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1903
Cornell disbands its forestry school, which was the first in the nation. The school was created in 1898 by the New York Legislature to provide “education and instruction related to the principles and practices of scientific forestry,” according to New York state archives. In 1903, funding from the state — which totaled $10,000 — was withheld because landowners were upset with how the land was being used.
Leaders mold campus with initiatives By Meghin Delaney | News Editor Twelve presidents and deans came in and out of SUNY-ESF during its past 100 years on campus. Each one brought a new aspect to the college and helped shape it into its present state, said Hugh Canham, professor emeritus at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. • William Bray was the first acting dean in 1911. Bray was also the head of the botany department at Syracuse University while acting as dean. He served as dean for four months and was heavily involved in searching for a replacement. • Hugh Baker followed Bray and served as dean from 1912-20, then again from 1930-33. In his two different terms, he enlarged the faculty from two members to nine, established the Ranger School in the Adirondacks and helped the college acquire more than 3,000 acres of land for experiments and instructions. Both Marshall Hall and the pulp and paper lab were completed during his tenure. “Baker certainly set the tone of the college,” Canham said. “Not only the physical plant, but he set the philosophy of the college by some of his earlier statements.” • F. Franklin Moon continued working on the structure Baker laid down while he served as dean. Moon served the school from 1920-26 and again from 1927-29. The faculty and student body increased in size, and the first permanent structure was constructed at the Ranger School. Moon went along with the changes of the times and kept moving ESF in the direction it was already headed, Canham said. • Nelson Brown secured funding for Marshall Hall and acquired the acorn that grew into Robin Hood Oak, the tree behind Bray Hall. The acorn came from the oak that sheltered Robin Hood and his men in Sherwood Forest. Brown acted as the dean between 1926-27 and 1929-30. The tree is now 10 feet in diameter and 1000 years old, according to a sign posted on the tree. “Some people wanted to cut it down at one point, it was decided to save it — a lot of physiological things done to make sure the tree thrives since it’s not in a good spot for an oak tree,” Canham said. • Samuel Spring then took over the dean position and served from 1933-44. Under Spring’s service, Marshall Hall — complete with a 500-seat auditorium and the F. Franklin Moon library — opened. Spring also recommended SEE NEXT PAGE