History of Baldwin Wallace University
The history of Baldwin Wallace University dates back to 1828, when co-founder John Baldwin settled in present-day Berea, Ohio. His founding eventually established Baldwin–Wallace College. This founding of present-day Baldwin Wallace University began when Baldwin Institute was established in 1845. With the help of James Wallace, Baldwin Institute began offering college courses. Eventually, in 1863, a resolution established a separate school from Baldwin University to serve the booming local German population called German Wallace College. Originally part of Baldwin Institute, German Wallace College was established just down the road. As a result of financial hardships the schools merged in 1913, forming Baldwin-Wallace College. In 2010, several buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places combining the former Lyceum Village Square and German Wallace College to form the BW South Campus Historic District. In 2012, Baldwin-Wallace College became Baldwin Wallace University and established the BW North Campus Historic District. The Conservatory is home to the Baldwin-Wallace Bach Festival, the oldest collegiate Bach Festival and the second-oldest Bach festival in the United States honoring Johann Sebastian Bach.
Origins and decline
Both the university and the town of Berea, Ohio, were founded by Methodist settlers from Connecticut. Those settlers moved west after their homes were burned by the British in the Revolutionary War. The region in Northern Ohio became known as the Western Reserve. Among early settlers of this area was John Baldwin. The founding of Baldwin Wallace University began with the founding of Baldwin University.Baldwin Institute
The history of Baldwin University starts in 1828 when John Baldwin moved to present day Berea, Ohio; at that time it was called the township of Middleburg. In 1836, Baldwin worked with two Methodists to establish the Berea Seminary, which eventually failed. Baldwin discovered a fine-grained stone on his land later called Berea sandstone. In 1838, Baldwin discovered a method to harvest this stone and it became profitable for Baldwin. Baldwin set out to found a Lyceum school, modeled after the Christian perfectionist movement championed by Robert Owen. This funding eventually allowed Baldwin to establish the Baldwin Institute on December 20, 1845. In 1846, the first building, North Hall, also known as "Old Muley", was built. Old Muley is in no relation to the present-day North Hall on the Baldwin Wallace Campus.Baldwin Institute was a seminary. The first principal, Rev. John Wheeler, was named in July 1855. Under Wheeler, a local business owner, James Wallace, pledged funds for a new building if college courses were offered. Beyond that, there was a surge of German workers in Baldwin's sandstone quarries.
Baldwin University
In 1856, a charter was granted establishing Baldwin University. Baldwin's sense of equality led to the school accepting any student regardless of race or gender, and was one of the first in the nation to do so. Moreover, Baldwin University's courses were not segregated. With the pledge from Wallace, the school began to attract students of German descent. Eventually, in 1863, a resolution established a separate school and department for these German students. This established German Wallace College. German Wallace College and Baldwin University existed in harmony, and students were allowed to take classes from either school.A person of historical significance to the university's history is Philura Gould Baldwin. Philura Gould Baldwin graduated in 1886 and was the granddaughter of John Baldwin. Philura started the school's first library by collecting and cataloging books. Beyond this, Philura suggested the traditional colors of brown and gold for the school colors. These were also the school colors for Baldwin University, which still stand today. Philura died from consumption at age 26. The Baldwin family donated funds for a library that was dedicated in her memory in June 1894. The Philura Gould Baldwin Library was eventually made part of the Malicky Center in the 1900s.
By the 1880s, the quarries had begun to intrude on the site of the university. In 1891, the school broke ground for a new campus at Front Street and Bagley Road. New buildings were constructed and old buildings were moved. In 1872, Hulet Hall was built using Berea sandstone, at an original cost of $10,000. Hulet was eventually torn down in 1972. The new buildings include Recitation Hall, which was built in 1891; the ground-breaking ceremony was led by Mary Baldwin, John's daughter. Current buildings from Baldwin University that still exist include the Philura Gould Baldwin Library and Carnegie Hall. Today, Baldwin Library and Carnegie Hall are connected and have been added as part of Malicky Hall.
Conservatory of music
During Baldwin Institute's existence, the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music was established. In 1898, the undergraduate-only conservatory was founded by Dr. Albert Riemenschneider. Before this time, music classes were offered at the Baldwin Institute for one dollar extra per term. In 1912, land donated by the citizens of Berea was used to expand the institution and improve the music facilities. The Kulas Musical Arts Building was constructed, housing a $25,000 pipe organ.Later, in 1913 the Conservatory would expand into an adjacent residence hall, and an enclosed bridge was constructed connecting the two buildings. This building was then renovated in 1939. In 2009, the Berea First Congregational Church became part of the college. Then, in 2011, there was an expansion to connect the Kulas Musical Arts Building with the Berea First Congregational Church.
The Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music is home to the BW Bach Festival, which is the oldest collegiate Bach festival, and the second-oldest Bach festival, in the United States. In 1932, Professor Albert Riemenschneider founded the Bach Festival. The longtime Director of the College Conservatory and his wife, the then Baldwin-Wallace Festival Choir and the BW Orchestra presented the first Bach Festival in June 1933. This festival has continued since then, and features the works of Johann Sebastian Bach.
German Wallace College
German Wallace was originally established under Baldwin Institute. German Wallace College was a German Methodist institution. In the late 1850s and early 1860s, a surge of German workers began to settle in present-day Berea, OH, to work in John Baldwin's sandstone quarries. German American James Wallace pledged funds to Baldwin Institute under the condition that they offer college courses. The funds James Wallace pledged were for a new building. Due to now offering college courses in 1856, a Charter was granted establishing Baldwin University. Baldwin Institute immediately began to attract and recruit students of German descent. This recruitment eventually established a German department at Baldwin University.The Reverend Jacob Rothweiler of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who served as a professor at Baldwin University, was appointed 3 June 1863 to inaugurate the movement to establish German Wallace College. Eventually, in 1863, a resolution established a separate school for these German students called German Wallace College. German Wallace College was established on 7 June 1864. The college was established with the goal of promoting "scientific education and Biblical Christianity" for German Americans. Rothweiler also sought a place for higher learning for the waves of German immigrants to the United States. Even though a new school was established, the two schools worked harmoniously together from the start. An example of this is that students were allowed to take courses interchangeably between the two schools. As well, students from either school were entitled to all the privileges of the others.
Then, in 1866, James Wallace purchased the site of the Lyceum Village from the German Children's Home to create the German Wallace College Campus. Another building in this village is Lindsay Crossman Chapel. Crossman Chapel was built under the name Emmanuel Methodist Episcopal Church; the church was not renamed and became part of the campus until the 1950s. Across the street from Crossman Chapel is Kohler Hall. Kohler hall was built in the 1870s as the Methodist Children's Home. Kohler wouldn't become part of BW until 1913. Kohler Hall today mostly houses Conservatory students. It has a reputation for being haunted, and has been featured in the book Haunted Ohio. Before becoming a residence hall, it was first a hospital for Civil War veterans, and later believed to function as a mental institution.
The Rev. William Nast, D.D., was for many years the Honorary President of the college. Early de facto presidents included the Rev. Jacob Rothweiler, the Rev. Frederick Schuler, and P.F. Schneider.
Decline
After the deaths of John Baldwin and James Wallace, both schools came close to ruin. In the early 1900s, Baldwin Institute and German Wallace began to experience financial decline. This decline was fueled by the dying quarry industry in Ohio. As well, the sandstone quarries in Berea were in decline. Coe Lake originated from one of these quarries, called "Big Quarry". Over time, the quarry filled with water, creating the lake that exists today.With the future of the two schools unknown, the United Methodist Church considered merging the schools with Ohio Wesleyan University in 1880 to form the University of Cleveland. This concept was abandoned eventually when a new option arose. The two schools during their histories worked together by allowing students to take courses at either school. This partnership helped bring forth the idea that Baldwin University and German Wallace College should merge. In 1913, Baldwin–Wallace College was founded using the motto "In Union There is Strength".