LOUISIANA STATE SEMINARY: Its Destruction by Fire--History of the Institution
Rapides Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Chere Lee
Date: May 18, 2010

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LOUISIANA STATE SEMINARY; Its Destruction by Fire--History of the Institution.
The New York Times
October 25, 1869, Wednesday
Page 2, 493 words

The Seminary building, near Alexandria, was destroyed by fire last Friday
morning between 1 and 3 o'clock. No lives were lost, and the students
generally saved their baggage. They found temporary shelter among the
hospitable citizens of Alexandria, and some of them are now on their way
home up or down the river. The effect of this disaster will be the total
suspension of the Seminary until temporary barracks can be erected for 
the cadets.

The building destroyed was about three miles north of the town, on high 
grounds, and in the midst of a widely extended and beautiful pine 
grove. For architectural beauty, structure and size, it was not surpassed
in the South. The walls were of brick, and being painted white, presented
from a short distance, the appearance of solid marble. The first impression
upon the eye upon reaching the open parade grounds was that of almost
magical beauty. The interior was constructed with great care. The lecture
rooms and cadets' quarters were well arranged for health, discipline and 
comfort. It was surrounded by several accessory buildings, assigned as
rcidences for the families of professors, and was supplied with abundance
of the best spring water. A more favorable location for a central seat of
learning cannot be found in Louisiana, on account either of salubrity or
remoteness from demoralizing influences.

The Louisiana State Seminary and Military Academy was found on land grants
from the United States Government, made by various acts from 1807 to 1819,
and by the Legislature in 1855. The Hon. MICHAEL RYAN, of Rapides, then a
member of the State Senate, and a zealous friend of learning, aided the
cause by his influence and eloquence, both at Baton Rouge and among the
citizens of the State elsewhere.

The seminary was first opened under the superintendency of Colonel W.T. 
SHERMAN (now Lieutenant-General) and an able corps of Professors, among
whom was DAVID F. BOYD, the present and able and zealous Superintendent.
The session of that year began with a class of fine young men, who, in
the course of the year, improved rapidly in scholarship and soldierly
discipline. Its career of prosperity was suspended in July of the next 
year, on account of the war, in the course of which a majority of the
students found benefit in the limited military instruction received
at the Seminary. In April, 1862, the Seminary reopened under Rev.
E.M. LINFIELD, and under his superintendency and that of Professor
SEAY, but was again closed in April, 1863, on account of Banks'
Invasion. It was opened Oct.2, 1865, and from that time until the
recent disaster was steadily gaining ground. During the last session
there was in attendance 110 cadets, and the session now brought to an
abrupt and disastrous close opened under very _artering auspices.

About one hundred of the cadets of the last class and probably the
same number of the present class, were beneficiary or State cadets,
taught and maintained at the cost of the State, under the provisions
of the act of the General Assembly of 1859. This sad interruption
will be a serious and almost irreparable loss to many of these, who
are without the means to prosecute their academic studies. The disaster
will be lamented far and wide by all the friends of learning in whose
noble republic there are neither State nor national boundaries.