Obscure Organization
Important in UO History
By Bill Frye
I'-vcr hear of an organization railed (hr Union University
association? Or a building known as the McFarland house?
Neither rings a hell with most Kugrne citizens, much less with
I 11iv«•! ity students, hut hotli played important roles in the
founding of Oregon’s first state university.
It was nearly XO years ago, in July 1X72, that five serious
iiiiimi linn, wearing oni-iasmoneu
whiskers and high starched collars,
met at tin- kerosene-lighted Me
Farland hotmi* to discuss the need
for more adequate schooling and of
a state institution.
From their meeting evolved the
Union University association which
four years later was responsible for
getting the Unlevrsity located in
Kugene.
Association Died
After 75 years the University is
still around and looks destined to j
continue for at least another 75.
The Union University association
became defunct within a decade
after it was organized. The famous,
but little known, McFarland house,
in use until last fall, is now des
tined for the wreckers.
That tiie name McFarland should
not lie Included among the promi
nent names connected with the
early days of the University is not
surprising. Men like Matthew
Deady, H. il. Friendly and T. G.
Hendricks gave personal time and
effort to its establishment. Van
Dorn McFarland merely lent the
use of it is house to men like those
who drafted first plans for the pro
posed institution.
A Carpenter
M< Faiiand was a carpenter, but
bis house was not his own handi
work He bought it when the old
Central schoolhousc, located where
the Silva Chevrolet Co. is now, was
torn down. His house was one of
the old classrooms.
The exact history of the McFar
land house is not known, even by
its present owner, Will H. Hodes.
He bought the place in 1909 and
converted it Into an office building
The signlfcanee of the one-story
Irame building located at 839 W.
Charnelton St., was uccorded brief
mention in oily one place "The
History of Eugene," written by
throe Eugene women.
In the book is told the back
ground of the University and how
the earliest attempts at forming it
in 1851 "promptly became a politi
cal football with pressure groups
working in all directions."
KiigenlariN Aided
Following a period of inactivity,
revival of the university endow
ment flamed up in 1872 with Eu
gene citizens providing the spark.
A meeting at the McFarland house
with B. F. Dorris, S. H. Spencer,
John M. Thompson, Judge J. J.
Walton and John C, Arnold result
ed in the formation of the UUA
with .‘even others and some far
reaching effects on Eugene and on
the state.
The association elected John;
Thompson president, got $50,000 in
capital stock and formed n board
of directors which prepared a bill
for the September session of the
legislature.
Bill’s Provisions
The bill was to permit the pur
chase of a site in the Eugene town
ship and the erection of a building
worth $50,000 to be ready to turn
over to the state Jan. 7, 1874. It
further provided for a board of reg
ents of nine, six appointed by the
governor and three by the associa
tion itself; specifically that state
scholarships should be awarded by
counties; and forbade any sectar
ian religious tests for either stu
dents or teachers.
The first building, which became
Deady hall, is still intact. The
original site has been expanded.
But only one of the other three
provisions of the bill are still in ef
fect today.
Religious tests are still forbid
den. The board of regents was
abolished in 1932 when the state
board of higher education was set
up. As for county-awarded scholar
ships, they were surplanted by
state scholarships when the board
of higher education was establish
ed. . »
Being Wrecked Now
The building where plans for the
first state university were con
ceived lias boon turned over to the
CAD Wrecking Co. which in paying
$75 for the material in it. Co-owner
of the company, ilay Crowe, said
the original coat of the house did
not exceed $500.
When the place was built, prob
ably right after the close of the
Civil war, no sawmills' had yet
conic on the scene In Lane county
Crowe pointed out the hand-hewed
timbers measuring about 6 inches
square and the whip-sawed boards
running In sizes up to 30 inches.
All lumber used in building the old
house, he said, was hand sawed.
Wooden pegs measuring one inch
in diameter were even used in place
of nails for joining the heavy tim
bers.
Since the five stately men met
there 80 years ago the McFarland
house had been modernized to some
extent, flourescent lights and Vene
tian blinds replacing the kerosene
lamps and heavy window shades.
As for the University, it evolved
Horn a $50 000 hope into a $19,000,
000 legacy.
Monks were me timekeepers of
the Middle Ages, and monastery
bells told the time to all living
within their range. The world
clock really signifies bell, and
comes from the old French Cloche,
the German gloeke, the Medieval
Latin clocca, and the Old Knglish
eluege.
Co-op living Helps Students Get Through School Cheaply
Andie from the fact that co
operative Jiving on UO campon
offers worthy students a refuge
from sororities, fraternities, and
dormitories, it enables them to
obtain an education at minimum
cost. Many promising students
would be unable to attend uni
versity at all if it weren’t for the
four cooperative Jiving organiza
tions.
The three women’s houses, Re
bec, Highland, and University con
tain an average of thirty students
apiece and Campbell Club, the
men's house, approximately forty.
Hoorn and board amounts to an
average of $40 per month. Since
expenses are so low, cooperative
students are required to con
tribute from 3-5 hours per week
for house duties. The honor sys
tem is prevalent in governing the
houses.
Scholastic achievements of the
cooperative members arc above
average and a majority of the
students are provided with schol
arships to aid financial difficul
ties. Highland has permanent pos
session of Burt Brown Barker
cup, awarded to the house with
the highest scholastic average for
three years in succession. A mem
ber of Campbell Club won the
William Frager Scull and Dagger
scholarship last year.
Social events and activities at
the co-op houses are not lacking
although the members who do not
wish to participate in them are
<ertainly not obliged to do so
against their will. Among the out
standing yearly activities are the
individual annual house dances.
More recently established is the
annual all-co-op dance which
proved to be a great success.
Firesides, exchange dinners and
desserts are arranged with other
organizations. Campbell Club got
first prize last year for their jun
ior week-end float.
The co-op organizations have
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proved outstanding in athletic
competitions. For the past two
y»ars Rebec House has held the
Woman s Recreation Association
cup for participation in intra
mural sports. Before Rebec House,
Highland held the cup for one
yf:ar. Highland and University
have won individual champion
ships in sport# also.
In accomplishments, these
houses rate high and serve ade
quately in providing low-cost
housing for students.
Brings tender thoughts
to a family far away.
May we make your appointment today?
THE
FEHLY STUDIO
CAMPUS CONVENIENT AT 1214 KINCAID ST
Phone 4-3432 for Appointment
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