the southrow. A short
time after tins building was put dp the
schools were opened, with the Rev. Robert
PlunketG acting as the first president Of
Georgetown College. In 1SoS the large
and comnlodous building on the nor.h,
directly facing the building Of 1889, was
erected Two years prior 10 this the col
iege passed under the keeping of the 60
ciety of Jesus.
on May 1915, by an act of Congress.
Georgetown College was chartered, and
this was the time that 1t was raised TO
the Clisnityof a university onJanuary II,
by the Rev James Ryder. at that time
vice president of the university. In lS43
the observatory OF the college was built at
this time the Rev. James Ryder was the
president This building stands on little
emnence to the northwest Of the college,
| and about one e-eighth of mile from it, Tie
| big round white dome can be plainly seen
| from the college grounds. This little oh
4 Of E4a
| telescopes in the country, which is man
aged by professor high in the science Of
astronomy men well known in the scIen-
tinC world.
At the breaking out OF the civil war in
| 1861 the college was making great strides.
| tut this national calamity sadly interfered
| with the onward march OF the institution.
/ For several weeks the peaceful grounds,
! and even the buildings. were taken pos
session Of by United states soldiers, and
converted into tarracks. the sixty-ninth
ana sevent y-ninth Regiments OF New York
| being quartered there. In 1862 it was
again subjected to al invasion OF Union
| troops, ana this time used as a hospital.
This was after the battle of Bull Run.
1t was in 1878 that the new building, a
magnificent edifice OF blueStone, called
EDtlhSt NtidII IfOib ttiS DctAhs VI ilit L "
tomac, was erected The length of the
building is 3e7 feet, which completely
| hides from view the old buildings On the
north and south, 1t also connects them,
as the new building is the entire front.
| THIS building contains eighty-two rooms,
occupied Ior various purposes. In 1T is To-
Gated the great han used on Commence
ment days Some of the rooms are used
. a..
while others are given over to the pro-
feSsorS. The library and museum are 10
Gated in the new building.
No description of tire university would
lie complete without q few words about the
college walks, so dear to professors and
! students Many times have | in my boy
| hood days, strolled through these pic
turcsque paths, which are laid out di-
| rectly north of the college buildings, and
| entirely within tie limits Of the grounds.
Here can be seen about every variety Of
| tree tnat adorns this section of the country,
some being CT gigantic size, and from these
walks can plainly be seen the tombstonas
at the head OF the graves wherein lie the
remains OF the deceased members OF the
Glty OF the university.
The formation OF tie college walks
greatly resemble huge horseshoe with d
| ravine in the center, and in the middle of
the rayine runs little branch, ripping
merriiy along, to finally empty its waters
in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Not
many years ago the college poss essed 4
| greenhouse, which was looked after by
the Rev. James Curley, the noted as
tTonomer but at his death the faculty
decided to do away with 1t altogether
and devote the ground it occupied to en-
large the athletic field. This field is in
full view az YOU enter the college grounds
and is well known to every lover of
athletic sports in the District of Columbia.
There have been about as many presi
dents OF the university as of the United
States and the first president, Rev. Robert
Plunkett, served from October /, 1871
tc June 13, 1923, and was succeeded in
office 10y the Rev. Robert MolyneuX, who
served until September 80, 1896. The
present Presidents the Rev. j. Havens Rich.
ards, and never i'll the history of the uni.
versity has ii been more ably managed thar
at the present time. In 1851 the medical
department was established under the
Rev. James Ryder, aud in 1870 the law
department was organized under the Rev.
Bernard A. Mcguire.
Some distinguished residents of the Dis
trict of Columbia who claim this college al
their alma mate are: Mr.. Justice White II
the United States Supreme Court; Hon. Wal
ter s Cox, associate Justice OF the supreme
courtof the District of Columbia; Hon. Mar
tin F. Morris, associate justice OF the cour
of appeals; Hon. L. g. Hine, R. Ross Perry
ftelate Richard t Merrick and Mr. CeOrpf