A guide to the history of physical educationLeonard, Fred Eugene
History
A guide to the history of physical education
Leonard, Fred Eugene
Physical education and training; Physical education and training -- History
As a matter of record the following data regarding other college gymnasia
erected or equipped during the sixties and seventies deserve a place
here. At _Bowdoin College_ in 1860 or soon afterwards a gymnasium was
fitted up in what had been a dining hall. Before the middle of the next
decade it was removed to unfinished Memorial Hall, and in 1882 to the
lower floor of Winthrop Hall. William Colyer Dole was “Director of the
Gymnasium” 1863-1869, and Dudley Allen Sargent 1869-1875. Men students
in _Oberlin College_ organized a Gymnasium Association in 1860 and
erected a one-story wooden structure about 75 by 25 feet, opened March
30, 1861. Samuel Putnam, member of the Worcester, Mass., Gymnastic Club
and highly recommended by Rev. Thomas Wentworth Higginson, was secured as
instructor of the classes which were at once organized, but left within
a month to join the Massachusetts troops at Washington. Another wooden
building of similar size, and again the result of student effort, was
opened in October of 1873, the earlier one having been removed in 1867.
At _Wesleyan University_ a one-story wooden structure with one room 70
by 40 feet was built and equipped in 1863-1864 at a cost of $5000. A
large room in Goodrich Hall, erected at _Williams College_ in 1864, was
fitted up with gymnastic apparatus, and there was a bowling-alley on
the lowest floor. A wooden gymnasium built in 1881 was blown down in
1883. Charles Russell Treat served as Professor of Physiology, Vocal and
Physical Culture 1866-1869, Henry Wilson Smith (A.B., ’69) as Instructor
in Physical Training 1870-1874, and Luther Dana Woodbridge (A.B., ’72)
in the same position 1874-1876. A gymnasium hall 80 by 30 feet and 19
feet high was ready for use at _Mt. Holyoke Seminary_ in the summer
of 1865. After 1862 the Dio Lewis gymnastics had replaced the earlier
“calisthenics” there. _Vassar’s_ gymnasium (80 by 30 feet) and riding
school was occupied at the opening of the second college year, in the
fall of 1866. Here, too, the Dio Lewis exercises were employed. In March
of 1867 a two-story gymnasium of brick with stone trimmings was opened at
_Dartmouth College_, to which George H. Bissell gave nearly $24,000 for
the purpose. The architect was Joseph R. Richards of Boston. F. G. Welch
was Instructor in Gymnastics 1867-1868, Charles Franklin Emerson (A.B.,
’68) 1868-1871, Devinel French Thompson (B.S., ’69) 1871-1872, Solon
Rodney Towne (A.B., ’72) 1872-1875, and Thomas Wilson Dorr Worthen (A.B.,
’72) 1875-1893. “In the spring of 1869 and during the greater part of
the year 1869-1870 the students (of _Brown University_) had the use of a
private gymnasium on Canal Street, the college bearing half the expense”
(Bronson 1914, p. 377). _Princeton’s_ gymnasium, the gift of Robert
Bonner and Henry G. Marquand, was a two-story structure of gray stone,
planned by George B. Post of New York, and with the ground on which it
stood cost $38,000. The main hall was 80 by 50 feet. George Goldie[256]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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