The history of the Institute from 1864 - 1869 is sketchy. It is thought that during this period many of the male students had entered the war. Some never returned and those who did, failed to go back. This would have thrown the school into debt. The United Brethren people needed to raise money or close the school. Around 1868 the Baptist people began negotiating for the school. An old deed dated, January 5, 1869, contained the following:
"David Keister, D.S. Cherry, Joseph Gross, U.S.
Johnson, Samuel Zuck, Benjamin Clair, Solomon Keister and Christian Ebersole,
Trustees of the United Brethren in Christ Church, for the management and
control of the Mount Pleasant College, parties of the first part, and Mount
Pleasant Union College, at Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania,
party of the second part -"
The deed was not recorded until July 8, 1902.
The deed was not recorded until July 8, 1902.
March 27, 1871 the Baptist people took charge of the school and from then it was chartered and known as
The Western Pennsylvania Classical and Scientific
Institute
Of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Christian S. Overholt served as President of the Board of Trustees from 1871 until 1907 when James S. Braddock was elected. Mr. Braddock served until his death, March 10, 1929. Byron M. Loar was the next to hold the office of President.
James H. Pershing was Secretary of the Board in 1871. He was followed by John A. Murphy who held the position from 1893 until his death, October 27, 1931.
In 1873, after reorganization by the Baptists, the faculty were:
- Rev. A.K. Bell, D.D. , President
- Jonathan Jones, A.M. , Principal and Professor of Languages and Mathematics
- Miss A.T. Giddings, Professor of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
- Miss M.L. Plummer , English and Prepatory
- A.C. Lyon, Professor of Music
- Mrs. M. Lloyd, Matron
- Mary McCormick (Mrs. J.M. Scott)
- Mary H. Waddell
- Sarah M. Waddell (Mrs. E.H. Pangborn)
The images on this page are from a school pamphlet dated 1895. The picture at the bottom of the page is from a post card dated 1908.
