The story of the life and work of Oren BCheney, founder and first president of Bates college . establish a Free Baptist summer resort, whichshould provide for physical, intellectual and spirit-ual improvement. Dr. Cheney was a member ofthe Committee to carry out the plan. After ex-amining many localities, a strip of land wassecured near Old Orchard, Maine. Dr. Cheneyalways remembered with interest the day whenthe Committee walked across sand and marsh, upto the beautiful pine grove, at the entrance towhich the temple was to be located, and all kneeledwith bared heads while Rev. Silas Curtis of
The story of the life and work of Oren BCheney, founder and first president of Bates college . establish a Free Baptist summer resort, whichshould provide for physical, intellectual and spirit-ual improvement. Dr. Cheney was a member ofthe Committee to carry out the plan. After ex-amining many localities, a strip of land wassecured near Old Orchard, Maine. Dr. Cheneyalways remembered with interest the day whenthe Committee walked across sand and marsh, upto the beautiful pine grove, at the entrance towhich the temple was to be located, and all kneeledwith bared heads while Rev. Silas Curtis offered aprayer, dedicating the grounds to holiest service. An association was organized with Dr. Cheneyas President. This office he held for four Chairman of the Board of Directors, he gavemuch time and thought to the development of thisunique and delightful summer home, which em-bodies so many helpful features, as to be sur-passed by few such resorts in the country. COLLEGE EXTENSION PLAN With Bates College interests always uppermostin his thought, President Cheney had a plan from. OREN B. CHENEY 209 the beginning of the Ocean Park movement, bywhich he hoped to extend the College purchased a block of centrally-located lots,opposite a park reservation. College Extensionin the form of summer meetings, lectures andschools, was then in its infancy. The Presidentsaw that the proximity of Bates College to OceanPark afforded a favorable opportunity for theCollege to be early in the field in such work. Butthe financial disasters which came to Bates in theearly eighties hindered the development of thenew enterprise. Later, the interests of the Boston and MaineRailroad, in building up Ocean Park, seemedlikely to become a factor in the realization of hisplan ; but on the day Dr. Cheney was to have adecisive meeting with the President of the road,word came of the serious illness of the latter anddeath once more thwarted large plans. Soon after,the Chautauqua movement
Size: 1375px × 1817px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidstoryoflifew, bookyear1907
