H I S T O R Y O F T H E F O R M E R C O L L E G E O F E M P O R I A

By Bobbi Mlynar

Special to the Gazette

EDITOR ’ S NOTE : This is the first in a series of articles about the former College of Emporia , a private Presbyterian institution that operated here from 1883 through 1973 . Alumni will be in Emporia this weekend for their annual reunion , related tours and activities .

Offering incentives to attract new businesses and industries is not a new idea . It ’ s been happening in Kansas and in Emporia since at least the late 1800s , and is one reason why this city for 90 years was home to two colleges .

According to records , the idea of establishing a Synodical college in Kansas originated in 1877 with the Rev . Robert N . Overstreet , thenpastor of the Presbyterian Church of Emporia and chairman of the Education Committee of the Kansas Synod .

Emporia , Salina , Peabody and Marion all were under consideration as possible sites .

The City of Emporia responded to Overstreet ’ s plan by offering the Presbyterian Synod of Kansas a package deal — $ 35,000 and 38 acres of land — which the Synod accepted in 1882 , and appointed Overstreet to be in charge of raising a $ 50,000 endowment fund , according to historical records .

Sen . Preston B . Plumb , one of the city founders , donated $ 2,000 and became a member of the board of trustees , and other members of the community joined in the effort .

Plans were made to build the college outside the city ’ s western boundary , which at the time was at West Street . The campus spanned an approximate area between what would become 12th and 15th Avenues and Chestnut and Lincoln Streets .

Classes , however , began Nov . 1 , 1883 , in the college ’ s first temporary home , the upstairs of the Addis Building at the northeast corner of Sixth Avenue and Commercial Street , now the site of

Capitol Federal .

The Rev . John F . Hendy , pastor of Emporia Presbyterian Church , served as college president and taught religion ; Greek , Latin and mathematics also were part of the curriculum . By the following year , Hendy was devoting all of his time to C . of E ., and moved the “ campus ” to Eighth Avenue and Commercial Street , according to a history of the college written by Minnie Miller and William Edwards and published in The Gazette in June 1982 .

PHOTO COURTESY OF LYON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

An aerial view shows the sprawl of the C . of E . campus — including the football field and the lake — in the early 20th century .

Classes moved again in 1886 , this time to the partially-completed Stuart Hall at the college ’ s permanent location . Mrs . R . L . Stuart of New York had donated $ 10,000 for the building , according to historical records .

College and cattle

The setting was distinctly rural , with the College Dairy operating on the north side , and much of the remaining land to the north and west being used for pasture .

Until cinder paths from town were laid about 20 years later , students trudged through all kinds of weather from homes and boarding houses across Emporia to reach classes on-campus .

The college ’ s first commencement ceremony , with two graduates , was held in Austin Chapel in Stuart Hall , according to a C . of E . history written by Minnie Miller and William Edwards and published in The Gazette in June 1982 .

The chapel had been named for Emporian William J . Austin , who reportedly had inherited money from an “ unnamed source ” in Europe and who built a mansion near the Neosho River just north of town . In addition to paying for the chapel , Austin paid to plant trees and lay out walkways around the college .

C . of E . was the “ fashionable ” school , as a history article headline noted in the June 7 , 1982 , article .

Princeton University graduate , the Rev . John Dunbar Hewitt , in 1891 succeeded Hendy as president . Hewitt blended sacred and secular learning with a well-developed liberal arts curriculum and mandatory Bible study classes and daily chapel attendance .

Co-eds “ never went downtown without hat and gloves .”

“ Dancing , card playing and smoking were prohibited ,” the article stated . “ The use of liquor was so unthinkable that it was not even mentioned .” Promotional pamphlets and

Please see C . of E ., Page 3

STEPHEN COLEMAN / GAZETTE

By John Robinson john @ emporia . com

During the finale of the Emporia fireworks show the Jim and Bonnie Starr family sang “ The Star-Bangled Banner ,” an experience they claim fit the mood of the night .

The Starrs could certainly hear the bombs bursting in air on July 3 , but as for the rockets red glare , the children of the family resorted to using their phones for video and pictures of fireworks as cloud cover concealed the blasts , allowing only the occasional burst of color to show through .

“ We ’ re disappointed but you make the best out of what you ’ ve been given ,” Angela Kahle said . “ We drive in for our family and come in to enjoy the fireworks with our family . We even made a point to come even though it was not on the fourth .

“ It is sad somebody didn ’ t maybe test one one out , but we understand once you get it started you can ’ t stop .”

Kahle wasn ’ t the only one asking if the show could have been delayed ; several attendees took to social media asking similar questions about why the show wasn ’ t stopped .

According to Joe Michaels , cochair of the fireworks committee for the Flint Hills Optimist Club , the decision to delay the show would of had to have been made nearly 12 hours before the first of the fireworks went off .

“ Our club volunteers their time

for the shoot and it takes 35 volunteers ( over ) 10 hours to set up ,” Michaels said in a Facebook post . “ The decision was made at 9 a . m . to continue with the shoot .”

Michaels said the main concern for the show was watching for any rain or lightning , the low ceiling which caused the visibility issues was not present until 9 p . m ., 30 minutes before the show began .

“ We had to shoot ,” Michaels said . “ Once it ’ s set up we can ’ t take it down . We can ’ t leave the fireworks in the field or store them once we have connected the igniters .”

While the show is put on by the club , it is not funded by it . A memorandum of understanding was passed by both the Lyon County and Emporia commissions earlier this year setting a standard of fees for fireworks vendors . The fees would then go towards funding the annual show in Emporia .

“ No one is more disappointed ( than ) we are ,” Michaels said .

VOL . 125 , NO . 3

STEPHEN COLEMAN / GAZETTE

A pair of spectators calmly wait while backlit by exiting traffic as the Emporia annual fireworks display was shrouded from many viewers due to thick clouds of fog .

STEPHEN COLEMAN / GAZETTE