AND NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

On August 3d of 1996 the 38 acre campus became the property of the East Orange Board of Education. The School officials made a one million dollar down payment against the purchase price of four million. The bankruptcy Trustee holds a five-year mortgage for three million at a five percent interest rate.

The Board of Education plans to use the east campus where Pudar Hall, Beck Hall, Old Main, the College Center, Viking Hall and Donald B. Walker Field are located to create a pre-K through 12 magnet school. In addition, the Board has under consideration the possibility of establishing a two year community college. The City of East Orange plans to acquire the West Campus from the board for a nominal one dollar fee. The City’s plans are indefinite at this time, but a number of varied uses are being considered. A portion of the property will be used for City projects, and some of the site may be turned over for development by private organizations. (PLEASE NOTE: The City of East Orange was probably the largest creditor. It had backed a $4.2 million bond issue on which the College defaulted.) This takes care of most of the campus. A number of individual parcels of land on Franklin street and Glenwood Avenue have been sold separately.

As for the Wirths Campus in Sussex County, there have been a number of potential buyers interested in the property. At the present time Berkeley College (formerly know to us as Berkeley Secretarial School) is negotiating for the site. The intention is to establish a campus on the Wirths property. There have been two small parcels sold.

Prior to placing much of the equipment and other assets on public auction, there were a number of private sales of major items. The Florida Gulf Coast University (brand new and scheduled to open in 1996) purchased 60 percent of the books, etc., from the Library for $450,000. A German investor paid $33,500 for some periodicals, and Fairleigh Dickinson U. purchased a small amount of books for $1400. Drew University acquired the music amassed by the Music Department and the Choir. In November and December 1995 six public auctions were held. Any items not sold through private sales were on the block. This included all kinds of equipment, furniture, carpeting, art work, athletic equipment (baseball and football uniforms--$500), the Chapel alter , and even the oak pews, a collection of Civil War letters ($4,200), a Chinese Chippendale clock ($1,100), a collection of 25 Native American artifacts ($3,800), etc. The list could go on and on.

An estimate of the proceeds from the sales (not including property) is about $900,000. Much of the funds received through these sales had to be directed to paying the costs of protecting property and securing the buildings, utility bills, etc. Some creditors had liens on specific property or buildings, and the money realized from these sales had to go directly to them.

AND THERE IS STILL MORE

What, you may ask, has become of Upsala’s academic records and alumni files?

Augustana College in Rock Island, IL is the recipient of the College’s archives and historical records. This includes a complete inventory of all Yearbooks, the Gazette and Catalogues. (Augustana College was the site of the organizational meeting of the Upsala Alumni Association in 1906).

Felician College in Lodi, NJ has received all of the academic records for those who ever attended Upsala. Any former student or graduate wishing information on their records should contact Felician.

Upsala’s alumni records have been turned over to the Upsala College Foundation located in the offices of Ronald J. Mount & Co., 27 Paul’s Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey 07306.

A word about the Upsala College Foundation. This Foundation has been in existence for quite a number of years. Very little publicity has been given to it, purposely, A major reason for this was because it was expressly charged with raising major funding from corporations. It was not intended to be a vehicle by which individual alumni were to be asked to support Upsala. The annual Alumni Fund was the channel by which alumni were asked to give their support.

The Upsala College Foundation IS and ALWAYS was a separate entity from the College. Its Board was made up, for the most part, of former members of the Upsala College Board of Trustees, but from time to time included a few who were currently serving on the Board. They were individuals who were in a position to persuade industry leaders to give major grants to the Foundation.

The Foundation was instrumental in raising a great deal of support from industry for the benefit of Upsala. In the past several years it turned over almost all of its assets to Upsala in an effort to keep the College afloat.

A recent development. At the request of the Upsala College Foundation, Felician College has agreed to maintain the Upsala Alumni files. This includes trying keep address changes up to date. This in itself will be a major responsibility since no one has been on hand to make such changes since at least sometime during the 1994-95 college year. There are approximately 9,000 names on the alumni list (not all degree holders). Please advise the Foundation (and us) at its Jersey City address (noted above) of any changes you know of. (We will report to the Foundation all address changes we receive). This information is essential in order to assist the Foundation in its efforts of trying to keep the alumni aware of events and activities which it is hoped will keep Upsala’s memories alive.

G.A.F. ‘41
February, 1997