The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-25

was granted by the general assembly,
providing for the location of a college
at Carlisle. Conspicuous among the
adherents of the plan were Benjamin
Rush. signer of the Declaration of In
dependence and surgeon general of the
Revolutionary army, and John Dickin-
son, a statesman and general, one of
the authors Of the Constitution of the
United States, and, at the time of the
foundation of the college. the chief
magistrate of the state.
The active participation of so distin-
guished parsonage rendered it emf
nently suitable that the charter should
specify that I'm memory of the great
and important services rendered to his
country by His Excellency John Dick
inson. esq.,, president of the supreme
executive council. and in commemora-
ton of his very liberal donation to the
institution. the said college shall be
forever after called and known by the
name of Dickinson College,
The Starting of the College.
On the 18th Of September, 1888, with
in week after the granting of the
charter. meeting Of the incorporators
was held at the executive mansion, in
Philadelphia, and President Dickinson
was elected the first president of the
board Of trustees, an office which he
retained thenceforward until his death
in 1908. His gifts included plantation
of 200 acres in York. and another of 500
acres in Cumberland county, $500 in
cash and a valuable selection of books
from his library. The assured income
of the young institution was only $3.50
a year, which was, however. supple
mented by donations from private
sources and by occasional appropria-
tions Of the legislature.
The college came into active being on
the 9Th of April 1884. when the trustees
met at Carlisle and elected a faculty
of two members, DR.. Charles Nisbet. of
Scotland, principal, and James Ross.
professor Of Greek and Latin. The
grammar school was at once ,inaugu-
rated under the direction OF Prof Ross.
to whom was given an assistant in the
person of Robert Johnson. When Dr.
Nisbet arrived in July, 1855. the faculty
was further increased by the appoint
ment of Rev. Robert Davidson. pastor,
of the Presbyterian church of Carlisle.
tres, and the promotion of Mr.. John
son to the professorship of mathemat-
les, while Mr.. Jait was elected to
teach the students to read and write
the English language with elegance
and propriety." Principal Nisbet taught
moral philosophy. logic. philosophy OF
the mind and systematic theology.
More EARLY History.
During the earlier years of the insti-
tuition, instruction was given in Il small
two-story brick building near the cor
ner of Bedford street and Liberty ave-
nue., in the southeastern part of the
town. This site was never satisfactory.
and various projects We're proposed for
obtaining better one. notable among
them being the scheme to purchase
from the government the old Hessian
Barracks. occupied for many years as
a military post, and now forming the
Carlisle Indian school. In 1898 the
present fine site. comprising full town
square, was purchased from the Penns
for hundred and fifty dollars. and
'cOmmodious and complete building
erected upon it. but before it's compile
ton 1t was destroyed by fire. SYM
pathy with this misfortune was wide
spread and subscriptions for a new cdi-
flee came from all directions. Thomas
Jefferson gave hundred dollars, and
Count de la Luzerne. the French min
lister, headed one subscription list, while
upon another appeared the names of
seventeen members of congress. The
plans and specifications We're prepared
by the United States government archi-
tect, and the present superb example of
colonial architecture. known as West
College, was erected
Great Progress Shown.
West College was the beginning of
the series of twelve fine buildings in
which the institution is now housed.
The first to he provided WAS South Col
lcge for which additional ground was
purchased in 1896 and a building erect
ed, to he utilized for public worship
and for the purposes of the grammar
school. This structure was destroyed
by fire the following year, but was at
once replaced by the present substan-
tial brick editice. Although for many