Around Campus

The way we were:
Gettysburg College celebrates 175 years

150 years ago: The Gettysburg College campus totaled about 12 acres, extending west from North Washington St. about 520 feet; its northern border was about 50 feet south of West Lincoln Ave. and to the south the property ended a little north of the Tiber.

The College Edifice, known as Old Dorm and today as Pennsylvania Hall, housed students, classrooms, dining hall, faculty offices, library, chapel, two literary societies, and the steward and his family. A second major building was Linnaean Hall, completed in 1847. The only other structures on the small campus were a springhouse, washhouse, smokehouse, oven, stable, privies, woodhouse, and garden outbuildings.

To obtain admission to the freshman class, an applicant took an examination on Caesar, Virgil, the Greek Reader (parts I and II), Adams' Latin Grammar, Sophocles' Greek Grammar, English Grammar, Ancient and Modern Geography, Arithmetic and Algebra (through simple equations). "It is found from experience, that students imperfectly prepared for the class they enter, are embarrassed in their future progress, and are seldom able to repair the want of solid preparatory study," College materials stated. Satisfactory testimonials of good moral character were also required.

In 1857, there were 17 seniors, 14 juniors, 13 sophomores, 33 freshmen, as well as 71 in the preparatory department. There were nine faculty members, which included a lecturer and two tutors. All students were required to attend Chapel every morning and evening and to attend public worship on the Sabbath, and a biblical recitation on Sabbath afternoon.

The College year was divided into two terms or sessions with two vacations in the year, April and September, of six weeks each -- with no recess at Christmas. Expenses for both winter and summer term totaled $140 for board, tuition, room rent, attention to room, washing, fuel, and lights. Students were expected to supply their own furniture, lights, washing, books and stationery.