The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-05

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urm's First Home, Located on Site
uilding Now Stands.
s. 1866. under the name of Lincoln
college,"
He Built a College.
The trustees secured plans and
specifications for a two-story build
ing 32 by 81 feet. and advertised for
sealed bids, naming a day to meet
and open bids and award the contract.
A surprise awaited the trustees. On
| the day they met to open the bids not
a single bid had been submitted. In
quiry among the contractors and
they put it, the trustees did not have
money to pay for the building except
a subscription book and that lit took
money to put up buildings"
Carefully examining the plans and
specifications, H. d. Rice concluded
he could put up the building for the
estimated cost, $1,000, and made q
proposition to do so. 1t was accepted
and he. together with his sons, started
to work. United States soldiers were
some of the soldiers were employed in
the work. However. it was largely
done by the personal efforts of Mr..
Rice and his sons. The building was
of stone with inside work and shin
giles of pine. Mr.. Rice hauled the
worth. In the fall the Kansas Pa
cific railroad was completed to Law
| renee and the finishing lumber was
secured there.
The building was completed on
| time and to the satisfaction OF the
| trustees to whom it was delivered with
all bills paid and receipted. The first
school was then held in Lincoln COL
lege in January. 1856, with the Rev.
Samuel D. Bowker as principal.
later resign. H. @. Butterfield OF
Maine was elected the first president
of the school in 1869. In November,
1870, he resigned and Peter MacVicar
was elected to fill the place in Feb
ruary, 1871.
The school continued in the acad-
envy building at the corner Of Tenth
and Jackson streets until 1872 when
it was sold to the city of Topeka for
$500 in city bonds, which were aft
EDWARDS sold at par. This, together
with other donations from citizens of
Topeka. was used in payt1gs for the
first buildings to be erected on the
present college site. which had been
purchased in 1859.
The first little fifteen page Lincoln
/ college catalogue OF this period shows
four teachers and four assistants.
There was no president, but the Rev.
s. d. Bowker was the head of the
faculty. The Rev. III. Q. Butterfield,
in Greek and Latin. There were
sixty-two students, and one candidate
for a degree. 1t was in 1878 that
the first Washburn catalogue appear
ed. In 1870 an attendance of forty
five was reported, Of whom only five
were in the liberal arts course.
DR.. Butterfield was elected presi-
dent of the college in 1869, but resign
ed in November, 1870. DR.. Peter
MacVicar was elected president Feb
1t has been said that a new day
came with the election of Peter Mac
Vicar. This man was a born diplo-
mat, of a deeply religious, sincere
nature. For twentyfour years he
devoted himself to the great work OF
sacrifice for greater Washburn
Thus it was that in 1871 the first for
ward step came, to raise and build or
Subscriptions and pledges to the
amount of $46,5OO were soon in hand
for the building. Included in the sum
was $4,000, the sum for which Lin
coin hall was sold to the city. Not
less than $4,000 was raised by Presi-
dent MacVicar within a year among
his eastern friends.
) biggest Building in Kansas.
The plans for the college as pre-
sented by ]. G. Haskell, architect
called for zone massive edifice, -four
stories high, which was to include
everything collegiate" 1t is difficult
. today to realize the attitude which
: people held toward the project. This
building was completed in 1874 and
the college moved into that building
|; on the present college HILL"
A. b. Whiting, who has served as 8
trustee for forty-five years, said:
. when I was taken out and showr
: the wild stretch of prairie as the To-
; cation of Rice hall, the idea of a col
lege seemed foolish to me. and
and follies of the time. Rice hal
seemed out of all proportion for i
was the biggest building in the state
except possibly the east wing of tn.
state house. 1t seemed one hundred
years before it's time"
|. But as the work of the college
' progressed conditions became crowd
: ed. Dormitories for the young womel
: were needed. President MacVica
( went east and obtained subscription
: for Hartford hail. and shortly aftel
= Hartford, Within and South hall
a were erected. In 1885 the contrac
l for the building of Holbrook, the girls
+ dormitory, was let.
e failing health. DR.. MacVicar resigned
= as president and George M. Herricl
y was elected to the office. He serves
until 1901, when DR.. Norman Plas
him. During his administration tn
observatory was secured and its cor
nerstone laid by Father Rice.
In 1904, through the generosity o
Andrew Carnegie. the library wa
added to the group Of buildings. Il
1908, DIR. Frank F. Sanders wa
chosen president.
Cost OF Appeals.
Appeals to the state supreme cour
will becomeu Unpopular and appeals t.
delay payments of judgments will los
favor in Kansas If a bill in the hous