The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1909-04-17
In the snring of 1aO6 the last OF the

IN the spring of 1906 the last OF the
great buildings of Stanford university
were .apidly nearing completion, since
the IL ying of the cornerstone in 1881
the york of construction had been
practically unceasing. First came the
innei quadrangle, upon the completion
OF which the university was formally
opensa to the public Then the outer
quadrangle, an imposing array OF
bulldogs
Tho two architectural triumphs of
the university, however, were those
which marked the front and center OF
the q1adrangles-the Memorial Arch
and the Memorial Church. The for
mer, rising 100 feet above the en-
trance TO the quadrangles, and bearing
the heroic frieze by St. Gaudens por-
trayng .he Progress Of Civilization
in America" was a memorial to Le-
land Stanford, Jr., whose name is per
petuated In that of the university.
The church, the most wonderful struc-
ture of It's kind in America, was
erected by Mrs. Stanford, as the
the glory CT God and in loving mem
ory of my husband, Leland Stanford" "
And then in the gray dawn of that
memorable April IS, 1906, the campus
writhed and shuddered in the grip of
the terrific earthquake, and the splen-
did buildings which had cost years of
time and millions of money to con
struct We're ruthlessly shattered in a
moment.
Comparatively little has been pub,
lished, however concerning the work
OF reconstruction which has since
been steadily going forward Inquiries
are constantly made as to the extent
TO which reconstruction has been ac-
romplished, and also as TO the pres
snt colditl6n of various buildings
For the benefit of those who have
not been able to gain definite informa-
ton concerning the present condition
Of the university, the following facts
are presented.
The earthquake was on Wednesday
April is, at few minutes past five
IN the morning. BY nine O'Clock a
notice WAS posted on the bulletin
boards, sigred by President Jordan
stating that all university work would
be suspended until Friday morning, in
order that Tie engineering experts
might examine and report upon the
condition Of the damaged buildings
When Friday morning came, II was
announced that the damage vas sc
far-reaChine that no more work would
be attempted that semester, but that
the fall term would open in August as
usual Students were accordingly dis
missed to their homes. and the recon
struction Of Stanford was begun. un
der thy ERECTION Of a commission o.
engineers
The architecture Of the university
had been Of two main types The
quadrangles were an adaptation OF the
California mission arch. lecture. hay
ing wide arcaGes, paved courts and
low tiled roofs OF these buildings
which contained practically all the
class rooms OF the university. those in
the outer quadrangle suffered the
most damage, since they were all
more than one story in height. None
of them howevar, were injured be
yond repair. aad 10 them the author
tiles first turned their attention All
Of these buildings are now a>mpletely
restored, the last step in the recon.
s'ruction being the placing Of fire
proof roof upon the Thomas We. 2r
library building, situated in the right
half Of the principal facade This
building. which was to have been
made the laR library upon the com
p!etion Of the new building. aill nov
De used as the general NbraTy for
come years to come