It was a busy year of events on the campus of Hartwick College in 1954. The community's leaders and citizens became more involved in the college's role in Oneonta's life. A brand new women's dormitory opened that autumn, named after a prominent Oneonta couple. Another building, the very first one built in 1928, got a name change.
Dr. Miller A.F. Ritchie, president of Hartwick College, had sent invitations to a large group of people in and around Oneonta that spring. It was to come to a dinner at the Elks Club on Tuesday, May 25, to learn more about the possible formation of a Hartwick College Citizens Board.
In his letters of invitation, Ritchie stated, "I am sure you are deeply interested in the healthy growth of the college as a major community enterprise."
Oneontans had always been interested in Hartwick College, otherwise they wouldn't have lured the college to come here in 1928 through community-wide donations of money and land. After that dinner, plenty of interest had been generated for the Citizens Board, so a steering committee was appointed to complete the organization of the board and develop its objectives.
D.F. Parce, then a manager for New York Telephone, was chosen as the first chairman. Fourteen area citizens made up its initial Board of Directors, while 99 others became members.
A "Roll Call" dinner took place at the new Dewar Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 16, to take a first step in meeting some needs of the college. It launched a campaign for a minimum goal of $10,000 for 1954-55 to adjust the salaries of the members of the faculty and staff. That goal was reached in only three months. Fifty-five years later, the Citizens Board is still going strong. For 2009, members made 804 gifts, totaling more than $1.2 million.
In 1980, the board established the Citizen of the Year award to recognize an area resident who exemplifies its mission: to act as an advocate for Hartwick and to affirm the mutually beneficial relationship between the college and the greater Oneonta community.
The first recipient was Doris Patrick. In recent years, Madolyn Palmer, Brian and Josie Wright, Geoff and Linda Smith, Jim and Karen Elting, Bob Moyer and Gordon B. Roberts have been named Outstanding Citizens of the Year.
Speaking of Dewar Hall, most know it today as a center of student activities on campus. It opened in the autumn of 1954 as a women's dormitory, named after James and Jessie Smith-Dewar, longtime friends of the College.
The Dewar's gift of $240,000 was recognized during dedication ceremonies held on Founders Day weekend, Saturday, Oct. 23. Roscoe C. Briggs, a local businessman, was the dedication speaker. Mrs. Dewar was on hand for the ceremonies.
"Jessie, speaking as your lifelong friend," Briggs said, "by this gift of the Dewar Dormitory you have done a great, good deed for Hartwick. And you have done a great deed for your city."
Ground had been broken in 1953 for the new dormitory after bids had been let in September 1952.
Founders Day weekend was busy for the college, as on the same day as the dormitory dedication, Hartwick's main building, then known as Science Hall, was renamed Bresee Hall, in honor of Frank H. Bresee, founder of the Oneonta Department Store.
Dedicating the plaque, the Rev. Walter Krumwiede said of Mr. Bresee:
"As a citizen and a merchant Frank Harmon Bresee exemplified in life the high character of a Christian gentleman. His character, service and gifts helped Hartwick winter the perilous days of its career. His devoted service will follow him to the service to those who gain their education here."
Bresee was a major player in the survival of the college during the Great Depression and World War II, when the college nearly closed because of low enrollment.
This weekend, a Greene native was a sight to see, at 27-inches tall and weighing 12 pounds.
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City Historian Mark Simonson's column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or e-mail him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com.
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