J. Linwood Eisenberg
Becoming the third principal of then Slippery Rock State Normal School on Saturday, September 22nd, 1917, J. Linwood Eisenberg helped place steppingstones for the school to become what it is today. Under his administration the college went from “Slippery Rock State Normal School” to “Slippery Rock State Teachers College.” With this, enrollment grew, and programs expanded until he left in 1934. He is also known as the namesake to the Eisenberg Classroom Building that is currently on campus.
Construction
During his time at the college, Eisenberg took on some construction projects that helped build the campus in order to impress potential new students. This included ambitions such as creating better roads to connect to the railroad station (which was likely the Keisters “Hickory Mills” Railroad Station and the Redmond Station), installation of an electric light plant, improvement of many different rooms and science laboratories, and even a brand-new pipe organ for the Chapel. These are only a few of many things that Eisenberg did to improve the campus during his administration.
Improvement of Roads
One of Eisenberg’s ambitions was to increase the school enrollment. One way he decided to achieve this is by making the school more accessible. In 1917, at the beginning of Eisenberg’s administration, the school was only accessible through railroad and the dirt roads that connected the stations to Slippery Rock. However, by 1934, Slippery Rock became more reachable by being at a crossroad of two new major highways in Western Pennsylvania. So, at this point, incoming students relied less on railroads and could travel to the school by bus, car, or even an airplane.
Electric Light Plant
Before 1919, the school used natural gas to heat most of the buildings, which Eisenberg and his affiliates realized was a major fire hazard. So, in 1919, the natural gas with electric lights and had all of the old building wired to accommodate the new upgrade. In the years following they made additions of using generators to which they had hoped would “give ample power for years to come.”
Chapel Pipe Organ
Along with other renovations and additions to the Chapel on campus, Eisenberg seemed to be the most proud of the new Moeller Pipe Organ that had been a gift from four classes, faculty, and alumni.
