Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-03-04
WArERv1IIE- MAINE. Marcl

WATERvILLE, MAINE, March L.
Thursday, Feb q, was the one hun
dredth anniversary of Colby College,
which was brought into existence by the
act of the Massschuset legislature CD
Feb. 81, 1913, granting charter TO the
Maine Literary and Theological Institu-
ton.
This charter was granted only after
perseverance and energetic action on the
part of the promoters, for there were
many at the time who thought that one
college, the infant institution at Bruins
wick, soon after to foster Longfellow
and Hawthorne, was enough for the
district of Maine"
In 1912, the efforts of the charter com
mittee, who were a committee appointed
by the Baptist associations of the state,
were fruitless, and the charter was grant
ed in 1918 only on condition that the in
stitution should not give collegiate de-
grees. II is for this reason that the
Colby trustees decided not to celebr
the anniversary, preferring TO wait until
1920, one hundred years after the newly
formed state of Maine empowered the
college to confer degrees.
The name was changed from Maine
Literary and Theological Institution to
Waterville College in 1921, and in 1867,
to Colby University. In 1899, it became
Colby College.
After the charter was granted, five
years elapsed before the work of instruc.
ton actively commenced at Waterville.
They were not years of inactivity, but
were spent in securing from the state the
IS ~ g
incorporation, in deciding upon suita-
BILE location, and in endeavoring TO obtain
further state aid. In 1915, Massachu-
sets granted land for the college near
Argyle, Maine, about Is miles above
Bangor on the Penobscot River. This
was then almost wilderness, and in 1916
the legislature empowered the trustees
TO locate the institution elsewhere than
on the township specified. In 1917,
Waterville was chosen as the site. The
first professors elected were Rev. K.
jeremiah Chaplin and Rev. Irah Chase,
the latter declining the position of pro-
lessor of languages.
Repeated attempts to secure further
grants of land from the state were unsuc-
cessful. The Massachusetts, solons
thought one college sufficient for the
sparsely inhabited section in the north
ern part of the commonwealth, and said
so in a lengthy committee report. They
added that all state grants should 60 to
the college already established.
The college was opened, and instruc-
ton commenced BY Professor Chaplin on
July 9, 1918, in house standing where
the Elmwood hotel is now situated. In
May, 1919, there were II students. TUT
ton was "a 90 a quarter; board was
obtained for Sl.00 a week, and wood for
$3.50 cord.
The theological department of the col
lege was of short duration. The first
triennisl catalogue, issued in 1925, gives
the names of Is graduates in theology
No record of any other students in this
department appears in subsequent tri-
ennials.
In the 40 years up TO the time of the
Civil war, the college went through many
dark periods, suffering often from lack
of money, but financial relief was forth
coming in each instance, and hundreds
graduated. In 1910, public subscrip-
ton was taken for the college, about
$4,000 being raised 10 this manner.
w Nu INC COmtuS VI tue war, tue uuui-
Der of the students was greatly lesseued,
owing to enlistments in the army. In
1864 5, there were only 90 under
graduates With the invested funds of
the college reduced to SIS, 900 and rapid
ly growing less, the outlook was dark.
But the dawn of brighter day was APP
preaching. Gardner Colby of Boston,
who bad spent part of his childhood in
Waterville, offered $4,000 if the friends
Of the college could raise 100000. En-
tbusiasm brought results; this sum was
realized in two years. Ii was in graft
tude for his gifts, which later amoun.e ed
TO 500, 900, that the name of the college
was charged to Colby University.
Memorial Hall, erected to the memory
of the 20 Colby meu who gave their lives
in the Civil war, was one Of the first col.
lege memorial buildings for the wal
heroes in this country. II was dedcat-
ed in 1869 Since that time, several
buildings have been plsced on the
campus, aud the scope of instruction
has been much enlarged. In 1871, young
women were admitted on the same terms
as young men.
And Colby has gained an honored po-
sition among the colleges OF the nation.