The Republican journal., 1913-07-03
THE BucKspoRr SEMINARY.

Inc report IN the Qally papers OF the
recent commencement exercises at the
East Maine Conference Seminary, Bucks
port, with the accompanying illustrations
of the buildings. was very interesting
to an old student. The writer began at
tending the E. M. C. S. in 1858. There
was Their but one building. the one with
a cupola and bell that still stands on the
top of the hill, and which was used only
for recitation rooms. The students
boarded in the village. The first year
the writer had his home with family
who lived IN cottage house that stood
where the public library now stands.
The house was quite near the street and
had garden at the rear; and if all the
students were as fortunate in their
boarding places they were to be envied.
Then, as now, a grove of oak trees crown
ed the hill in front of the seminary build
ing, but climbing this hill in winter time,
with the wind blowing gale and the
mercury around zero sometimes result
ed in frozen ears and cheeks. The prin-
cipal then was Rev. Loren l.. Knox and
the preceptress Miss Jane johnson, and
as they are recalled today it seems that
too much cannot be said in their praise.
When the boarding house, as it was
then called-now dignifed as a dormi-
tory-was completed in 1856 the writer
occupied a room in the third story front,
selecting that elevated position for rea-
sons not recalled at this day. The build
ing was exceedingly plain in it's finish
ings and furnishings. The floors were
bare, there were husk mattresses on the
single beds, in which an occasional cob
had intruded, and for light we had an oil
lamp. The care of their rooms developed
upon the students. The water supply
was from pump in the yard at the rear
of the building, and here sometimes on
frosty morning a group of students
would be seen awaiting their turns to fill
their pitchers. In the dining room on
the first floor the students were seated
at long tables in groups of dozen or
more with teacher in charge. The fare
did not vary from week to week, each
day having its designated menu, and it
hardly need be said that it was plain liv-
ing. In the group that included the
writer, presided over by Miss Baldwin,
the teacher Of drawing, the pies served
were cut so that after all had been help
ed one piece was left over, and that al
most invariably went to favorite of
the teacher, one who perhaps took more
interest in drawing and painting than in
his studies. The bill of fare was done in
rhyme at this time and was heard of
years after, but the writer did not re-
tain copy and cannot now recall it,
Other verses of those days in which
teachers and students are mentioned are
yet in evidence after the lapse of more
than half century.
The new boarding se-dormitory,
We should SAYS hardly recognized with
its additional story and its two-story
veranda on the front; and the hardwood
floors and the water supply must be
appreciated by the students of today.
Then, there is the new building, which
cost in the neighborhood of S35, 900, a
t thoroughly modern one and great addi-
ton to the equipment of the school. 1t
contains large auditorium. which will
be used for all seminary gatherings, a
and modern gymnasium
and physical and chemical laboratories
which are thoroughly equipped. Besides
these, there are domestic science rooms
and six other class rooms. Other I'M
include the converting of
S pofford hall, formerly used as a resi-
dence by the presidents, into a building
for the study and practice of the house
hold arts. Evidently the East Maine
Conference Seminary has received new
ease of life and entered upon wider
sphere of usefulness, and that it may
continue to grow and prosper is the
earnest wish of an old student.