President Ira A. Priest, 1897-1901
Yet another pastor of the Universalist Church in Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ was chosen to lead the young institution through a very difficult period. During his four-year tenure, Ira A. Priest dealt with the effects of a nationwide economic depression and a devastating fire. He resigned in 1901 to go into business.
1899
Fire destroys the original Buchtel Hall, threatening the very existence of the struggling school, but Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s citizens and local entrepreneurs once again come to the support of the young institution.