Northwestern University

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Northwestern University
Life Span: 1852-Present
Location: Evanston, IL
Architect: Gurdon P. Randall, University Hall (1869)

Chicago Tribune, January 12, 1855

A GOOD CHANCE PLACE
To buy for a country seat in a grove by near the Lake shore, with the conveniences of a Railroad, and only eleven miles from Chicago.

We are offering for sale, on very liberal terms terms, a large quantity of Lots and Lands in and near the newly laid out Village of Evanston.

The town of Evanston lies on the shore of Lake Michigan, eleven miles north of Chicago communicating with the city by means of the Chicago, and Milwaukee Railroad, on which the cars will be running as far as Evanston by the 1st or 15th of October; also, by means of a plank road now in process of construction, and ultimately by boats on the lake. Evanston was recently laid out by the Trustees of the North-western University.

The University is located on the lake shore, in a beautiful grove, near the centre of the town. Its endowment is progressing rapidly, and has already reached $200,000, aside from scholars in sales, the latter having already reached nearly $100,000. It is the intention of the Trustees to have an endowment of $300,000, and there is not a doubt but that they will realize that amount within the next three years. The erection of the University Buildings will be commenced in the spring. A large Building for a Biblical Institution is now in process of completion and will be opened for the admission of students by the 1st of December next. The site of Evanston, for beauty and healthfulness, is not surpassed by any village in the West. There is a large settlement in the vicinity, and during the present sickly season there has not been a case of cholera and only one death, from one disease, within two miles of the town.

Its gentile elevation above the surrounding country fits numerous forest trees, its lake breezes and lake views, make it both for beauty and health, all that the most fastidious could desire.

It is designed to make Evanston a literary centre for the Northwest, and as soon as arrangements can be made for Primary and Academic Schools, parents will find everything desirable for the education of their children, and on a scale unsurpassed in the counting of more than one hundred and fifty lots have already been purchased for improvement, and the erection of several dwellings and houses commenced. A large lot of lumber has been received from the Lake, and will be sold at a slight advance above Chicago prices. A plat of Evanston may be seen at our office, No. 45 Clark street, Chicago, Illinois, where we respectfully invite all persons wishing to make purchases in that direction to call and learn our prices and terms.

F. R. Benson & Co.
Real Estate Agents, 45 Clark st., Chicago.

Chicago Daily Tribune, January 11, 1856

NORTH-WESTERN-FEMALE COLLEGE.—The Journal of yesterday, contained the following :

This Institution located at Evanston, was opened for College. purposes, on the first inst., with appropriate private ceremonies.

The design of this Institution is to afford young ladies ample facilities for a a thorough collegiate education without being removed long distances from home, and yet amid seclusion at once healthful and beautiful.

Of the location of the College, it is enough to say that it combines almost all desirable features, as the site and of a literary institution, while by the Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad, it is rendered easy of access.

A neat and commodious edifice, four stories high, with simple rooms for Library, Cabinet, Lectures, Recitations, etc., and airy apartments to accommodate fifty young ladies, with board in the family of the Principal, is now nearly completed. All the modern improvements for ventilation, bathing, etc., have been adopted, and no arrangement for the health and comfort of students that extended observation among the first Eastern institutions could suggest, has been neglected.

The College also sustains the relation to the North Western University, of a Preparatory Department. This is already, organized, and the course is sufficiently thorough as a preparation for business life or to enter the best institutions of the country.

The Principal is Rev. W. P. Jones, a gentleman well qualified for the discharge of the duties he has assumed.

The establishment of this Institution is a matter of public interest, and we congratulate these of our readers who are blest with daughters, on the removal of the necessity for sending them east for the acquisition of an education—East, when ninety nine times in a hundred, their future husbands and homes are in West.

Of the opening services on the first instant, we find an account in the columns of the Christian Advocate, whence we extract the following:

The services commenced with the usual formalities, Rev. H. Crews, of this city, in the chair. A short, but pertinent and very suggestive address, was then delivered by Rev. W. B. Slaughter of Chicago. Mr. S.’s theme was, individual enterprise in educational effort.

This was followed by an address by Rev. Thomas Williams, of Chicago, upon this proposition—”Female colleges the hope of the church and the nation.” Mr. W. said that the Protestant Church had not, as yet, availed itself of the full strength of woman, especially of thoroughly educated women. Woman is, pre-eminently, the educator of the race, and should herself, therefore, be thoroughly educated: After the benediction, pronounced by Rev. J. W. Agard, P. E. of Chicago District, the audience repaired to the dining hall of the college, to enjoy a bountiful and rich repast, provided for the occasion.

Dinner over, the audience re-assembled in the chapel, and listened to an address by Rev. J. P. Chaffee, of Chicago. Prof. Goodman, of the North-western University, read a poem on New Year’s recreations, in which the “Belle,” “Young America,” the “Student,’, and the “Christian,” were each happily portrayed. “The clergy, the guardians of education,” was responded to by Rev. J. H. Leonard, of Chicago.

A toast to The Press was responded to by the associate editor of the Advocate.

“The Literary Institutions of Evanston,” the “Garrett Biblical Institute,” “North-western University and Female College,” was responded to by Dr. Dempster, President of the Institute. He said while traveling in Europe he visited a church in which there were three windows, called the “Three Sisters,” on which were delineated the scenes in the life of Moses. Destroy one of those windows, and you take away one-third of the history of Moses. The three literary institutions of Evanston, were the “Three Sisters.” Each had its legitimate sphere, and all were necessary to constitute a whole.

“The North-western University,” was responded to by Rev. P. Judson, financial agent of that Institution.

“Evanston, a providential location for its Literary Institutions,” was responded to by H. B. Hurd, Esq.

“The President of the Day” was proposed by Prof. W. P. Jones, and was responded to most happily by Mr. Crews. He gave a history of the inception of the College, complimenting the industry, enterprise and perseverance of its founders very highly, but justly.

The service closed with the benediction, pronounced by Rev. J. Sinclair, Pastor of the church of Evanston.

Merchants and Manufacturers, John Wing, 1873

The Suburbs of Chicago—Evanston—As Seen From Lake Michigan,

Northwestern University

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