A Brief History of Monticello College

Monticello College was built in 1838 by former sea captain and financier, Benjamin Godfrey. He was an uneducated ship master who had never seen the inside of a college himself. At the time that Monticello was built it was almost unheard of for women to attend school at all. Captain Godfrey was an unlikely founder of an all female college. However he did have nine children and one day he overheard one of his daughters imitating their mother and saying," Educate a man and you educate an individual, educate a woman and you educate a family." 

While Godfrey might not have had a formal schooling, he did have a savvy business knowledge and managed to amass a considerable fortune in connection with Mississippi steamboat traffic. He then got into the lucrative railroad business. When the railroad line between Alton and Springfield was completed, he once more devoted his attention to the Monticello Female Seminary, contributing over $110.000 to the founding of it.

In 1838, most schools for girls were nothing more than finishing schools whose curriculum consisted of "womanly arts" as the goal was a good marriage. However, at Monticello, they studied courses in English, math, history, religion, philosophy, foreign language and music.  However the goal of a good marriage remained.

Yale educated minister, Theron Baldwin, was chosen as the first principal of Monticello. Monticello thrived for the next 50 years. After Baldwin retired, he was replaced by Miss Philomena Fobes who saw the school through the trying Civil War years where many of the girls became bitterly divided along Union and Confederate lines. In 1867 Miss Harriet Haskell arrived as the new principal and devoted the next 40 years of her life to making the school one of the most respected in the country.

In 1888 a tragic fire threatened to close the school forever. It started in the laundry room ovens and the school was left a pile of smoldering embers. One hundred and thirty girls were attending the school at the time and all made it out unharmed. Thanks to the iron will of Miss Haskell, who started a massive fund raising campaign, the school was rebuilt and was out of debt by 1902.

Miss Harriet Haskell was born in Maine in 1835. She was described as a tomboy with a fertile imagination. The students of Monticello took to Miss Haskell right away. She had a sharp sense of humor and a keen wit. She also instituted a sports program for women, believing that if they were physically fit, they would be emotionally and morally fit as well.

Miss Haskell passed away quietly on campus in 1907. Her reign at the college endured over forty years ....... some say she's never left.

She was well respected by parents and board members and adored by her girls who called themselves the "Haskell Girls'. The girls were deeply grieved by their beloved principal's death. Former students from across the country sent cards and flowers and some traveled great distances to attend the funeral. Her body lay for viewing in the library of the college until it's burial. It was one of her favorite rooms at the school and also the school's chapel. The library remains one of the most haunted places on campus.

In 1971, Monticello College became Lewis and Clark College, due to the waning interest in all female colleges. On the day it was made official, one of the oldest, largest Oak trees toppled to the ground. There was no high wind that day and some say it was Harriet who caused it to happen because of her upset over what had happened to her Monticello.

There were tales of Miss Haskell's ghost wandering the hallways at night. Librarians report having had someone touch them on the shoulder, only to turn around and find no one there. One Liberian said she looked up toward the check out desk and saw the ghostly presence of a wain dressed in turn of the century clothing. The description of the presence matched that of a bust which resides in Evergreen Hall. Strange happenings such as lights turning themselves off and on, ghostly specters dressed in old fashion clothing, chilling breezes that seem to come from nowhere. And then there's the overwhelming smell of lilac perfume in the air. Even people who swear they don't believe in ghosts have reported strange happenings while at the college.

Every year since the 80's, Professor Lars Hoffman, has held a series of annual Ghost Watches by students and some faculty on Halloween night. During one of the watches, one person reported feeling a cold spot in the library. A group who were sitting at an Ouija board asked, "Is anyone there?" And the response: "H-A-R-R-I-E-T." A sudden breeze blew into the room from nowhere and put out the candle.

I am attending this college at the moment. Next week we go to the library for a tour and to pick out a book for an assignment. Now I don't believe in ghosts or spirits or whatever you care to call them, but if I feel a cold spot and smell lilac perfume, I'm getting the heck out of there!