Author Description

Excerpt from L'agenda, 1934, Vol. 43 He came to Lewisburg late in 1845; secured the University charter, in February, 1846; founded the Academy in October, 1846; organized college classes in 1847; and graduated the first class in 1851. He is credited with being the creator of Bucknell University. To secure architectural beauty and finish, Dr. Taylor placed his preliminary plans for Old Main in the hands of Thomas U. Walter, the architect who designed the dome and the wings of the United States capitol, Girard College, and other notable buildings. In the winter of 1849, Dr. Taylor and architect Walter together climbed our vacant campus Hill and, tramping through the snow that then covered it, selected the site and drove the stakes to mark the corners of Old Main. The erection of Old Main, a building three hundred and thirty feet long, called for real money. Dr. William Shadrach was appointed financial agent and given the difficult task of raising the necessary money to erect the buildings planned. On foot or horse back, by buggy, stage coach, or canal boat, Dr. Shadrach traveled through the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He visited nearly every Baptist church within their boundaries. He secured contributions and pledges from four thousand persons and, on July 17th, 1849, reported that he had received money values sufficient to cover fully Dr. Taylor's estimate of the amount needed to build all the proposed College buildings. Old Main was completed in 1859, under the presidency of Dr. Justin R. Loomis. Since that day, not a few students, destined in after years to be called great men, here began their climb to honors and fame and glory. General Tasker Howard Bliss of the Class of 73 made his way, during the World War, to the highest eminence in military service and rank. Our ex-president, David Jayne Hill, of the Class of '74, became world famous as a scholar, a diplo mat, and an authority on international law. Christopher Mathewson, of the