26 · Godden Hall 1899 - 1951 , - photo bV Public Re/aUons Office and Marguerite Metcalf. Harding, Searcy: Together for 50 golden years Fifty-year celebrations have been designated "golden" because they portend relationships of worth and durability. They represent a commitment that is rare in this "throw-away" age. Whether this commitment is between people aging together or between Institutions and communities working together, a golden anniversary affords us an occasion to gaze in retrospect and also catch sight of a future challenge . Harding College moved to Searcy In the fall of 1934 and like a wayfaring stranger the school found a permanent home after having resided in Cordell, Oklahoma, Harper, Kansas , and Morrilton, Arkansas . In 1889, a quality female college was established in Searcy "dedicated to the development of Christian womanhood in Arkansas ." The new school was named in honor of G.B. Galloway, the Arkansas bishop of the Methodist Church . Bishop Galloway came to Searcy for a groundbreaking ceremony . A parade formed at Spring Park and moved east down dusty Park Street to an 18-acre grove of trees. Under a tree located just about where the Ii))! pool is now. Bishop Galloway gave an 50th Anniversary oration of the education of women and concluded his remarks by promising Searcians that the school would be "educating for eternity." Ten years ago, Becky Banks was awarded $50 for' suggesting "educating for eternity" as Harding's motto, totally unaware of the bishop's speech 85 years before. The Great Depression of the 1930's had a profound impact on educational institutions. Money was difficult to find, and many schools and colleges were closing their doors. The Methodist Church hoped to consolidate Its colleges and save expenses: Henderson College of Arkadelphia was united with Hendrix College at Conway, and the plan was to also move the Searcy girls to Hendrix and to close Galloway's doors. Searcians were angry with the ecclesiastical decision . T.B. King called for the Methodist Church to "repent In sackcloth and ashes." Stephen Brundige claimed the 7,000 women educated at Galloway were worth more than all the preachers ever educated at Hendrix College . But Galloway College was $160,000 in debt , and the prospects of bailing out the school ranged from unlikely to impossible . But the die was cast and the once-walled campus that protected 300 girls and 15 deer lay silent for two years, while the leaves of Its mighty oaks collected In every crevice. Harding College at Morrilton was In need of larger facilities, and when word came to the officials there of the availability of the 29-acre campus In Searcy, plans were Inaugerated to purchase It and move the school to the new location . There were several buildings and lots of equipment available. There were three residential houses, a music building, girls' dormitory (now Patti Cobb Hall), Godden Hall (which housed a library, classrooms and an auditorium), a three-storied admlnlstratton building with 27 classrooms and laboratories (now the Olen Hendrix Building), a small brick gymnasium, and a steamheated pool (still In use) . There were also a fully equipped steam laundry, a central heating plant, and a three-story bUilding ap~y named the "Gray Gables." There were pianos everywhere - 40 In all - including uprights , studios, and concert grands. In addition , there were garages and a large bri!,k workshop .
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