Hartwick Seminary Expands to a College

By Shelley Burtner Wallace

In 1895, the Hartwick Seminary Board of Trustees began making plans for the 1897 centennial celebration. They chose to use this event not only to commemorate the Seminary’s 100 years, but also to declare that “if ever Hartwick Seminary is to be advanced to Collegiate basis, it would seem that the circumstances point to the time between this and 1897 as the auspicious occasion.” Two years after the centennial celebration the Seminary was still proclaiming its college aspirations, boasting a central location, malaria-free region, and a “delightful” climate.

No further progress toward expansion occurred until April 1926, when the Board authorized promotion of a $500,000 campaign for a “Greater Hartwick.” The appeal commenced in the fall of 1926, and the trustees earmarked the funds for “buildings and endowment in the development of present departments and courses of study.” Once again, it appeared that the Board would not commit itself to establishing a full four-year college. However, when campaign representatives visited the city of Oneonta–just 20 miles south of the Hartwick Seminary–they discovered that the citizens’ generosity for the campaign went far beyond simply donating to the Seminary endowment. Herbert C. Getman was, apparently, the first to suggest that the College be located in Oneonta, and the Chamber of Commerce had discussed such a possibility on several occasions. Attorney Arthur Seybolt wasted no time and pointedly asked the campaigners whether the Seminary Board of Trustees would consider Oneonta’s proposal. Rev. Charles Leitzell, President of the Board, and Rev. Charles Myers, president of the Seminary, met with a delegation of Oneonta citizens, were impressed with the city’s enthusiasm, and encouraged them to submit a formal proposal. Thus, the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce met March 5, 1927, and drew up a resolution proposing that the citizens of Oneonta raise $200,000 for the Hartwick endowment to be paid over five years, that the trustees of Hartwick Seminary raise $400,000, and that the city provide a “suitable location with grounds ample for present and future needs. . . of a college authorized to confer academic degrees in accordance with the regulations of the University of the State of New York.”

An official letter, stipulating the specifics of this extremely generous proposal, was sent to President Leitzell, who called a special meeting of the Board, which convened at 11 a.m. on March 10 at the Oneonta Elk’s Club. Within the hour the Board had accepted the invitation upon the condition that it receive formal approval from the Lutheran Synod of New York. Additional conditions required the city of Oneonta “to secure the use of Morris Park Athletic Field” and “to provide adequate sewage, water and sidewalk facilities.” The city cheerfully agreed to these increased demands and 150 jubilant Oneonta citizens joined the Board for lunch, singing, and speeches from Dr. F.H. Marx, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Oneonta Mayor B.C. Lauren. Rev. Russell of the First Presbyterian Church extolled Oneonta’s advantages:

It is noted for its beauty. It sits like a queen among the foothills of the upper Susquehanna and Delaware rivers. . .There is much civic pride and civic patriotism The homes are well groomed, its shade trees are attractive. But it is also morally clean. . . It is a healthful city, fine water and pure air. It possesses a strong intellectual atmosphere. There are an unusual number of cultur[ally] refined people here. Our churches have always maintained a delightful unity and our clergymen are far above the average. Our city is easily accessible from all points of the compass–we are in a sense metropolitan–all roads in this section of the state lead to Oneonta.

President Leitzell responded with extreme gratitude for this very significant gift, which, he claimed, was the “solution to a problem that has been discussed for many, many years.”

The preparatory school would continue at Hartwick Seminary and the freshman and sophomore years of the entering class would be conducted at the Seminary with the Oneonta campus construction beginning in 1928, classes there commencing in 1929, and the theological department to be transferred to Oneonta as soon as practicable.

The time schedule occurred much more quickly. The meeting of the New York Synod was to be held on March 17 and 18, and the Oneonta Women’s Club immediately began arranging lodging for guests in homes of residents. However, on March 12, the ONEONTA STAR brazenly announced that, due to the tremendous enthusiasm of the Oneonta citizens, the local campaign committee would not wait for the decision of the New York Synod and had already begun planning for the campaign to open immediately after a favorable decision had been reached by the Synod. Committee Chairman Dr. F.H. Marx and Vice Chairman Owen C. Becker began making preliminary plans for the campaign: “A Greater Hartwick and A Greater Oneonta.” The site committee spent the entire day looking over available locations, and propaganda flooded the city. The STAR proclaimed, “An investment in a college department is not for a year or a decade. . .it is likely that it will go on for centuries and the benefits and advantages will accumulate through all those years. There are only 650 colleges in the United States. It is an exceptional distinction and opportunity for any community in these days to secure a college.” State Supreme Court Justice A.L. Kellogg was certainly convinced and decided to start the fund raising off with its very first subscription of $10,000.

March 17 found some 200 Synod delegates gathered at the Elks Lodge in Oneonta to make a momentous decision. Despite Oneonta’s optimism, there were arguments of opposition that forewarned possible heated debates. Many members felt that the College should be closer to New York City, where there was a larger Synod constituency. Others argued that Oneonta’s remote location was not conducive for attracting a substantial college student body. Those who arrived with doubts were soon to change their minds. The citizens of Oneonta had no intention of allowing the delegation to leave before approving the College, and one could not help but be impressed by the massive show of enthusiasm and support which the citizens displayed.

Rev. James C. Russell opened the session by once again delivering an articulate and convincing presentation of Oneonta’s proposal. This was followed by Mayor Lauren proclaiming “Oneonta, One Hundred Percent for Hartwick,” as well as speeches by representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary, Kiwanis, and Women’s clubs. Numerous citizens joined the delegates for lunch, throughout which everyone joined in festive singing, and relations between the city and the Synod members was “firmly cemented.” Following lunch the Synod delegates voted on each item of the proposal and then unanimously adopted the plan.

About fifty residents provided “motor cars” to chauffeur the delegates around the city with a tour of possible College sites. Following dinner at the Elk’s Lodge, a mass meeting of over 800 Oneonta citizens was held with more speeches and singing, and the reading of a telegram from Sherman Fairchild–son of one of the founders of IBM–pledging $5,000. It was a day not soon to be forgotten in Oneonta.

Several days later, Frank Bresee and his sons, Lynn, Clyde and Fred, joined in pledging $10,000. Thus, the $200,000 campaign began with $25,000 “seed” money. The every-resident canvas began on March 24, and lasted five days. The fund raisers divided the city according to wards, with a captain and a force of canvassers assigned to each ward. These in turn were divided into two divisions, one headed by Arthur Seybolt, the other by Herbert Getman. The campaign committee made it very clear that all workers were volunteers–so every dollar donation would go into the fund.

“Everybody Give Something” was the campaign slogan as the 57-man force gathered at 8 a.m. March 24 at Hotel Oneonta. They enjoyed a hardy breakfast and an impassioned pep talk. The ONEONTA STAR appealed to the citizens to give these devoted workers a “cordial reception,” and reminded them that “Oneonta is not a city of rich men, and the fund must be secured by men and women of modest means. . . Be ready for the canvassers with a smile and a liberal subscription. It’s done for Oneonta and the youth of generations yet unborn.”

The canvassers returned to Hotel Oneonta at 6 p.m., exhausted but in good spirits. Most had “yet to find a man or woman who does not think it a fine thing for Oneonta and an undertaking worthy of our earnest efforts and the making of sacrifice, if need be, to finance the Oneonta fund.” By the end of the first day $64,385 had been pledged. The STAR applauded this accomplishment, but warned against complacency. They prodded the citizens to give “not to the extent of deprivation, but each gift to be proportionate to the size of one’s ability to give.”

On Friday the 25th, the canvassers again found a receptive citizenry, and despite their grueling work, marched door-to-door throughout the city, greeting each other with encouraging remarks of “we’re going to win!” The second day ended with a tally of $130,295. General city canvassing continued through Saturday, and on Sunday, the Lutheran Church held a special canvas of their members. Citing the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fishes in the Bible, Pastor R.J. Van Deusen encouraged his small congregation to give generously. At the evening service the total pledges revealed an incredible $5,845 with the Young People’s Luther League, the Ladies Guild, and the Sunday school all contributing generous amounts from their budgets.

Monday, March 28 was the final day of the campaign. Once again the STAR appealed to Oneonta–“Don’t say ‘I cannot give enough to make it worthwhile,’ the fact is that a total of $25 will deliver on site. . .one thousand brick. . .Your thousand brick may be more than the other fellow’s thousand dollars.” By the end of the final day pledges had reached $189,954. It took major contributions from the New York State Gas and Electric Company, the Honorable & Mrs. Charles Smith, Dr. & Mrs. Charles Marsh, and Mr. & Mrs. Irving H. Rowe to put the campaign drive over the top. But, on April 8, 1927–just 16 days after the start of the campaign–the city reported a total of $200,154.

On April 30, the Lutheran Synod campaign drive began with hopes of raising $400,000, and by May 22 had surpassed that amount, assuring a college at Oneonta and prompting a serious decision regarding the site.

By August 2, the site was chosen, and once again Oneonta citizens had come through with extremely generous donations–this time of land. The largest parcel was 52 acres, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Baker. Mr. Timothy Horan offered 36 acres, including the land at the corner of West and Clinton streets, for $9,000–$1,000 less than the actual value. To complete the block of property, Mr. D.F. Keyes donated 17 acres between the Baker and Horan properties, and Mr. and Mrs. Millard donated 10 acres to round off the campus.

Nearly 200 “friends of Hartwick College” visited Oneonta to view the 115 acre site of “College Hill.” There were prayers of consecration for the site, speeches, hymns, patriotic songs, and words of admiration for Oneonta as a college town. Rev. Stutts compared the momentous occasion with the story of an aged man who, when seen planting apple trees, was accosted by a friend. The aged man replied: “I have eaten apples from trees others have planted and I want to leave some trees, the fruit of which, others may in later years enjoy.”

Thanks to the enormous generosity of the citizens of Oneonta, thousands of people have enjoyed the fruits of the College that they “planted” in 1927.

[This article was published in Hartwick’s alumni magazine The Wick in the Fall of 1997.]