which Cedarville College had come into existence, he was thrilled. "He was hilariously happy that a school like ours was taking over the college. That's something I'll never forget about him. He was truly excited about it."23 When Cedarville became a Baptist school, in spite of his age, Jurkat continued to teach. On February 22, standing in his beloved office, he suffered a paralytic stroke while reaching for a Greek text. Six weeks later, on April 5, 1954, he went to be with his Lord. By this time he had spent almost 59 of his 77 years as a Cedarville College faculty member. Through the years one of the marks of Cedarville College has been a dedicated faculty and staff, many of whom have devoted the majority of their adult life to the institution. It is highly unlikely, however, that any will match the record of years of service given to the college established by Frank A. Jurkat. The students, addressing a portion of their yearbook to Jurkat, concluded: "We humbly thank God for the fellowship He has privileged us to have with this one who has meant so much to our school."H The dedicated men and women who came to the faculty and staff of Cedarville College became critical to the success of the institution. By the 1958-59 school year, with 164 students in the student body, the faculty reached 15. By the 10th anniversary of Baptist ownership, in 1963-64, the student body had risen to 501 and the faculty stood at a towering 33! As the faculty and student body continued to grow, new buildings were erected to meet the expanding needs. Sometimes those buildings were restructured from old army barracks, as in the case of Faith Hall. Usually students were actively involved in the building because the college could not afford construction wages. In describing the growth of Cedarville and the erection of Faith Dormitory, a Springfield newspaper reported: Estimated cost of the new dormitory is $25,000 a figure which is hard to believe in these days of costly construction. But the reason can be found on the Cedarville campus where even the college president. James T. Jeremiah, may be seen driVing a truck, making concrete blocks or pouring concrete. Student and faculty volunteer labor has made possible many Cedarville College projects and a concrete block making machine donated by friends of the college saves on material on con– struction jobs. Students will be emptoyed on the dormitory project during the summer months under the supervision of Gerald Marshall, building superintendent.25 In those days the college did not have an electrician; consequently, William B. Patterson, one of the trustees who had experience in this field, would drive from his home in Cleveland to Cedarville each weekend to work. He spent his summer vacation and most of his weekends doing wiring in the new Faith Hall project on the college campus. He also shared in wiring much of Williams Hal1. 20 When the barracks arrived in Cedarville at the beginning of the Faith Hall project, many in the community were horrified to see those battered buildings being placed on the lot next to their lovely new high school addition. They were relieved when the barracks became a lovely bricked residence hall. Thus, faculty, administrators, trustees, and students shared in the development of Cedarville College. The college became a mission project for ladies' groups who made curtains and many other necessary items needed on the campus. In this manner the college grew materially, but at the same time developed a spirit which to this day characterizes it: a spirit of family unity, a oneness of purpose and goal. Dedicated men and women labored together under the direction of James T. Jeremiah. In a very literal sense, the students, faculty, administration, and supporters built Cedarville College. I. Arthllr O,'I-e. Tdped Refledion5, November 1"1'5. Another In,,'I– ee, Cer,dd 5meJ."~er, indic.Jled thtlt ~e\'erc1J ~tudent~ l\'ere (·onvinced the {-ol/ege ~\'ou/d not upen the second .;emesler 01" th,'t fjr~t yedf. Gerdld Smel"r, T,'ped Reflections, OClober 191'5. 2. j,lmcs T. jeremiah, President's Report to the Board of Trustees, 1°77-71', p. I. J. Ger,,jd Smel,er, T"ped Reflections, October 101'5. 4. Trll,tee, Min lite,. Mdv J, 1954. 5. Arthllr Dyl-e, Tdped Reflections, November 1°85. o. Trustees Minutes, june 12, 1054. 7. j,lnle, T. jeremi"h to Ihe Irll,lee, of Ced,lfville College, Seplemhi-'f D. [')54. ,i. Ibid. ".Ihid. w. Tr(/~t('('-" MinulC's, Septemher I I, 1054. II. jamcs T. Jeremiah. Pr('~ident's Report to BOclfd of TrustC'es, [lI77·78. 12. j"me~ T. jeremi.rh, per~on,,1 intcf\'iew, September IlJl~5. 13. Ruhl' jeremi,lh 10 Id" St. C1o1ir, December 1 0 1'5. 14. Ohi~ Independent Baptist, Octoher 1"54, p. 7. 15. j.lm{'~ T. jcrcmi~lh, per~on~J1 interview, Septembi'r ll)85. 10. Ihid. 17. Rubv jeremi,lh to Id" St. C/"ir, December 1°85. 18. j'Jm~~ T. jeremiah, per~on~J1 interview, September [985. 1".lhid. 20, Ihid. 21. D"yton D,'ily News, April 0, 1°54. 22. elrl Smilh 10 Guy Kuhn, Seplember 24, 1982. .?J. j,l111e~ T. jeremidh, per~un<,J1 interview, September 1985. 24. The Mir,1Cle, 1°54, p. 40. 25. Springfield Sun, june 10, 1057. The Xenid G"zette, Ddyton jour– n,,1 Herdld, oInd D"yton Daily News d/50 rdn lenglhy 'lflic/es, com– plete with "beFore lmd "fter" pictures, 20. Wil/i'JnI 8. Pdtler;on 10]. MurrdY Mllrdoch, NOl'ember 1955. Chapter XllI/Ill
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