The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-14
HOFFMAN HALL WILL
SOON Be REBUILT
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS AT
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH.
Brief Outline of History of
Great Mountain Educational
Institution,

New York, July 14--(Special.)-
To replace Hoffman hall, burned last
year, viii be one OF the purposes OF
the nationwide campaign OF the
Episcopal church so far as the Uni
versity OF the South is concerned.
That dormitory which housed some
! sixty students, was one OF twenty
buildings of the university built out
OF Sewanee sandstone. When fire de-
stroyed the building. Sewanee had
no means TO replace II, but now that
the nationwide campaign is In
progress to enlarge the work of the
church, It will be possible to build
n larger and n better dormitory on
the old site.
Historically the beginnings of the
University Of the South arc not with
out interest. The idea of establish
ing a great church university for the
south came to Bishop Polk, of
Louisiana, in 1855. He considered
the matter with breadth OF vision
that was striking, for he planned not
to found his college for one diocese,
as had usually been done, but to go
at least ten states to the purpose.
1nNGO IlC IiiOo0 6Outl VI anu
Kentucky and east OF New Mexico
and thus he combined the dioceses
contained in the states OF Louisiana,
Tennessee, North and South Caro-
lima, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mis-
slssippi. Arkansas and Texas.
At that time the south was in an
exultant mood politically and hadtno
fears for the future. Bishop Folks
idea was warmly supported by the
entire south and 100000 for the COL
lege was subscribed literally and
rapidly.
The Cumberland table land in
Franklin county, Tennessee, was
chosen as the site Of the college and
the work OF construction began. Then |
came the Civil war. Bishop Polk be- |
came a general of the Confederacy
and fought against Grant In his first |
battle at Belmont In the end the |
entire endowment was swept away |
and such buildings as had been /
erected were destroyed by the Fed
eral army. The cornerstone even
was carried away piece by piece for
relics.
Although chartered in 1858. it was
not until ten years later that the |
college began its real life. In that
year there were fourteen students.
The next year. however, the students
numbered 107 and seven years later
they numbered 243. Since then Sc
vance has been a vital factor in the
life of the south.
When the college was built, the
'ailway leading UP to 1t was the
,teepest mountain road then in ex-
stence and quite an attraction in
tself. Now the new Dixie highway
will cross at Sewanee and that is
certain TO make its reputation very
yreat indeed.
Famous among those to be grad
lated from Sewanee are Maj.--Gen.
William c. Gorgas, Maj. Gen. Leon
Ird Wood. Rev. DR.. Hudson Stuck,
Of Alaska; Senator John
sharpe Williams, of Mississippi
Rev. William 7. Manning, rector OF
trinity church. New York City, and
iaj. Archie Butt, who was aide to
President Roosevelt. 1t will be re-
rendered that Maj. Butt lost his
life on the Titanic, after drawing a
evolver to protect one OF the boats
nd then doffing his cap and wishing
he women and children God speed"
While Sewanee now is conducting
campaign for 100000 endow-
1ent in the states she serves, the
ppeal to replace Hoffman hall is
lade more general through the ma
ionwide campaign. In the new
uilding will be the college commons,
or one of the two dining rooms in
hitch the students ate was in the
urned building.