History

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Muhlenberg College was founded in 1848. It was renamed in 1867, to honor Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, patriarch of the Lutheran Church in the American Colonies. Though it started off as a Lutheran school, it now embraces all faiths and celebrates its diversity. 33% of the student population is Jewish. Their philosophy of education can be found in their introductory statement on their website: "Muhlenberg aims to help students become independent critical thinkers who are intellectually agile, characterized by a zest for reasoned and civil debate, knowledgeable about the achievements and traditions of diverse civilizations and cultures, able to express ideas with clarity and grace, committed to life-long learning, equipped with ethical and civic values and prepared for lives of leadership and service." The College offers 40 majors in the humanities, fine arts, social sciences and natural sciences, in addition to strong pre-professional programs in such areas as pre-health, pre-law, pre-theology, business and education. As the decades passed, the college grew in size, and homes and dorms were built for its students, faculty and others who worked closely with the school. Some folks, like Oscar Bernheim, who was a registrar or treasurer of the college, built their homes on or near school land. Some of the on campus homes, such as the Gabriel House, located on the northeast edge of the front grassy college greens area, were donated to the college, and are still used for educational purposes. The Gabriel House is located on the front lawn of the college, and is home to the Wescoe Program, that offers studies and hands-on experience in the college's continuing education efforts in liberal arts program, offering accelerated degrees, and summer study opportunities. Recent construction of needed housing and other structures in the decade of 2000-2010, also provides more modern buildings that please the younger generation, as well as the older generation. Sometimes other buildings/homes on campus had to be torn down, to make way for the new structures that meet the needs of students and faculty.

Added by: cwormley on 03/19/2015 DB#:260
Source(s):
http://www.hauntedhouses.com/states/pa/muhlenberg-...