The Marietta Register, January 15, 1880
An organization has been formed for the erection of a Boat House and Gymnasium for the students of Marietta College with the following officers: Chairman, Gen. Benjamin Dana Fearing; Secretary, A. D. Follett; Treasurer, S. J. Hathaway; Building Committee, M. P. Wells.
The location will be at the upper end of the City Park and the Boat House is expected to be completed by the next College Commencement. Several plans have been received and one of them will be decided upon soon. Subscription papers have been opened which our liberal minded citizens will have the pleasure of reading in due time. The Boat House to be put up will be an ornament to the Park and one of the finest in the country.
Gen. Fearing has had some correspondence with Secretary Sherman and has received from him the following interesting letter:
Treasury Department, Washington, January 5th, 1880.
My Dear Sir: Your letter of the 2d inst., enclosing the circular of Marietta College proposing a plan for the development of physical culture in connection with the College, is received.I regard this as an important movement in the right direction. The great need of College life is, while developing the intellect and storing the mind with knowledge, to also secure to the student a strong body with sound limbs, so that in the struggle of life he may combine physical with mental training.I have always regarded my experience as a junior rodman on the Muskingum Improvement, during which time I spend several very happy months in Marietta, as the most valuable period of my education. The exposure in the open air, the severe physical exercise, the necessity of taking responsibility and of obeying orders trained me for the most important duties of my after life.The life of a boy between twelve and twenty will fix the habits and thoughts of the man in the subsequent years of his life. Therefore it is that I think any plan to develop the physical strength and vigor of the boy is as important a part of his education as the study of languages or mathematics, and I would regard the combination of the two as requisite to every school that undertakes to prepare men for active life.Anything I can do to promote your plan will be cheerfully done, and I am glad that you are devoting a portion of your time to this subject.Very truly Yours,John Sherman
