Evening journal., 1911-11-23
The Association ~
THURSDAY. NOV. %. 1911
A NOTEWORTHY EVENT.


~ munity was the commencement last evening
of the Goldey Commercial College in that It was
the celebration of the twenty-hfth anniversary OF
the founding of an institution that has had re-
markably successful career. The college began in
humble manner amid discouragements that would
have baked a man of less energy determination
and foresight than President Godey.
When the idea of establishing commercial
college in this city entered Mr.. Goldeys mind he
was headmaster of the Bryant and Stratton busi-
ness College of Philadelphia. Wilmington he
thought offered a fine field for business col
lege When he visited Wilmington TO his surprise
he found only one or two men who offered en-
couragement Long faces we're the rule. The
croakefs croaked as they often croak at present.
TOO near Philadelphia" and all that.
1t was during the summer months that Mr.. Col
dcy made his trip, but his reception practically
everywhere was chilling enough for fur coat He
proposed to open commercial department at one
of the existing schools, but none would listen.
Cant succeed was the uniform answer.
These rebuffs, however put Mr.. Goldey on his
mettlo He determined to try 1t out, to see whether
the croakers we're always right Then he rented
room on the third floor of the Institute building.
invested money in furniture and equipment which
would have been worth little had the enterprise
failed. Five lonely-looking students presented
themselves for instruction on the irst day or sep
tcmber. 1886. They got it. That was small be-
ginning The college grew and grew and grew
and from the five students the list OF those VINO
have received instruction during the last twenty
five wears at the Commercial College has increased
TO 10000 The graduating class of the first year
numbered FIVE During the twenty-five years there
have been 500 graduates.
OF course the college has had to contend with
some drawbacks The Delaware river cuts Will
mington off from what should be the patronlzng
territory of New Jersey. Poor committing taci-
ties north and west of Wilmington made IT inn
possible to draw much patronage at the start from
that region Little or nothing could be secured
from the direction of Philadelphia it was thought.
Even down the peninsula Baltimore stepped in Bur
somehow the Wilmington college was able TO burst
the bounds of what seemed to be natural territorial
limits and students have been brought from all the
surrounding territory and from distant states and
foreign countries The fame of Goldeys has eX-
tended beyond the United States.
II is interesting 10 note that many pupils have
attended the institution from the West Indies the
assistant postmaster of Porto Rico being one of
the early graduates In fact the patronage has been
so great that part Of the catalogue is printed
in the native language of the people of the West
Indies.
.Itis gratifying to know that the total number ol
students enrolled since July l. the beginning of the
twenty-sxth fiscal year, is larger than in any cor
responding period during the preceding twenty-five
years.
One lesson TO be learned from the history Of th'
success Of the Goldey College is that Wilmington
should stand on its own feet 1t should be inde
pendent Here is an institution brought into direc
competition with similar colleges in larger citie
aud it has much more than held its own. All th
shows that the individual can make opportunitie
and achieve success even when natural conditions
are apparently against him. distinctive nstitu
ton right under the shadow of similar colleges o
other cities with presumably, but not in reality
more advantages has grown and Hourished an
advertised Wilmington, distributed money amon
our people and spread the fame of the city to dis
tant lands
Principal Goldey has just cause for pride. an
The Journal extends TO him and his staff of teacf
ers and managers who share the credit its bes
wishes with the hope that the semi-Centennia
viii find the Goldey College as prosperous an
nourishing and doing as good work as it is doing
present, and this seems to be assured for th
college in 1909 became corporation in which th
three present officers in addition to President Go
dey are stockholders and active in the conduct G
the college.