FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY



the Board of Visitors appointed by the Governors. It remained on
the Ashland and Woodlands estate until permanently located on the
City Park site. The sole and exclusive use of 100 acres of land of
the Ashland and Woodlands properties, and for every matriculate
more than 100, one additional acre, was allowed....
    In 1879-1880 the matriculates numbered 113 from Kentucky, and
the remaining 23 were from other states.
    The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky opened
for its first session September 8, 1879, with James Kennedy Patterson
president and professor of metaphysics, civil history and political
economy; Robert Peter, professor of chemistry and experimental
philosophy; John Shakleford, Jr., professor of English language and
literature; James G. White, professor of mathematics, mechanics and
astronomy, and Maurice Kirby, principal of the Normal School. The
Board of Visitors appointed by Governor James B. McCreary was
composed of Hon. J. P. Metcalfe, Lexington, chairman; Col. W. C.
P. Breckinridge, Lexington, Secretary; Judge W. B. Hoke, Louis-
ville; Col. L. J. Bradford, Covington; Hugh A. Moran, Richmond, and
C. A. Hardin, Harrodsburg.
    The site of the City Park, which had formerly been the fair
grounds, was elevated and commanded a good view of the city.
Plans were made for the erection of a new college building, contain-
ing a chapel, society rooms, lecture and recitation rooms sufficient
for the accommodation of 500 students. The land extended south on
Limestone and East on Winslow streets, and the natural conformation
of the ground and an abundant water supply from the old Maxwell
spring rendered the construction of an artificial lake, with a boating
course a quarter of a mile long, comparatively easy, thus providing
a beautiful sheet of wAter to add to the attractiveness of the land-
scape.
   Henry Watterson delivered the dedicatory speech when the main
building and dormitory were completed and the institution was
moved to its present location in March, 1882. The session of 1882-
1883 marked the beginning of life in new surroundings. Mrs. B. F.
Ryland, the first woman connected with the College, became matron
in 1883, and Mrs. Lucy Berry Blackburn was assistant in the Academy
from '87 to '93, and monitress from 1893 to 1911.
    In 1885 the State College of Kentucky established the Experi-
mental Agricultural Station in close relation with the Bureau of
Agriculture at Washington and appointed as director thereof Profes-
sor M. A. Scovell, formerly superintendent of the United States Ex-
perimental Station at Ottowa, Kansas. Associated with him were
Dr. Robert Peter, general chemist; Professor A. R. Crandall, botany,



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