If These Stones Could Speak: the Phenomenal Growth of Fairfield University's Campus

              by
Joseph F. MacDonnell, S.J.
Professor of Mathematics
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY
'-rhe original seal of Fairfield University
of St. }{obert Bellarlnine
IF THESE STONES
COULD SPEAK
The Phenomenal Growth
of
Fairfield University·s Campus
by
Joseph F. MacDonnell, S.J.
Professor of Mathematics
Fai rfield University
Copyright © 1996 by Joseph F. MacDonnell, S.J.
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06430
Printed and bound in the United States of America
(Fairfield University)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Joseph MacDonnell
If These Stones Could Speak:
the phenomenal growth of Fairfield University
/ Joseph F. MacDonnell, S.J.
Includes bibliographical references.
Library of Congress
Cataloging-in-Publication number: LD1771.F2M23
1. Fairfield University-History
2. Fairfield (Conn)-History
· CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION
WHO ARE THESE JESUIT EDUCATORS? 1
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY·S PREHISTORY 3
COMMENCEMENT AGAINST ALL ODDS 8
Early Property Acquisitions 8
Seven Presidents' In Half A Century 1 1
Early Struggles and Obstacles 1 4
The Inherited Buildings 1 9
Fairfield1s IINotre Dame of the Eastll 2 2
FAIRFIELD·S 24 BUILDINGS 2 4
REFERENCES
MAP
INTRODUCTION
The founding and development of Fairfield University is a
fascinating story of faith, imagination and courage - one that, in
large part, lies within the stones of its buildings. If only these
stones could speak they would make a fascinating and moving story
easier to tell. This is not meant to be a history of Fairfield
University, but r.ather a chronicle of the remarkable physical
growth our campus has experienced during the short span of half a
century. Fairfield University's founders were courageous
dreamers who thought big. They had confidence in themselves and
were quickened by their Faith in God.
The video, If These Stones Could Speak, was produced by the
Fairfield University Media Center (Copyright 1996). Rev. Joseph
MacDonnell, S.J. provided the research and hosted the 30-minute
program. The program was produced by Dr. Ibrahim Hefzallah;
Production Coordinator, Karen Connolly; Director, Brian F.
Merry; Production Assistant, Michael J. Cotter; Editing, Karen
Connolly and Brian Merry. The program includes recent footage of
Fairfield University as well as archival film footage and stills. A
copy of the program has been placed with the Nyselius Library.
WHO ARE THESE JESUIT EDUCATORS?
WHO ARE THESE JESUIT EDUCATORS?
The Society of Jesus was founded in 1540 by Ignatius Loyola and
since then has grown from the original seven companions to
today's 24,400 members who work out of 1,825 houses in 112
countries. The Jesuit order is renowned for its numerous saints
(43 canonized Saints and 285 Blesseds), for its scholars in every
conceivable field, for its explorers and missionaries, but
especially for its schools. Jesuits were called the schoolmasters of
Europe during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, not only
because of their schools but also for their pre-eminence as
scholars and the thousands of textbooks they composed. During
their first two centuries the Jesuits were involved in an explosion
of intellectual activity, for the most part focused in over 740
schools - virtually all of them subsidized and tuition-,free.
Then suddenly these were all lost in 1773 when Pope Clement
XIV yielding to pressure from anti-Jesuit elements in the Bourbon
courts of Europe issued a document suppressing the Society of
Jesus. He did not accuse the Society of any wrongdoing, but he
feared the loss of his Papal States, anticipating that other
European countries would follow the example of Henry VIII of
England who abandoned the Catholic Church and took his whole
country with him. The pope lost his Papal states anyway and
23,000 men dedicated to the service of the church were disbanded,
their property and schools sold or made over into a state
controlled system. Their libraries were broken up and the books
either burned, sold or snatched up by those who collaborated in the
Suppression.
The' Society was restored 41 years later in 1814 by Pope Pius
VII. Although many of the men had died by then, the memory of
their educational triumphs had not, and the new Society was
flooded with requests to take over new colleges. In France alone,
for instance, 86 schools were offered to the Jesuits. Since 1814
2 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
the Society has experienced amazing growth and has since then
surpassed the apostolic breadth of the early Society in its
educational, intellectual, pastoral and missionary endeavors.
Today there is an extensive worldwide network of Jesuit schools
educating one and a half million students. There are 90 Jesuit
colleges in 27 countries. Here in the United States the 28 Jesuit
colleges and universities have over a million living graduates.
There are also 430 Jesuit high schools in 55 countries. In these
schools th~ Ignatian system of values has attracted exceptionally
competent lay faculty as well as highly qualified students. They
form a Jesuit network, not that they are administered in the same
way or by the same person, but that they pursue the same goals,
and their success is evident in their graduates, very gifted women
and men.
3,200 students from 110 countries study at
the Pontifical Gregorian University. It was
founded in 1551 by St. Ignatius.
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY'S PREHISTORY 3
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY·S PREHISTORY
Jesuits were among the earliest Europeans to settle in the
Americas, arriving in Brazil in 1549. They are celebrated in
commemorative stamps as the founders of Salvador in Bahia in
1549, of Sao Paulo in 1554 and Rio de Janeiro in 1565. Their
schools grew rapidly so that by 1578 Jesuit colleges were
granting advanced degrees. Later in what is now Paraguay they
established 55 settlements which were run for and by the
113,000 Guarani Indians. These settlements thrived from 1607
to 1767 when suddenly they were destroyed by the Spanish slave
hunters in collusion with King Charles III of Spain.
In North America Jesuits preceded the Pilgrims by more than a
decade. Records show that the first Catholic priest to arrive in
Connecticut was the French Jesuit Gabriel Druillettes, S.J. In
1651 he came to New Haven to plead with Connecticut's colonial
authorities for favorable treatment of his Christian Abenaki
Indians. Msgr. Thomas Duggan in his book The Catholic Church in
Connecticut claims that "he was the first to celebrate Mass within
the confines of Connecticut." [Duggan, 1930, p.3]
The Connecticut colony was named after the river which flowed
from Canada to the Sound, forming a natural border between
Vermont and New Hampshire and boasting of 23 tributaries.
Connecticut meant long river in one of the native languages.
Fairfield also was well named, for it is a beautiful coastal
community over 350 years old. Begun in 1639, Fairfield was one
of the first towns established by English settlers. Elizabeth
Schenk's book, History of Fairfield, describes Fairfield's early
days when whales and porpoises swam in the sound which, it is
reported, froze in some winters enabling citizens to walk over to
Long Island. Fairfield was founded in 1639 by Roger Ludlow who,
upon his arrival, felt it convenient to massacre the indigenous
Pequot Indians, considered the fiercest tribe. It is said that he
4 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
purchased the land from the surviving tribes [Schenk, 1889, p.
41-45], but in his History of Black Rock Ivan Justinus claims
that Ludlow and the settlers simply took the land as conquered
territory. [Justinus, 1927, p.3]
In these early years Fairfield was a very religious town: in fact
it could be described as a theocracy. Only freemen could own land
and to be a freeman one had to be a Congregationalist. Sailors could
not moor boats on Sunday unless the crew were going to attend a
service. No settlement was approved until the citizens proved that
they could support the Congregationalist pastor. The governor
controlled the education of the clergy. Fast days were prescribed
by law and after the 1698 plague, every citizen had to do some
form of penance. Fines were imposed for not going to town
meetings. Little trust was placed in behavior of the native Indians,
who were allowed to enter the town during the day but at night
they had to sleep outside the city. [Schenk, 1889, p. 41-45]
Although not all Fairfieldls early citizens were treated equally,
there were those lucky few who found favor with the English
monarchs and were rewarded with grants of narrow two to
thirteen mile-long strips of land which extended northward from
the sound, providing all-important landing rights. By 1670
Fairfield had 100 such owners of these Iiong lots' whose names are
commemorated .in the names of Fairfieldls streets today. The town
has not forgotten its patriots, soldiers, poets and IIwits ll
• Street
signs remind us of the Barlows, Beers, Bensons, Bulkleys, Burrs,
Cayleys, Greens, Hulls, Jennings, Joys, Knaps, Knowles,
Morehouses, Ogdens, Osburns, Pel/s, Rowlands, Sherwoods,
Sillimans, Staples, Sturges, Wakemans, Wards, Wheelers and
other Fairfield families who have preceded us. There is no
evidence to assume that they would be thrilled if they knew that
they would be followed by Jesuits and their companions.
Like all of Connecticut, Fairfield from the very beginning was
less than cordial to Catholics, and especially to Jesuits. Dartmouth
College, for instance, had its origins partially lito combat the
influence the Jesuits had among the Indians. 1I Originally founded in
Columbia, Connecticut as Moorls Indian Charity School, it later it
moved to Hanover, New Hampshire and became Dartmouth College.
In 1958 Connecticut was named by its General Assembly the
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY'S PREHISTORY 5
"Constitution State" because of the fact that its citizens in 1668
associated themselves as a commonwealth, thus establishing a
government for themselves. In his book Fairfield George Pratt
claims that this is lithe first written constitution known to history
and was the beginning of American democracy." [Pratt, p. 27]
Connecticut's colonial charter later, in 1687, was hidden in
Samuel Wylly's oak tree in Hartford (thus "Charter Oak") lest it
be seized by the agents of England's King Charles II who was
sympathetic to Catholics.
Because of their belief in Transubstantiation, Catholics were
placed on a par with idolaters and so Connecticut's early decrees
kept all Catholics out of office and required oaths of allegiance,
forcing Catholics to deny the Eucharist as well as Papal authority.
This is described by Duggan
The Papist, eager for citizenship, had to subscribe to the
conditions laid down in an oath of allegiance of which the
following is but one section: "I do solemnly swear and
sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify and
declare that I do believe that in the Sacrament of the Lord's
Supper there is not any Transubstantiation of the elements
of the bread and wine" into the Body and Blood of Christ." ...
If the Catholic layman was held to repudiate his
superstitions, the Catholic priest was deemed lost beyond
reclaim. Hence the provision, recorded in Peter's Code:­"
No priest shall abide in this dominion, he shall be
banished and suffer death on his return. Priests may be
seized by anyone without warrant. II
[Duggan, 1930, pp. 4-5]
In short, Connecticut in the early days did not reflect a keen
ecumenical spirit. In fact suspicion of Catholics lasted into this
century as is evident in the story told by Thomas Farnham in his
book Fairfield 1639-1989. It puts into context a later episode
which concerns John Ferguson, the first selectman since 1933,
who was eager to encourage the Jesuits' plan to establish a school
in Fairfield, and who sold them a prominent 104-acre estate for
back taxes. This was not a popular decision among the Fairfield
residents.
6 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
In 1942, Ferguson angered a significant element in both
the party and the town by selling Hearthstone Hall to the
New England Province of the Jesuit Order. ... The idea of
having mischievous college students in town dismayed some
Fairfielders. And doubtless another source of the' protest
was the lingering anti-Catholicism that still existed in the
town. Little was said .openly on the subject, but the idea of
creating a bastion of Catholicism was more than some old
and powerful ~airfield families could tolerate. . . . The
Republican Town Committee refused to nominate Ferguson
again in 1943. [Farnham, 1988, p. 271].
For five centuries persecution of Catholics by Protestants, and
for that matter of Protestants by Catholics, proved a futile
exercise and often had surprising endings. A case in point is the
famous conversion of the staunchly Protestant Barber family not
only to Catholicism but to "Jesuitism". Daniel Barber was a hero
of the revolution, a Congregationalist minister and a great
grandnephew of one of the founders of the town of Simsbury,
Connecticut. His son, Virgil Barber, born in 1783, served as
pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church in Waterbury until 1814.
Virgil had five children. Then the whole Barber family converted
to Catholicism. Three became Jesuits: Virgil, Virgil's son Samuel
and Virgil's father, Daniel. After a canonical separation between
Virgil and his wife, she became a Visitation Sister, their son and
Virgil both became Jesuits. The four daughters joined religious
orders and each of these women became outstanding religious
leaders in their communities. [Duggan, 1930, p. 60]
Fairfield and all Connecticut played a major role in the
Revolutionary War. Connecticut, in fact, contributed more
soldiers than any other colony. It was on our Fairfield campus that
the crucial battle of Round Hill was fought, with cannons placed on
our own Bellarmine hill. I'n 1779 when the British burned
Fairfield, they marched up Beach road to what is now Round Hill
road to Bellarmine (Round) Hill. The British were turned back
during this confrontation, thus being thwarted in their attempt to
divide Washington's army. The British army left for Ridgefield
and never returned to Fairfield. The story is told by Thomas
Farnham.
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY'S PREHISTORY 7
The 1779 attack on Fairfield was one of three successive
raids the British carried out in Connecticut in July... The
Fairfield defenders had fallen back to Round Hill, where
Colonel Samuel Whiting was organizing his men to prevent
Tryon's further penetration into town and to launch a small
counterattack. While most of his men improvised
fortifications on Round Hill, Whiting dispatched a smaller
group to the Upper Bridge on the Boston Post Road.... The
defenders at Round Hill refused to surrender any of the
territory to the British. [Farnham, 1988, p. 91-93]
Expulsion of the British during the
Battle of Fairfield was' reenact~d in the town
during the 1976 Bicentennial celebration.
8 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
COMMENCEMENT AGAINST ALL ODDS
In 1942 Jesuit education came to the town of Fairfield. At the
time the Jesuits had only two houses in Connecticut, a retreat
house at Keyser Island in South Norwalk where the Connecticut
Light and Power Company is today, and another in Pomfret,
Connecticut. Now things are quite different, but the question might
be asked: "How did Fairfield University ever get started?"
Early Property Acquisitions
Like the town of Fairfield, the beginnings of Fairfield University
were also characterized by struggles - but struggles of a very
different nature. In t'he thirties, the Jesuits petitioned to establish
a school in Hartford. But their requests were repeatedly
unanswered until Connecticut's Bishop Maurice McAuliffe finally
approved their plan in 1941. But he was concerned about locating
the school in Hartford where there was a lot of tax exempt
property. He suggested locating the new school in Bridgeport. After
a thorough search, however, it became evident there was no
suitable property in Bridgeport.
Front of Jennings Mansion (Mailands) before the
Jennings family removed the White House colonnade
COMMENCEMENT AGAINST ALL ODDS 9
So the search began in the town of Fairfield. It just so happened
that a 76-acre estate along North Benson Road, part of an original
long lot, was for sale. Built in 1907, it was the 40-room
Jennings mansion called Mailands whose architectural style is
striking. The owner was the family of Oliver Jennings, a 1889
Yale graduate, a poiitician and friend of the Rockefellers and an
entrepreneur who made his money with Standard Oil. It is said that
in 1909 he had two miles of lights strung down North Benson Road
to greet Alfred Vanderbilt and his traveling companions who were
on their way to the Breakers in Rhode Island. By 1941 the
Jennings family were searching for buyers for the property. They
preferred not to deal directly with Jesuits, but would deal with an
intermediary, a prominent citizen, Paul Daly, whO arranged for
the Jesuits to buy this 76-acres of prime land for $43,900.
Jennings greenhouse, rose garden, tower and windmill
And so on December 15, 1941, the Jesuit's Fairfield school had
a home. The Preparatory school that would evolve into the Prep
and University as we know them today, located on this large,
beautiful piece of property which the Jesuits named McAuliffe,
named after the Bishop. The estate boasted a tree-lined driveway:
sunken gardens, a root cellar, a water tower, a windmill and a
huge glass greenhouse. There still exists an empty half acre-sized
reservoir (which would make an ideal outdoor skating rink) north
of the Jennings mansion. This fed the extensive Jennings farms
along North Benson Road.
1 0 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
In the spring of 1942 Fr. John J. McEleney, Fairfield's first
president was approached by Fairfield's first selectman John
Ferguson who encouraged the Jesuits to buy another piece of land,
the adjoining 105-acre Lashar estate. Walter Benjamin Lashar
was chairman of American Chain & Cable Co. and also
administered other companies. This may explain why his estate
was enclosed by a state-of-the art chain-link fence instead of the
state-of-an-earlier art stone fence found around the Jennings
property. Lashar had bought the land in 1920 from Frederick
St~rges, one of Fairfield's leading and wealthiest citizens. Lashar's
relatives have said that his eighty million dollars was reduced to
two million during the 1929 "crash", so Lasher had to abandon the
property which was taken by the town for taxes. Although the
estate had been assessed for $350,000, it was available to the
Jesuits by simply paying the back taxes which amounted to
$62,500. The Jesuits could not pass up a bargain like that!
The star light in the elaborate Tudor style open
staircase leading from the parlor to the second floor.
This mansion had 44 rooms, including huge bedrooms, servants
quarters, and very elaborately decorated lounges. It was called
"Hearthstone" because of its 13 fireplaces which still work. On a
very clear day, New York's Twin Towers of the Trade center are
visible from the top of both McAuliffe and Bellarmine. In the
Lashar billiard room which served as the parlor, one can still
COMMENCEMENT AGAINST ALL ODDS 1 1
notice the elevated closet windows from whose vantage the Lashars
could decide if they wanted to entertain the visitors below.
University graduations and Baccalaureate Mass are held on the
beautiful and spacious front lawn right outside the parlor. There
was an air conditioning system with elaborate conduits and
blowers as well as coal bins for fuel in the winter. The north side
of the building faced a beautiful Japanese garden with a spring,
waterfalls, a pagoda, colorful fences and porches and even an
imitation Mount Fuji with apparatus to imitate a volcanic
eruption. It was a favorite place .for wedding photo opportunities
as well as an object of many student work projects until it
gradually disintegrated during the seventies. From the beginning
the Lashar home served as a residence for the Jesuit community,
but today it is used as office space for the president, admissions,
advancement, develop.ment, planned giving, public relations and
financial aid.
The foyer was used also as a billiard room.
From the four windows over the fireplace
the Lashars could see the guests.
Seven Presidents In Half A Century
IISince the beginning there have been seven Fairfield Presidents:
John McEleney came in 1941. Then came James H. Dolan in 1944,
Joseph Fitzgerald in 1951, James Fitzgerald in 1958, William
Mcinnes in 1964, Thomas Fitzgerald in 1973, and Aloysius Kelley
1 2 . IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
in 1979. The three Fitzgeralds, by the way, are all unrelated. 1I
The seven presidents were quite different personalities and seemed
to have the charisma and talents that were most needed during
their tenure.
John J. McEleney, S.J. James H. Dolan, S.J.
Jo'hn McEleney was appointed Fairfield's first rector on 17
March, 1942 by James H. Dolan who was the Provincial
(superior of the New England Jesuit 'Province). James H. Dolan
was affectionately called IIHeavy Dolanll (thus assigning a meaning
to his mysterious middle initial) by the Jesuits because of his
somewhat aloof and humorless manner and heavy step. He had been
President of Boston College where he started the Boston College
Law school in 1929. He founded three high schools as well;
Cranwell Prep School in Lenox, MA in 1939, Cheverus High
School in Portland, ME, in 1942 and now the Fairfield school
whose nature was still to be determined.
John McEleney would stay at Fairfield for only two years until
the end of 1944 when he became the New England Provincial,
exchanging jobs with James Dolan who in turn 'took charge of the
new Fairfield school. Later in 1950 Pope Pius XII appointed
McEleney Bishop of Jamaica, West Indies.
COMMENCEMENT AGAINST ALL ODDS 13
Robert Bellarmine, S.J.
The Jesuits named this Lashar mansion after a Jesuit Cardinal
and Doctor of the Catholic Church, St. Robert Bellarmine and put
his name in the University seal. It is not a trivial question today
to ask: IIWho is Robert Bellarmine?1I One of our faculty explained
to the students that the Bellarmines were benefactors of the
school. In fact Fairfield University has never received a cent from
the Bellarmine family from Montepulciano, Italy, separated from
us by 5,000 miles and 400 years. But Robert Bellarmine (who
died in 160(1) was a genuine benefactor as a renowned scholar and
a model of intellectual integrity. He would not tolerate bullying
from popes any more than he would from anti-Catholic
extremists. Bellarmine was such an aggressive advocate of the
Catholic Church in the 16th Century that Queen Elizabeth forbade
her subjects from reading his works under pain of death. Rome is
not the only place with lists of forbidden books. Kepler once
claimed that he had more trouble with his Protestant ministers
than Galileo ever had with the Catholic Curia. Over Bellarmine's
protests Pope Clement VIII had made him a cardinal, so he used his
privileged position to point out to the pope the major abuses
prevalent in Clement's own curia. Bellarmine's theories of
governance are reflected in the writings of Thomas Jefferson, and
he opposed the theory of papal power over civil authority. For this
the succeeding Pope, Sixtus V, wanted to put Bellarmine's works
on the Index of Forbidden Books but died suddenly before he was
able to.
14 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
The original seal with Robert Bellarmine's name
is still evident on the foyer floor of Alumni Hall,
on the east window of Regis and the north
wall of the Barone Campus Center.
Later the Fairfield University administrators took Robert
Bellarmine's name out of our seal, in an apparent effort to
facilitate dealings with the government. Ironically this happened
shortly after Fairfield University won a Church - State legal
battle. In this celebrated 1969 court case, Tilton vs. Richardson, a
suit was brought against Fairfield University by Eleanor Taft
Tilton and eight college professors from the Universities of
Connecticut, Hartford, Wesleyan and Trinity alleging that U.S.
Government grants to Fairfield violate the 1st and 14th
Amendments because government money was being used to favor
religion. The case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court
resulting in a decision favorable to Fairfield University denying
the charge. Today, Mass is still celebrated in the student lounges
and the only casualty to the court case was poor Robert Bellarmine
whose name is now missing from our seal. Nevertheless, the
original seal can still be found in the three university locations
mentioned above.
Early Struggles and Obstacles
Fairfield University's half century history is one of remarkable
success in spite of three daunting difficulties:
1. the need for accreditation and permission to expand,
2. the need for money, and
3. the need for buildings.
COMMENCEMENT AGAINST ALL ODDS 15
Accreditation for the school was denied partly because of a new
state bill discouraging charters to any new schools. Also denied
was a 1944 request to the Bridgeport War Production Board for
permission to erect buildings. The reason given was: "public
Sch.ools were adequate, II but this was later overturned as
"prejudicial" by the Board of Education.
In spite of these difficulties, however, classes started in
September of 1942. A few months later a mile-long $6,000
Drive of Good Will road between McAuliffe and Bellarmine was
built and was paid for partly by the Fathers Club and partly by the
town.
Finally in May 1945, our Fairfield school charter was approved
by the Connecticut senate and by the governor, Ray Baldwin. It
would be Fairfield University of St. Robert Bellarmine and was
allowed to become an institution with four educational units:
intermediate, secondary, college and graduate school. This
charter allowed the granting of degrees, and the right to acquire
property and erect buildings. If there were an excess of income,
the remaining assets would be used to reduce tuition or advance the
educational facilities. In cas'e the school had to be dissolved, the
charter specified that the assets be "transferred to the Society of
Jesus of New England."
This contract was changed on 9 May, 1974 on the initiative of
the Society of Jesus. The Fairfield Jesuit Community incorporated
itself separately from Fairfield University, keeping nine acres of
the original property for their residence and handing over all the
assets of the university to a (mostly) lay board of trustees which
would function independently of Jesuit superiors. This was carried
out on instructions addressed to all American eolleges from the
Jesuit Superior General in Rome. In his book, The Governance of
Jesuit Colleges, Paul Fitzgerald describes the gradual transference
of authority from the Jesuit Provincials to the college presidents
and to their lay trustees. [Fitzgerald, 1984 p. 219] The 28
American Jesuit colleges had become far too large and complicated
for Jesuit superiors to govern - even indirectly. Also in keeping
with the principles of Vatican Council II, it was important to
stress the role of the laity and the university's independence of
Church hierarchy. The presidents would answer to an essentially
1 6 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
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The original 1945 charter incorporating
Fairfield University of St. Robert Bellarmine.
COMMENCEMENT AGAINST ALL ODDS 1 7
lay board of trustees instead of to a religious superior. The Jesuit
Society, however, was still committed to supporting the schools
and supplying Jesuit manpower as much as was possible. The
preparations during the 1960s for all this is found in Chapter
Twelve of Paul FitzGerald's book under the title: "Presidents
assume full responsibility."
From the earliest days the Jesuits chose the word University
instead of college as the title because they did not want to repeat
the Boston College experience which had a university charter in
1863 but for some reason used the word college instead of
university. A much later Methodist school adopted the name Boston
University.
First faculty (Sept. '42) at Fairfield's Jesuit school
The second problem concerning money was partially solved with
the help of loyal alumni from other Jesuit schools supporting the
building campaign, but more fundraising was needed. Apart from
the governmental red tape there were problems from within the
church, such as costly approval delays from the Curia in Rome,
the refusal. of Bishop McAuliffe to allow the Jesuits to raise funds
for the school among Hartford benefactors and the hesitation of the
Jesuit Provincial in Boston to give Fairfield funds. Bishop
McAuliffe would let Fr. McEleney raise money only in Fairfield
County to avoid interference with his own million-dollar drive in
Hartford.
This latter problem of Jesuit support was faced head-on by
1 8 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
Fairfield President Dolan (formerly Provincial) who urged
Provincial McEleney (formerly Fairfield President) that the New
England Jesuits had to IIrun other schools besides those in Boston. 1I
Fr. Dolan made such a strong case that Fr. McEleney relented and
sent money to get Fairfield's building program started.
The accreditation problem was addressed with determination and
persistence: after the Prep school was accredited, the college
accreditation came from the Connecticut State Board of Education
as well as the Jesuit Educatio"nal Association i.n 1949. Fairfield's
fully accred~ted Graduate School of Education was able to start in
1950. At the time it was impossible for anyone to predict how
rapidly the two schools would grow. In the past half century the
university enrollment has increased from several hundred to over
5,000 students while the Prep enrollment increased from its 319
pioneers to over 950.
. The third problem of space was faced with equal vigor so that
eventually after 53 years there are 48 buildings: the 9 original
buildings plus 15 townhouses and 24 buildings constructed since
1941 on 205 acres of land. (To the 199 original acres, 15 acres
purchased in 1989 from the Notre Dame Sisters was added and 9
acres kept by the Jesuits subtracted.)
One of four Loyola buildings: Park Place in Bridgeport
COMMENCEMENT AGAINST ALL ODDS 1 9
While waiting for the first buildings to be built, Fr. Dolan
bought liThe Morgan estatell in Bridgeport at 200 Park Place,
calling it Loyola H,all. For a few years it would take care of
classrooms and provide living space for Jesuits.
The Inherited Buildings
Now we return to 1942 and address the other eight original
buildings w'hich came with the property. In the southwest corner'
of our campus property are found three original buildings.
The dairy barn which is now used by the maintenance
department is a spectacular study in gables. It pre-dated the
Lashar family and probably was built by the Sturges family.
The barn is now used by the maintenance department.
The Playhouse recently renovated is now called PepsiCo
Theater and is used as a classroom for experimental theater. It was
built around 1922 and was an old Sturges family building. It now
contains a small theater, a coffeehouse and classrooms.
The third is Southwell Hall which was named to honor St.
Robert Southwell who was an English Jesuit poet-martyr in the
time of the Elizabethan persecutions. He was an extremely popular
poet with his contemporaries such as Ben Johnson who declared
20 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
that he wished that he had written some of Robert's poems. His
experiments with verse were further developed by later poets,
including Shakespeare. Previously the hall had been a Jesuit
residence. It had earlier been a home for tenant farmers when
Sturges owned it. One of its walls is of 1776 vintage. Situated at
the foot of Round Hill ·it was .said to have been part of an inn during I
the Revolutionary war. One might guess that the patriots went
there for refreshment after having driven out the British in the
famous battle of Round Hill. Southwell Hall now houses the alumni
office and serves as a hospitality center for alumni. On the
adjoining field to Southwell Hall President Ronald R·egan landed by
helicopter while making a political sortie into the town of
Fairfield in 1988. That day Ronald lost the support of at least two
Jesuits (if he ever had it) whose apostolic ministries were
hampered by the restrictions imposed by over-protective
presidential secret service men.
The Morehouse estate became St. Robert Hall
Another parcel of land was the 18-acre Morehouse property
on the corner of North Benson and Barlow. President Dolan felt it
very important to acquire this property. He was afraid "it would
become a gas station or worse." This 18-acre property was bought
for $28,500 in 1946, thus bringing the number of acres to 199.
It was probably a matter of overkill for the early Jesuits to name
this house St. Robert's Hall (after the same Robert Bellarmine). It
is now a Jesuit residence. Among its many purposes over the
years it was used to house rodents which were being studied in
experimental psychological research, so it once had the nickname
COMMENCEMENT AGAINST ALL ODDS 2 1
the "rat house."
Opposite the southeast corner is Harrison House across North
Benson Road. This 3.S-acre tract was bought in 1967 for
$87,000 and named for the former owner and benefactor. It was
needed because of the increasing number of Jesuit faculty. In spite
of Rome's admonitions "to build a Jesuit community house,"
.former presidents paid little heed to the lack of proper Jesuit
housing and instead used available funds for classroom buildings
and student residence halls. For Jesuit housing they adopted the
temporary and inexpensive alternative .of buying homes and of
using school buildings: 14 Jesuits lived on the top floor of
Berchmans and later 12 more would live in rooms meant for
students on the top floo~ of Gonzaga.
In the Northeast corner of the property are several buildings of
the Fox mansion and estate. John Fox, the former owner of the
Boston Post lost his mansion over litigation in the late 50's. The
estate was bought by the Notre Dame Sisters who later sold it to
Fairfield University in 1989. Now this has become the Dolan
Campus which is named for the donors, Helen and Charles Dolan.
Charles Dolan is a Fairfield University trustee and a pioneer in
cable television.
Notre Danle Sisters' Julie flall: no\v John C. Dolan Hall
There are three major buildings on the Dolan Campus.
The first building, the estate house, is occupied by Continuing
22 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
Education, and it is named Dolan East to honor David J. Dolan
who died in 1943 and was an inventor in the automobile and
aircraft industries.
The second building had been named Julie Hall by the Sisters of
Notre Dame de Namur, after their founder. It now serves as a
residence hall for 195 students, the office of Resident Life and the
Health Center. This building is named. Dolan West in honor of the
philanthropist John C. Dolan who died in 1969.
The third building, built in 1965, is a landmark visible from
the Sound and used to be the chapel for the Sisters. Now it is the
Freshmen Dining Hall, named to honor Thomas F. Dolan, a
pioneer in the transparent film packaging industry, who died in
1973. He founded the Christopher Foundation which aids hospitals
and schools in the Cleveland area.
Fairfield1s IINotre Dame of the Eastll
.The 1945 plan for the future Fairfield University
In 1946 the need for an overall plan beca.me clear, so Fr. Dolan
Commissioned a New York architect Oliver Regan to submit overall
campus plans for the future Fairfield University. He proposed 42
major collegiate Gothic buildings. According to the plan the Prep
buildings would be in the northeast sector with a mall aligned near
North Benson road. The College buildings following a north-south
axis aligned close to Round Hill Road. The graduate and professional
COMMENCEMENT AGAINST ALL ODDS 2 3
schools (Law, Medical, Dental) buildings would be in the southeast
sector. The athletic fields would fill in the center of the campus.
College residence halls along the west side of the campus would
accommodate 800 college students with a similar arrangement for
a Prep school on the east side.
The only two Gothic buildings actually built were Berchmans and
Xavier. There are a few more remnants, however, left from Fr.
Dolan1s grand plan. Still visible outside of today1s recreation
center is a traffic circle which was to have been the center of the
campus. It is called IIDolan l s Navelll by the Jesu"its. Another
remnant is the grand stone stairway leading to today's
Donnarumma. For decades it led to an open field. When the plan
was first announced, Fr. Dolan referred to it as the II Notre. Dame of
the East. The Jesuits had great expectations and disarming
confidence in their emerging university. Although much of this
grand plan never materialized, few institutions can claim such
rapid growth under the direction of the later energeti,c presidents.
An outdoor band shell was built in 1948 near the baseball field.
Although not part of the master plan, it was an imaginative
structure. For the next 33 years this shell would host concerts
involving the Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Barnum Musical
Festival, Pops concerts and jazz festivals.
A 1971 aerial view of the middle of the campus
24 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
FAIRFIELDIS 24 BUILDINGS,
So much for the original buildings that were already here. Now
let us consider the Townhouses and the 24 buildings constructed
by the Jesuit .presidents.
Berchmans Hall {John Berchmans - d 1621}
The new school buildings started with' John Berchmans, was
built in 1947' and named to honor a brilliant young 17th Century
Belgian Jesuit who thought little of walking 800 miles from
Antwerp to Rome to continue his Jesuit seminary studies. But this
was nothing compared to the obstacles faced by the early Fairfield
Jesuits. For half a century the stones of this sturdy building
witnessed thousands of boys become young men and for 3 decades
sheltered 14 Jesuits on its top floor. Today Berchmans is still
used as a classroom and office building for our Fairfield
Preparatory school.
Xavier Hall {Francis Xavier - d 1552}
The next building whose construction started while Berchmans
was still being built in 1947 was named after Francis Xavier, an
indefatigable missionary who was one of Ignatius' first seven
companions and was sent to the orient by Ignatius. He traveled
thousands of miles and baptized countless thousands and died in
1562 off the coast of China. Today Xavier Hall is part of the Prep
school. It also houses the University Media Center which runs the
campus closed circuit television system feeding 44 channels
throughout the campus including all residence halls.
Francis Xavier was an excellent model for our students because
he was a communicator without parallel. So thorough was his work
that three centuries after his death missionaries found remnants
of his early Christian community, without the benefit of priests,
still intact and staunch in the Faith he had inspired in them.
Xavier expressed himself very clearly and once he scolded (by.
letter) his benefactor King John of Portugal that IIhe would not
enjoy heaven if he continued to plunder the wealth of the colonies. 1I
Loyola Hall {Ignatius Loyola - d 1556}
The brilliant ideas and brave initiatives did not end with Fr.
FAIRFIELD'S 24 BUILDINGS 25
James Dolan. Loyola Hall was built to fill the need for a residence
hall. In 1955 Loyola was completed for 211 students. Some of the
first women who came to Fairfield in 1970 lived in Loyola.
Let no one doubt the Jesuit reverence for their founder Ignatius
Loyola: no less than four Fairfield buildings have carried his
name! Ignatius Loyola was a Spanish Basque soldier who
underwent an extraordinary conversion while recuperating from a
leg broken by a cannon ball in battle. He wrote down his
experiences of God which he called his Spiritual Exercises and
later he founded the Society of "Jesus with th~ approval of Pope
Paul III in 1540. The genius and innovation Ignatius brought to
education came from his Spiritual Exercises whose object is to
free a person from predispositions and biases, thus enabling free
choices leading to happy, fulfilled lives.
The Chapel was located in the basement of Loyola
From Ignatius· Spiritual Exercises, the Principle and Foundation
are written in Latin across the west wall of Loyola Hall ... IIWe
were created to praise, and serve God and all other things were
created to "help us attain that end. 1I These Exercises were never
meant to be simply read but done and exercised. That the book is
very close to Jesuits was evident when it was chosen for a faculty
discussion for a faculty seminar. With no collusion or even
invitation twelve Jesuits showed up at the meeting, as if to say: IIlf
someone is going to talk about my book, I want to be present. 1I
26 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
Jesuits take their Spiritual Exercises very seriously.
From the day it opened Loyola's ground floor hosted ,the
university chapel until 1990 when the Egan/Loyola chapel was
built. Then Loyola's ground floor was changed into the present art
studios and art rooms. The parishioners of Pius X Parish, a few
miles away, also used the Loyola chapel for two years while their
church was being built. The mysterious Loyola tower offered a
perfect place for student pranks such as startling a sleeping
campus using raucous tape recordings a war of the worlds. Today
Loyola is 'still a residence hall but also houses security, fine arts
studios, classrooms and the office of human resources.
Before the Campus center was built the ground floor also housed
the student dining room south of the chapel area. It was in Loyola
that the New York Giants had their meals when they summered
here in the sixties. The kitchen was at the north end; remnants are
still evident in the peculiar plumbing and structure of the rooms
where the food was prepared and in the loading platform at the end
of the delivery truck ramp. Near this was the outdoor
refrigerator, a testimony to the honesty of the student body three
decades ago.
Canisius Hall {Peter Ca'nisius - d 1597}
In 1957 the fourth building was built, a classroom building
named after Peter Canisius, a German Jesuit who was a doctor of
the Church and died in 1597. In' 1550 Canisius returned to
Germany with only two Jesuits. Thirty years later their number
had grown from 3 to 1110. He became the first Jesuit College
president, and founded many universities. He wrote one of the
earliest catechisms, so well known that a "Catechism" was called a
"Canisius". Peter Canisius should be the patron of libraries
because he once said: "Better a college without a chapel than a
college without a library." He was serious about scholarship.
On the back wall of Canisius is found the core requirements
descending from the famous Jesuit Ratio Studiorum of 1599,
which edict represented the first time mathematics was included
in a curriculum of a whole system of education. It is said that lias
long as there ,is mathematics in the curriculum there will be
prayer in schools".
FAIRFIELD1S 24 BUILDINGS 27
From 1957 to 1968, the ground floor of Canisius housed the
University Library before it moved to its present location in
1968. In Canisius graduate studies started in 1950 for both men
and women in business administration, education, and financial
management. Besides classrooms, faculty and deans· offices, it
housed the office of president until 1982. A meeting room in
continual use is named to honor Fr. James Coughlin who had served
as academic vice president for 17 years. Here, also, Continuing
Education started in 1970. Now Canisius boasts of the Culpeper
Language Lab, computer labs and impressive multimedia rooms.
Behind Canisius lies a red piece of modern art by the sculptor
Larry Mohr who loaned us the two intersecting V-shaped I-beams
called Vee-one as a symbol of the help Catholics and Catholic
religious orders such as the Jesuits gave to the Jews during World
War II. It is meant to be a victory symbol for people of good will.
Gonzaga Hall {Aloysius Gonzaga - d 1591}
In 1957, the next building erected was a residence hall for 223
students named Gonzaga Hall. Aloysius Gonzaga was named the
patron of Catholic Youth. He died before ordination while helping
in the Roman plague of 1591. In his family were found all kinds
of scoundrels, thieves and murderers. Feuding members of family
called on Aloysius to settle their fights.
Bernard Riley's mural of St. Aloysius' life
In the Foyer is a large 1959 mural by the local artist Bernard
Riley who was proclaimed Artist of the Year by the Bridgeport
28 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
Chamber of Commerce. His son John graduated from the Prep and
the University. Along Gonzaga's south wall is found a Gregorian
Chant notation of the "Kyrie" (Lord, have mercy!) in offset brick.
This curiosity is noted in Ripley's "Believe it or not". Today I pass
the Gonzaga wall and wonder how many students sing the Kyrie as
they go by.
Besides being a residence hall Gonzaga has a large auditorium and
the offices of the credit union and the student newspaper. In
Gonzaga there are many curious rooms and passageways ­somewhat
like an old English mansion. One such was the collection
of rooms for- the auditorium projectionist which today is used as a
deli. Another were the numerous side altars for the many Jesuits
to celebrate their -daily Mass. For twenty-five years part of the
third floor was used as a Jesuit residence - from 1957 until
1982 when the Jesuit superiors finally got around to building
proper Jesuit housing. For 25 years the Jesuit Superior General
in Rome had been advocating something like today's Ignatius house,
but intervening presidents never seemed to get his letters.
Alumni Hall
Next came Alumni Hall in 1959; it has been home for our two
championship basketball teams and offices for the athletic
department which supervises 19 intercollegiate and 8 club sports.
On the floor of Alumni Hall we find one of the Bellarmine seals.
Alumni Hall is one of the earliest pre-stressed concrete
structures of this kind ever attempted. 1959 engineering
magazines related that the eleven 160-foot pre-cast arches used
involved a record span for arch ribs pre-cast in the U.S.
Five of Alumni Hall's 160-foot pre-cast arches
FAIRFIELD'S 24 BUILDINGS 29
Originally the gymnasium had a dividing wall separating it into
two uneven Prep/College sections. Alumni Hall honors the many
graduates who in turn have honored Fairfield University in the
workplace. It is an edifying fact that many graduates volunteer
their evenings to return not only for games but also for events
like Major Monday, a program to inform the undergraduates about
the world they are about to enter.
Campion Hall {Edmund Campion - d 1581}
About this time there was need for further housing, partly due to
the sudden increase in applications of 1963 when Fr. Donald
Lynch and his Four Fairfield University scholars put Fairfield on
the map by their brilliant performance on National TV' in the
College Bowl. Bridgeport's mayor decreed a day to honor them. So
in 1964 another residence hall was built for 280 students called
Campion Hall. Edmund Campion died in 1581 after being "hanged,
drawn and quartered under the persecution of Good Queen Bess. II
On the west wall is a 10 ton slab depicting the life of Campion,
Oxford Scholar, writing Campion's Brag: his defiant defense of his
Catholic Faith and his martyrdom in which he promises Queen
Elizabeth that she is fighting a battle she will lose: whenever she
would kill one Jesuit, several more would arrive. lilt is of God ...
it cannot be withstood II • Some of the first Fairfield women lived in
Campion.
Regis Hall {John Francis Regis - d 1640}
Then came another residence hall for 324 students - Regis
Hall in 1965. John Francis Regis died in 1640 after having
worked in the home missions in France; he started homes for
abandoned people and for prostitutes. Regis' name is used today for
a variety of initiatives. Etched in a window of Regis IV is found
another Bellarmine seal. Regis Hall houses WVOF-AM/FM,
Fairfield University's student-run radio station. Twenty years ago
two residents who were part-time mountain climbers, would
repel off the south wall to annoy the dean of students. With full
confidence in their indestructibility they hoisted themselves up to
the roof by leaning out their windows and reaching up to the top
ledge - all this w·ithout benefit of safety nets or even ropes! They
were convinced to cease this insanity by the resident Jesuit.
30 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
Barone Campus Center
Then in 1966 a much needed student center was built. It was
later called the John Barone Campus Center to honor the former
Provost of Fairfield University. John served the university many
years as a chemist and later was responsible for the construction
of many of the buildings. It is the center of many student
activities. For some reason one of the most commonly used rooms
on campus, the Oak Room, was never air-conditioned. On one hot
summer day a proud father brought a truck load of golf carts to
transport all the people from the wedding at Loyola Chapel to the
reception in. the Oak Room. Once he got inside he realized his
blunder: if only he had used that money for some air-conditioners
instead! A variety of activities take place here. For example, in
March of 1995, the Oak Room was set up by the Media Center to
conduct a live interview of the Endeavor astronauts during their
space flight. The event was telecast throughout Fairfield County.
Outside the multipurpose Oak Room in the foyer there is a 7 foot
whispering gallery which is small but operates on the same
principle as the whispering galleries in Washington and the
Vatican. On the North face of the building is the third Bellarmine
seal in red marble near the top of the building.
The Campus center houses the bookstore, the mailroom, game
room, snack bar, lounges, student government offices and the main
student dining room (the other one is in Dolan). It is a center for
most student activities. There used to be a barber shop until
1972; even though his office was closed, the barbe(s name
remained 'in the telephone book until 1993. In the foyer on the
first floor is a genuine whispering gallery. The ellipsoidal ceiling
collects all the sound energy from a mouth at one focal point and
focuses it into an ear to the second focus.
Jagues Hall {Isaac Jagues - d 1646 Hall}
The student body kept increasing and there was need for more
residence halls. So in 1968 Jogues Hall was built for 296
students. On the ground floor of Jogues Hall are music classrooms.
Igor Kipnis, the famous harpsichordist, taught in one of those
classrooms when he was an adjunct in the Fine Arts department.
Isaac Jogues worked among the Iroquois and was martyred by
FAIRFIELD'S 24 BUILDINGS 31
them in 1646 in present-day New York State. Later work of the
early Jesuit missionaries was carried on by L'e Moyne who
discovered salt leading to the start of Salt City, Syracuse; other
early Jesuit missionaries such as the explorers Marquette and
Kino are represented in Statuary Hall in the Capitol building in
Washington. These Jesuits did many of the same things that were
done in the Paraguay settlements which were established by
earlier Jesuits to hinder the Spanish slave trade.
A 1991 aerial view of the middle of the campus
Nyselius Library
Our new Library was finished in 1968. It is named to honor the
Swedish industrialist Gustav Nyselius and his wife Dagmar.
Gustav founded Mt. Vernon Die Casting. The Library boasts of over
145,000 volumes, a networked collection of CD-ROM databases, a
computerized catalogue and an extensive media department. Among
its valuable collection is a copy of The Book of Kells.
CUF
The Central Utilities Facilities (CUF) was built in 1970. This
houses the offices for energy services, the central electrical, air­conditioning
and heating equipment and controls.
Bannow Science Building
The Bannow Science Building, built in 1971, houses the
32 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
computer center which is connected through fiber optics to all
buildings on campus. The Computer Center is named to honor Fr.
Frederick Kelly who through long hours, inspired and instructed
many students for 20 years. It houses classrooms, laboratories
and office space for the departments of mathematics, computers,
physics, biology, chemistry and psychology. Donations for this
$4.5 million Science building came- from Rudolf Bannow and the
building was named in his honor at the request of his wife and his
daughter Mrs. Dorothy Larson. Rudolf Bannow, a Swedish
industrialist who founded Bridgeport Machines, was very involved
in community service and died in 1962.
Kostka Hall {Stanislaus Kostka - d 1568}
In 1971 a residence hall for 180 students called Kostka Hall
was built. Stanislaus Kostka was a young Polish Jesuit who walked
from Warsaw to Rome to enter the Society. He died in 1568 and is
the Patron of novices. The building plan which Fairfield
University purchased as a /package has a very practical and
functional organization with three spacious lounges for study and
recreation, and the capacity to augment the wings by adding on six
suite sections. The individual air-conditioned rooms also 'use space
quite economically. Our students visiting their friends find this
same structure on other campuses. Because of its location on
campus it had been called Southeast until 1982. Recently
Cablevision and fiber-optics cable for computer networking was
installed in Kostka as well as all other residence halls on campus.
Claver Hall {Peter Claver - d 1654}
In 1972 another residence hall was constructed - Claver Hall
which houses 192 students. Peter Claver who died in 1654 was
declared the patron saint o·f African missionaries. He labored for
the hapless African slaves, captives kidnapped from their homes
and brought to Columbia. He would go into the hold of the slave
ships when they arrived to care for them and after the slaves were
sold, he kept in contact with them and visited them. Cartegena
stamps still honor him. Because it was east of IISoutheastll
, Claver
Hall had been called IIFar Eastll until 1982.
Nursing B~ilding
The Nursing Building was built in 1977. It has faculty
offices, classrooms and laboratories.
FAIRFIELD'S 24 BUILDINGS 33
St. Ignatius Jesuit Residence {not part of the university}
(Part 1 built in 1977 and Part 2 built in 1981)
Finally, in 1974 a Jesuit superior, Fr. Frederick Kelly,
arrived on the scene, who listened to Rome's 25 year old
admonition: "Build a residence for the Jesuit Community". He put
aside enough money to construct what is now the St. Ignatius Jesuit
Residence on Barlow Road. This was done in two stages: the first
section was completed in 1977; the second section attached to the
first in 1981.
Recreation Center (Recplex).
In 1979 the Recreational Complex was built; it has a 25-meter
pool and intramural courts, exercise rooms and offices for the
intramural sports.
Center for Financial Studies {not part of the university}
In 1979 came the Center for Financial Studies, built by the
National Council of Savings Institutions to 'provide a learning
environment for management training. Not yet part of the
University, it was built on our land with the proviso that Fairfield
University will inherit this complex after a few decades. There
are 14 meeting rooms, 64 large guest rooms; a large
amphitheater, a large elegant dining room and an art gallery for
occasional displays. Conferences and continuing education for
executive and management development are conducted for different
corporations.
Donnarumma Hall
A badly needed classroom and office building came in 1981
which contains 93 private 'offices, a computer laboratory, a
number of conference rooms and classrooms. It was called Faculty
Office Building until 1992, then it was named Donnarumma Hall
to honor Carmen Donnarumma, a beloved professor who taught
history and politics since the school opened. Finally, the great
stone steps which had been patiently waiting for an occupant for
about a quarter of a century, had a purpose: they led to a real
building.
34 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
The Townhouses
(#1-7 in 1982, #8-10 in 1984 and # 11-15 in 1987)
The Townhouses came in three stages so that today there are 104
two story student units housing 469 students. The townhouses
boast of three stories including a large basement for storage, a
large living room, a full kitchen on the first floor and bedrooms on
the second floor.
The townhouses in the northeast corner of the campus
The first seven townhouses were named after seven North
American martyrs who died between the years 1642 to 1649. The
names Brebeuf, Chabanel, Daniel, Garnier, Goupil,
Lalande and Lalemant, all North American martyrs from
France, are on the sides of the houses, but unfortunately students
use the house numbers and do not become familiar with the men
behind the names. Chabanel is an example of an interesting man
who was a college professor before he came to work among the
Hurons. He had a terrible time trying to learn their language so
that today more than one Jesuit language house of studies is named
after him in sympathy with his predicament.
The second group of townhouses is named for three other
martyrs: Paul Miki the first Japanese martyr who was put to
death for the Faith just before his ordination. The Scottish scholar
John Ogilvie who died at the age of 33 in the terrible
persecutions of Queen Elizabeth. John deBrito, a Portuguese
missionary in India told a prince he had to give up all his wives
except one. This angered one of the wives who saw to it that John
was beheaded.
FAIRFIELD'S 24 BUILDINGS 35
The third group of townhouses are named for five Jesuit
scientists. I suggested that Fr. Kelley name the last five
townhouses after unpronounceable Jesuit scientists instead of
unpronounceable Jesuit saints. He did. These scientists represent
five of the thirty-five Jesuits who have lunar craters named in
their honor. NASA sent me hug'e photos of these 5 craters,
observing that they had never heard of naming college resident
halls after craters - in spite of occasional lunatic behavior by
students.
Roger Boscovich was credited with being one of the first to
develop an atomic theory. Christopher Clavius was responsible
for the Gregorian Calendar which we use today. Athanasius
Kircher was considered a world expert on hieroglyphics. In fact
he was called the "master of 1000 arts" because of his varied
skills. He was first to speak of germs and sea phosphorescence.
Frequently on display at the Beineke Library of Rare Books at Yale
is the Voynich manuscript, a book that for 500 years no one had
been able to decipher. It was given to Kircher in 1670 because he
was perceived as the only one in the world who would be able to
interpret it. In fact he did not succeed, but it stayed in his museum
for centuries. Christopher Scheiner discovered sun-spots at
the same time as Galileo. Matteo Ricci translated Euclid into
Chinese, and was the subject of the best seller "Memory Palace of
Matteo Ricci" by Jonathan Spence. The Encyclopedia Britannica
says of Ricci: "No European of past centuries was as well known in
China as Li-ma-teu (Ricci-Matteo)."
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a Jesuit paleontologist.
This is the oldest townhouse since it was there in the 1920's and
served as a home for workman for the Jennings family. Later is
was a faculty residence and now shares with Clavius the town
house number 12.
Regina Quick Center
In 1989 came the Regina Quick Center for the Arts which houses
a large auditorium, an experimental theater and an art gallery. It
was named to honor Regina Quick, wife of trustee Leslie Quick,
who donated the initial major gift for it. The auditorium seats
750, has wonderful acoustics and was named to honor Fr. Aloysius
Kelley, Fairfield's seventh president. The center has made an
36 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
enormous difference in campus activities: many more special
events in the arts as well as scholarly lectures are available to the
students, faculty and staff inside the university and to the
Fairfield County community. The experimental theater is called
the Black Box with 150 seats. It is a classroom for theater and has
a catwalk all around it. The lawyer and developer, Lawrence. A
Wien along with his wife and daughter,were the benefactors. The
teaching and display gallery is named to honor Thomas J. Walsh of
Woodbury, NY. All sections of the Center are available to the
disabled. It has a 30'x40' main stage, a hugh carpenter shop and a
scrim which, when closed, isolates 285 seats
Nearby is the man-made Hopkins Pond, named after the great
Jesuit poet Gerard Manly Hopkins (who died in 1889), known for
his sprung rhythm, and father of modern poetry. He belonged to
the Oxford Movement and was converted to Catholicism by John
Henry Cardinal Newman. Among other poems he wrote the Wreck
of Deuchland and Windhover whose theme is stated in his own
words: liThe World is Charged with the Glory of God."
Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola
The crowning glory of Fairfield1s campus came in 1990 with the
Egan Chapel which boasts 500 movable seats, a 76 foot spire,
meeting rooms, and offices. It also has hand carved stations and a
Galanto non-pipe organ. Its stained glass windows are now being
installed in honor of Fr. Thomas McGrath. Very visible banners
celebrate the martyrdom of the six Jesuits and their two
companions in EI Salvador.
This long-awaited chapel, something longed for since 1942, is
called the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola after Ignatius Loyola
and the family of William Egan who is the managing partner of
Burr, Egan, Deleage & Co. a venture capital firm in Boston. He
graduated from Fairfield University in 1967 and has been for
.some years a university trustee. He donated the money for the
chapel and named it after his parents; he said: "There are many
business decisions I am proud of - but none more than building the
chapel."
One of the most active places on campus is found on the floor
below in the meeting rooms of the Arrupe Center, which honors
FAIRFIELD'S 24 BUILDINGS 37
that "other" Basque Jesuit, Pedro Arrupe, S.J. who served as
the last Jesuit Superior General (1965-1983). He worked as
Master of Novices in Hiroshima when the terrible bomb went off.
He and his Jesuit novices spent much time and energy taking care
of the suffering Japanese people and helping the dying. "Pedro" as
he is affectionately called by Jesuits, introduced into Jesuit
documents and Jesuit education the theme "Jesuits are meant to be
MEN FOR OTHERS".
In this Center are found offices, meeting rooms, a kitchen, a
dining room and many students involved in the service of others.
Apart from the usual Masses in the Chapel above there is continual
daily activity in the Center and some 600 students actively
participate in service projects. One of the meeting rooms honors a
well-respected Fairfield University Jesuit psychology teacher of
many years, Thomas McGrath, S.J..
Once, as the Egan/Loyola was being built, a colleague complained
to me that we had no clearly visible religious symbols. Now on top
of our chapel is a giant cross which stands 75 feet above the
ground and which can be seen in New York. It is a clear symbol of
the vision and determination of the early Jesuits and their lay­companions
who labored for the past half century to make
Fairfield what it is today. My friend's wish for a sign was granted.
Fairfield University's crowning glory,
the Egan Chapel houses the Arrupe Center
38 IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK
Locker facility
In 1995, a locker facility was built near Alumni football field.
It was needed because of the overcrowding in the gymnasium where
the lockers had been. In the past several decades there has been an
extraordinary increase in the number of varsity sports for both
women and men.
Levee
In 1995, this student-run' pavilion was built and given this
peculiar name because of the mistaken idea that the writer of the
"down on the levee" song graduated from Fairfield University. He
did not, but must be pleased at having such an attractive
discotheque named in his honor.
The founders of Fairfield University were men of Faith in
God. They also had confidence in themselves and were
courageous dreamers who thought big and were buoyed up by
a conviction similar to Edmund Campion's Brag: lilt is of God,
it cannot be withstood." Words used by the grateful 1958
graduates in dedicating their yearbook to one founder, Fr.
Langguth - dean from 1947 to 1958 - are quite fitting for
all our founders.
It has been said that behind every great accomp{ishment
there has been a great dream fJing {atent and waiting to be
brought to fruition. ?lie growth of !Fairfie{d 'University is no
e~ception. 'But between the dream and its fulfi{{ment {ies. an
arduous and often thankJess tast which ca{1S for men ofgreat
strength and foresight. ?lie bui{dings of !Fairfie{d 'University
stand in mute testimony to the tire{ess wor/( of the man wfw
made them possib{e. We} the graduating crass of !Fairfie{~ wfw
have seen both the dream and its fulfi{{ment} humbfy and
gratefu{fJ dedicate these our memories of !Fairfie{d to the
~verend Laurence C. Langguth} S.J.
REFERENCES
Allis, Marguerite Historic Connecticut. New York:
Grosset & Dunlap, 1934
Burke, James, S.J. Jesuit Province of New England. Boston:
The Society of Jesus of New England, 1986
DiGiovanni, Stephen The Catholic Church in Fairfield County.
New Canan: Mulvey, 1987
Duggan, Thomas Msgr. The Catholic Church in Connecticut.
New York: States History Company, 1930
Farnham, Thomas Fairfield 1639 -1939. West Kennebunk:
Phoenix, 1988
Fitzgerald, Paul The Governance of Jesuit Colleges in the United
States, 1920-1970. Notre Dame: Notre Dame, 1984
Justinus, Ivan History of Black Rock. Bridgeport:
Black Rock Civic Club, 1927
Lathrop, Cornelia Black Rock Seaport of Old Fairfield;
1644 -1870. Fairfield: Tuttle, 1930
Lapomarda, Vincent The Jesuit Heritage in New England.
Worcester: Holy Cross, 1977
Pratt, George Fairfield In Connecticut 1776-1976, Fairfield :
Fairfield Bicentennial Commission, 1976
Schenk, Elizabeth History of Fairfield, Fairfield County,
Connecticut. 2 vol. Fairfield: Self published, 1889
Taylor, Robert Colonial Connecticut. New York: KTD Press, 1979
Trumbull, Benjamin, DO. A Complete History of Connecticut.
New London: Utley, 1898
Map List by numbers Alphabetical List
1 Bellarmine Hall 23 Alumni Hall (Gym)
2 Donnarumma Hall 26 Bannow
3 Canisius Hall 25 Barone Campus Center
4 Gonzaga Hall 1 Bellarmine Hall
5 Regis Hall 36 Bellarmine Pond
6 Jogues Hall 21 Berchmans Hall
7 Campion Hall 7 Campion Hall
8 Loyola Hall ' 3 Canisius Han
15 Dola'n Campus 29 Central Utility Facility
A John C. Dolan 33 Claver Hall
B David J. Dolan 1 5 Dolan Campus
C Thomas F. Dolan A John C. Dolan
16 Townhouses B David J. Dolan
17 McAuliffe Hall C Thomas F. Dolan
18 Locker Facility 2 Donnarumma Hall
1 9 The Levee 44 Egan Chapel
20 Xavier Hall 37 Financial Studies
2 1 Berchmans Hall 4 Gonzaga Hall
22 Recreational Complex 43 Hopkins Pond
23 Alumni Hall (Gym) 35 St. Ignatius
25 Barone Campus Center 34 St. Robert
26 Bannow Science Center 6 Jogues Hall
27 Nursing, School of 32 Kostka Hall
28 Nyselius Library 1 9 The Levee
29 Central Utility Facility. 1 8 Locker Facility
32 Kostka Hall 8 Loyola Hall
33 Claver Hall 41 Maintenance
34 St. Robert 1 7 McAuliffe Hall
35 St. Ignatius Residence 27 Nursi,ng School
36 Bellarmine Pond 28 Nyselius Library
37 Financial Studies 40 PepsiCo Theater
39 Southwell Hall 42 Quick Center
40 PepsiCo Theater 22 Recplex
41 Maintenance 5 Regis Hall
42 Quick Center 39 Southwell Hall
43 Hopkins Pond 1 6 Townhouses
44 Egan Chapel 20 Xavier Hall'