The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-28
Washburn to Get S75, 900 Fine
Arts Building.
A. C. Stitch, independence Cap
itaIist, Is the Man.
TO BE AS A MEMORIAL.
For Son and Daughter, Who
Were Nashburn Students.
Will Make Washburn One Of Best
Equipped Schools in West.

It has leaked out that washburn has
the promise of another new building.
The report is that a $4,000 fine arts
school will be given to the college by A.
C. Stitch, the wealthy gas, oil and brick
man at Independence, Kan, as a me-
mortal to his daughter, Adelaide Stitch
aad his son Carl Stitch, both of whom
attended Washburn, and have since
died.
The news is being kept very quiet for
the present, because it seems to be the
programme to complete the Carnegie
library before announcing the new gift.
Mr.. Stitch is one of the trustees of the
colleeg, and has been much interested in
it's welfare even before he sent his
daughter and son here to attend school
Miss Adelaide Stitch was a young wo-
man of surprising beauty, to which was
added wonderful musical ability and
great depth of character. She gradu-
ated from the musical department of
Washburn, after which she studied mu-
sic in New York and abroad. Carl Stitch
was young man OF rugged physique; a
member of the football team and very
popular with his classmates. The death
of both his son and daughter was a
! terrible affiiction, and one in which
| Washburn college and all its students
and alumni shared.
| With $4,000 at it's disposal, Washburn
can erect a building finer by far than
any which now stands on the college
campus, and one which will rank high
among the great educa tional buildings
of the west. 1t will furnish an appro-
pirate home for the WaShburn musical
conservatory, the department of elocu-
| tion and oratory and the art and archi-
lecture departments. This has been
one of the ambitions of President Plass,
| to whom, in connection with Rev. D. NJ.
FISK, is given the credit for interesting
Mr. Stitch in the proposed new building.
Under the direction of George B. Pen
ny, dean of the school of fine arts, that
department has developed amazingly
during the past year. 1t has been
necessary to employ three additional
teachers in the music department alone
to care for the increased attendance.
A few days ago, when it was decided
| to make a site for the new library
building by moving Within hall west OF
the present library, it showed that for
! some reason, there had been a change
in wha many had previously advovated
It was believed that the Carnegie library
| was to be put just west of the heating
plant in a site which commands the
main approach to the college. But now
it seems that this choice location was
reserved for a more pretentiouS build
\ ing 1t is thought likely that the pro-
posed $4,000 fine arts building will fill
! the bill.
It is one of the ambitions of the col
lege to have an audience room i nits
fine arts building large enough to ac-
commodate the musical recitals of the
college, and to have this audience
room equipped with a pipe organ
Dean Penny has been promised a pipe
organ at the college within a short
time, and while there is nothing def
mite about it, and absolutely not,,in.
officially yet announced, it is quite
likely that the Stitch Memorial building
will provide for the realization of these
ambitions.
With such equipment for its fine arts
school, Washburn will be in a position
to leap to the front as the music and
art center of Kansas. 1t will have
here the largest musical conservatory
in the state. coupled with the Reid
Stone art school, and a strong elocu-
tion department. 1t will also have al
the auditorium the $4,000 pipe organ
the, largest in the state. It will also
afford to art and music students ar
opportunity to hear tee greatest musi-
cal attractions of the country, which
are now making Topeka a regular
stopping place in their transconti-
mental tours.