Inauguration Day for President McChesney, a festive occasion which set the course of the College for the next 2S years. Dr. McChesney, in his speech on 'The Ideal College," challenged its students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends to become even more valiant in their efforts for Cedarville. campus. In the early days of the village, there had been a brickyard where the new college building was erected. The imposing three-story structure was topped by a large tower and became a community landmark. The basement of the building was designed to extend several feet above the ground. In addition to two coal furnaces and the coal cellars, the basement was large enough to house a gymnasium and restrooms. The elevated first floor contained four classrooms, the president's room, and the chapel, which was the central feature of the Christian school's activity. The second floor provided four additional classrooms, a large lecture hall, and the library, while the third floor contained two large rooms. Access to the building was provided by entrances on all four sides. ll Wide staircases were located on the north and south ends of the building, extending from the basement to the third floor. The building was lighted by electricity and heated by coa1. 12 The cornerstone of the building "was laid with impressive services June 25, 1895."13 The college family moved into the new facility at 38/Chapler V the start of the next school year, although the building was not entirely completed until early December. 14 The five original trustees watched with joy as the new structure was dedicated during the meeting of the General Synod on May 26, 1896. 15 With the standard four-year curriculum in place, and the first of several buildings now a reality, Cedarville College was quickly established as a significant educational institution in Greene County. The first commencement was held in 1897, with five students who had transferred from other institutions participating. The seniors celebrated their graduation by publishing a small volume entitled Imago. This booklet contained a class prophecy which predicted that two members of the graduating class would become United States senators, two would rise to the position of cabinet members, and one would become president of the United States. One poor graduate, however, was to be left in the relative obscurity of private life as a mere railroad president. 16 The spring of 1898 saw the completion of