Time capsule will reveal secrets of the past
Contents collected by University
founders date back 100 years
By Kirsten Bolin
(H llw> Kmrrald
A sealed topper time capsule contain
ing Hems collected by the University's
founders in the 1880s will be opened
Saturday at It) a,in. in Robinson Theatre
as part of ViUard Hall's centennial birth
day celebration.
The time capsule, removed from a
building cornerstone last Tuesday, was
built into historic Villard Hall during its
construction in 1HH5 Although no one is
totally certain of the capsule’s contents,
a document tentatively listing 82 objects
was given to the Unverslty Archives at
the time of the building's completion.
•'People in the auditorium will be the
first ones to see the capsule’s contents in
the light of day for 100 years,” says
Horace Robinson, co-chair of the Viilard
Centennial and the person after which
Robinson Theatre is. named. "Some of
the articles will be of interest in
themselves, others will be of interest
Strictly as to whv they are in there.".
The second building constructed on
the University campus. Villard Hall is
now a National Historic landmark. It was
the original home of many programs, in
eluding the University library and the
music school. Speech, telecommunica
tions. drama, the Robinson Theatre and
the KWAX studios currently reside
there.
Villard Hall was named for Henry
Viilaid, a wealthy Northern Pacific
Railroad man who had earlier saved
Heady Hall, the first University building,
from bankruptcy.
Originally designed in Second Empire
style, the building was allocated
$100,000 by the state in tpe 1040s to
fund a renovation and expansion project.
A new floor, wing and stairway were ad
ded at this time.
A major fundraising drive is now
underway as University and Villard Hall
officials try to raise the $500,000 needed
to return the building to its original
appearance.
"We need to renovate the outside of
Villard Hall to make it historically ac
curate." says Grant McKernie. head of
the speech department. . .
. Interior modifications and assorted
new equipment also are badly needed,
ho says. •
"We want to provide an up-to-date
Photo t*nirte*y of I Iniversity News Bureau
This late 19th century drawing depicts Villard Hath the second building con-,
structed on campus.
theater education and have up-to-date
equip m e n* t . "* h e s a y s .
An anonymous $50,000 donation to
the fund was received earlier this week,
which McKernie hopes will inspire
others to give.
"We’re hoping alumni in the llniver
sity, particularly from these depart
ments' will remember their fond times at
the University.” he says.
For.more information about centennial,
activities or the fund raiser, contact the
Univers-ily speech department,
WMi-4171.
Railroad baron first significant donator
Villard saved Deady from financial straits
By IJnda Hahn
C H III* Km*r«td
Villard Hall should bs named
Billiard Hall. after the real name
I
of the German immigrant whose
. $7,000 donation saved Heady
Mall from demise in 1881..
Ferdinand Heinrich Gustav
Henry Villard
Hilgard came to America, from
Bavaria at the age of 17 for
adventure, fame and fortune. To
a|lude the grasp of disgruntled
parents in the old country,
Hilgard changed his name to
Henry Vtljard. the name of a
school chum.
journalist, railroad promoter,
financier, • philantropist —
Vi I lard rose through the ranks
to achieve his goal. He rubbed
elbows with Horace Greeley,
emminent journalist, when
Villard covered the Pike’s Peak
gold rush in- 1858.
He came to know the standard
bearer of the Republican party
in the 1860 presidential elec
tions. Abraham Lincoln, on a
first-name basis. He schemed
with and outwitted the likes of
Jay Could, eastern financier,
over railroad stock options in
1870. He conferred with
Thomas Edison,. inventor ex
traodinaire. to found the Edison
General Electric Company in
1889.
The man credited with saving
the University from financial
uncertainty — the man
remembered for his generousi
ty. in the States as well as his
home country, seems larger
than life. But he was all too
human, suffering from human
ailments, succumbing to human
inclinations.
Villard will always be
remembered for his role in the
development of Oregon. On his
first visit to the region, he was
impressed with its possibilities
and developed the idea of
building a railway empire in the
Northwest. However, according
to Appleton’s Encyclopedia of
American Biographies, in the
late 1 BfiOs when Villard worked
as a journalist, he sent statistics
to the New York Herald that
were, intended to influence the
location of a Pacific railroad
route.
During the years of 187‘t to
1883, Villard was considered to
be on of the most important
railroad promoters in the
United States. As president of
the Northern Pacific Railroad,
he fostered construction of the
first trancontinental railroad to
Oregon, increasing the settle
ment of the state. However,
upon completion of the line in
1883. Villard was confronted
with huge deficits and was forc
ed to resign the presidency in
early 1884. From 1884 to 1888
he was in Germany, recovering
from a nervous breakdown.
With the aid of German
capital, Villard made a magnifi
es nt comeback in 1887. by sav
ing the Oregon and Transcon
tinental. a holding company of
railway properties. Me re
entered the board of the Nor
thern Pacific in 1888. but was
unable to reconcile conflicting
interests within the company.
In 1893. his railway career came
to an end.
Viilard was also an author of
note, writing from his ex
periences as a journalist. He
wrote a hook on Pike's Peak and
one on his conversations with
Lincoln
Villard’s attention was drawn
to Oregon again in 1881 when
the news of the impending sale
of the University’s only
building. Heady Mali, appeared
in Portland newspapers. He
Wanted to develop the educa
tional as well as the economic
resources of the Northwest.
Consequently, he assumed a
$7,000 debt and also.presented
the University with $50,000 in
Northern Pacific bonds from
which $3,000 annual income
was derived: With this endow
ment. the University’s days of
financial insecurity were
ended.
Villard’s generosity attracted
wide attention since his dona
tions were the first of any im
portance to higher education in
Oregon. Viilard Hall stands as a
testament to his achievments.
CLASSIFIED ADS
CAN BE
PLACED AT
ODE Ottlce, 300 EMU
EMU SUAB Booth 11-1. M F
UO Bookstore Lobby 11-1. M-F
UO Bookstore Stamp Counter
EMU Main beak
PAYMENT All ads must be paid tor In
advance unlaaa a billing arrangement
has bean established For billing ar
angements, please call SM-4M3 or
slop bv the Emerald Classified ottlce
300 EMU
PATES; 17 cents per word lor me llrtl
day and 14 cents per word lor con
secutive days the ad Is run without
change
Ten-word minimum charge It 11.70 lor
the llrst Insertion and 11.40 tor eon
tecutive Insertions
DEADLINES
UNC A0S:,71 pm, the day before
publication ■ « >
OISPLAV CLASSIFIED AOS: t pm two
days before publication for the first In
sertion with graphics requiring photo
enlargement or reduction
1 pm the day before publication tor
each rnaertlon lhareat(*r
The Oregon Dally Emerald Is publish
ed Monday through Friday during the
academic year (Seplember-June) and
Tuesday and Thursday during summer
session (June-August) ,
For Sale
BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS
Private collection. 20.000 used books
and magazines Open 10-4, Starts
10126/85, 1676 Hllyard 1M
FOB SALE: IBM SELECTBIC It tlec
ironic, self-correcting typewriter with
stand Perfect condltiom 345-3437
evenings, _
TYPEWRITERS: SCM220 *135. Brother
EP20 *85 Both hkejiew <84 5082 11-1
ROSSIQNOL 45 va», 195cm Skied til
teen times Come* with *50 ftosignol
bag and Rosslgnol poles *275.
Solomon SX91 equipe bools 335 m Us
ad three limes *170 Yamaha 650cc
Special 1980 Excellent condition *829
Call Tony 345-6484115
78 FIAT Xl/t with all the extras! Call
484 9504_ 11 1
DOUBLE BED WITH Wooden Irame, *70
OBO Tel 345-8079_11 1
WAVELESS WATERBED. Healer, liner
Irame. rails *99 345-1449. 484 1380
118
FLUTE. Excellent condition. *75 San
sul receiver 160W. *125. Slave 344-2109
11-1
BROTHER ELECTRONIC TYPEWRITER
with extra daisywheel Pine drawers 8
tables wail mounted shell. Call
345 2819.1M
FALL TERM LTD Bus pass Good thru
12 31 85 *25 484 5258 11 1
WOMEN'S OREGON LETTSAMAN'S
JACKET. Brand new $45 OBO
484-0812 _ ' 11-4
SKJ BOOTS. Munan' iltalian),
removable leather lined inserts Size 8
men s. $275 new. sell lot $100 (like
new) 484 0812 114
SALE:' WALKMAN WITH SPEAKERS,
$35, swivel chair. $50. swlngtec por
table typewriter. $140. Toochtone
telephone $12 Call 344 4393,. 1,1-4
VESPA 150 SUPER. $845. Brother EP 20
elect typewriter. $125, Casio keyboard
$130 344-8161 H-4
Buy & Sell
THE SUV 8 SELL CENTER
Buy*Sall«Trade
Musical instruments, stereo, toola,
Photographic and Backpacking
Equipement
361 W. 5th.
HFM8184
Instruction
WOMEN’S DISCOVERY
Her/Self Her/Image is a grbupexplor
ing who we are and who we can be
Twelve Wednesday evening® beginning
November 6 Pre-registration required
by November 4 Call Caroline at
344 0178 Eugene Center tor Healing
DANCE CLASSES
Learn Mexican and
Latin dancing.
Ongoing tor this quarter Meet at 1236
Kincaid at 7:00 every Friday night Have
Arts
FREE
tun! Cal! 484 5867
5512:11-1
Services
PAST LIFETIME REGRESSIONS S20
Astrology chart readings S30 Call Tom
345 9749 11 8
Typing
PROFESSIONAL TYPIST: Statistical
specialist. IBM Corr Sel Grad approv
ed Near campus. S44-07S8. 4961 ttn
TYPING &
WORD PROCESSING
Theses/dissertations, papers, editing.
graphics, la* papers, resumes. &
mass mailings. Grad Sch approved
WordStyles A Typescripts
BRANDY 484-6044
CINDY 484 54S4
4940;tfn