What do Aspirin and Elizabethtown College have in common? Both were born in the year 1899.
It’s been 125 years since members of the Church of the Brethren raised funds, created a name and opened Elizabethtown College. Throughout that time, the College has witnessed historic events, experienced what seemed like certain financial ruin only to bounce back better than ever and grown its physical presence to the 204 acres that students, faculty and alumni love today.
Since1899, Etown has grown from just six students enrolled in its first year to more than 1,600 students. Although the College is no longer affiliated with the Church of the Brethren, it kept some of the core values of the church like its motto, Educate for Service. The changes and traditions are both worth celebrating.
In 2022, the seed of a 125th Anniversary Committee was planted by several faculty members. Co-chair of the committee and Associate Professor of English Tara Moore weighed in on this process.
“The anniversary planning has relied on expertise from many different programs and offices on campus. Student leaders from Student Assembly have participated on the large committee and on sub-committees,” Moore said. “I attended Etown as a student during the 100th anniversary, so I have some perspective on our prior anniversary celebration. I referenced those memories when I weighed in on how we want this current milestone to represent Etown’s current, vibrant community.”
This unique perspective is evident in the rollout of events this year.
Homecoming is going to have a “new flavor” this year according to the committee, and the celebratory events will flow naturally into Homecoming and Family Weekend. The College has also been collecting stories from alumni and associates of years past so as to look back at the community of Elizabethtown over time.
“I have been delighted to see frequent use of photographs and other materials from the Hess Archives across campus,” High Library Archivist Rachel Rohrbaugh said. “The first faculty member hired, Elizabeth Myer, was a woman, and the first three students to graduate from Elizabethtown in 1903 were all women. Lizzie M. Eby of Lancaster, Luella G. Fogelsanger of Elizabethtown and Bessie M. Rider of Elizabethtown all completed the commercial course.”
Some of the events are specialized versions of classic College traditions, like Into the Streets 125. Alumni will be able to participate in the annual service day, joining students in their mission to help the local community. The College is also sponsoring downtown 2nd Friday activities like face painting and a scavenger hunt on Nov.8, and local businesses will be offering special promotions throughout the weekend to celebrate the College’s anniversary.
A celebration of the College’s original charter was one of the first 125th events, held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25. A charter establishes a corporation, like a college, and is granted by a court. Etown’s charter was granted by the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas.
Hundreds of students formed a line into the Baugher Student Center (BSC) Patio to get a ticket for a free food truck item, including pulled pork, cookie dough and cupcakes.
“This is a big day for Elizabethtown College, coming together and acknowledging that 125 years ago Elizabethtown College was approved to offer classes and then degrees here on this location,” Etown President Betty Rider said in remarks at the event.
Live music from guitarist Steve Ebert was provided for students waiting in lines of up to an hour for food trucks. The event was advertised on social media and in an email to students, but some still only found out the day of the event. Senior Maura Bradney was surprised to learn that there was a committee focused on planning the event since 2022.
Fellow senior Aspen Stahl-Emig was also surprised to hear the anniversary celebration had been planned for two years.
“I saw signs posted up on campus just this morning after class,”he said while waiting in line for Mellie’s Bellies Southern Barbeque food truck.
Regardless, students enjoyed the event, which also had inflatables and a listening area forEbert, who played covers of popular bands like Mount Joy.
“The pulled pork was gas,” Bradney said.
The Charter Day celebration was the first large event that put College’s 125th anniversary on many students’ radar.
Anniversary celebrations will culminate in the 125th Celebration Gala on April 25. Details on the event are not yet available. More information on the anniversary of the college including college history, alumni, and donors can be found in a special section of the College website at etown.edu/125-celebration.
