The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-28
Given Unexpectedly by Mrs. Eliza
Long Prominent in Lafayette.
WOMEN KILLED BY THE CARS
MANY BIDS FOR THE CRAwFORDS-
VILE WIRE NAIL MILL.
Two Life Sentences in Pfeister MUIR
der Case-New Complication i'm
School Troubles.
.necial TO the INDIANAPOLIS Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LAFAYETTE, Ind, Nov. 27.-Cecil G.
Fowler, a graduate of Purdue in the me-
chanical course last June, walked into the
office of President w L. Stone, of Purdue.
this morning just before chapel time and
laid down a check for $50, 600 signed by his
grandmother, Mrs. Eliza Fowler, saying
that the money was for a new assembly
hall.
a act ushered in one of the most mo-
mentous days in the history of the institu-
ton. President Stone in chapel announced
the gift, which announcement was received
with the widest enthusiasm. He also de-
clared a holiday until after Thanksgiving
in order that the students might properly
celebrate the occasion. Tomorrow will be
the greatest Thanksgiving the institution
has known, for Mrs. FOwler's gift is
greater than any other ever made to the
university. The news of the gift spread
like wildfre and soon every student and
every citizen was aware of it and was dis
cussing it.
The students met in mass meeting and
decided to march over into the city and
pay their respects to the donor, Mrs. Fow-
Ter, who lives at the corner of South and
Tenth streets in this city. The college
band, consisting of twenty pieces, was en-
listed and the students gathered on the
campus after the dinner hour. The parade
moved at , o'clock, headed by the band,
there being over a thousand students in
line, each section a class. headed by the
class president. When the city was reached
the parade moved around the public square,
the yelling and the Purdue songs rending
the air.
The parade moved up Main street and
over to South street to Mrs. Fowler's resi-
dence. There the class presidents paid
their respects to the venerable woman,
while the body of students remained on the
outside cheering and singing. Each presi-
dent in turn thanked Mrs. Fowler for her
gotten. Mrs. Fowler was viSibly affected
by the demonstration After this little
scene was over the parade disbanded and
the students overran the city, yelling and
otherwise giving vent to their enthusiasm.
Mrs. Fowler is the widow of Moses
Fowler, who was L~afayette's richest citi-
zen and for a long time trustee and treas
urer or the board OF trustees OF the uniVer-
s1ty. She was Miss Eliza Hawkins before
she married Mr.. Fowler in 1874. Since the
death of her husband she has been living a
quiet and retired life. Her son. James NJ.
Fowler, is principal owner of the National
Fowler Bank, of this city, and is treasurer
OF the board of trustees of Purdue at the
present time. She has a grandson, James
Nj. Fowler, jr., who is a junior student in
the mechanical course Of the university at
the present time. She had seen the urgent
. VI u ~ LII dSS6LlDly ndlls lit
present chapel seating but 400 of an at
tendance of LOCO, and felt that Thanksgiv-
ing was an appropriate time to make the
gift. That she did relieves Purdue's great
est need and she will be honored and re-
membered long for her great beneficience.
The gift came as a great surprise even to
the university officials who had not antici-
pated it. The announcement in chapel was
the first intimation the students had of the
gift.
Work on the new building will be begun
as soon as possible in the spring. Plans
Will be drawn at once and bids asked.
While nothing concerning the building has
been decided upon, President Stone and
the students would like the building set
south of the present mechanical building.
They would like it TO be Of stone and have
Il large and handsome enough to be of
credit TO the other buildings on the cam
pus. The building will be given over en-
tirely TO the uses of the executive depart
ments and the assemblys hall. The pres
ent chapel probably will be turned over to
those societies of the university which, at
present, through lack Of space, are COM
PEELED to meet in the library. The present
chapel has not been considered safe Of late
for the congregation of large bodies of
students. With the completion Of this as
sembly hall the new agricultural building
now in course OF erection and the proposed
athletic home, Purdue will be as hand
somely equipped with buildings as any Of
the other institutions of the West. 1t is
the purpose to call the new building the
Fowler Memorial Hall.