The fresh legacy regarding President Herbert W. Reherd to your Westminster College or university in Sodium River Town, Utah runs strong from the institution and you can growth of the school. Currently important about Presbyterian society, both because a great pastor and you will neighborhood leader, Reherd moved just like the good missionary around the world in the end ending up on the Mormon nation from Salt River Area. Reherd embarked towards a goal to store this new improperly funded inheritor of Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, Westminster University, and you may fostered the increases of a good junior college to help you an entire four-season facilities. Reherd’s heritage is especially inherent within his fundraising having developments to new campus, their writings about the university and also the Presbyterian history inside the Utah, and setting up recommendations to your continued brilliance during the range and you will gains of Westminster University.

That have big success because a residential area along with spiritual leader, Reherd situated a strong relationship with churchgoers and you may Presbyterian officials

The brand new guy out of Jacob K. Reherd and you can Lucy Louise Ware, Herbert Ware Reherd came to be to the August 23, 1869 into the Genesco, Illinois. Dr. Herbert Reherd began their occupation into the Presbyterian Church early once graduating out-of Parsons University and you will McCormick Theological Seminary, with many manage the latest Princeton Theological Seminary. Reherd’s basic appointment to your chapel was a student in Milan, Illinois, (1898-1901), and later during the Bethany Church regarding Detroit, Michigan, (1901-1906). Reherd preached during the Very first Presbyterian Church in the Waterloo, Iowa, (1906-1913) prior to he was selected since Westminster chairman by Charles Age. Bradt, a long time buddy and you will fellow regarding Presbyterian Church. Through the their time in Iowa, Reherd in addition to Bradt embarked into the a scene survey of your informative and you will missionary condition of the Presbyterian Church of your U.S.A. in 1911-1912. Inside the concert tour, Reherd made of many connections who does after establish useful to their some methods which have Westminster College or university. This new modern view collected within country and rest of the nation was obvious throughout the conclusion and you may varied hobbies represented since the Westminster grew into the yet another school.

His render since the president consisted of a beneficial $3,five hundred yearly paycheck, travelling expenditures, and a five year bargain

Reherd arrived in Sodium River City for the Oct 2, 1913 once the 4th chairman away from Westminster College or university. He’d end up being an installation of the school for another forty years. With the their coming, this new campus contains Converse Hallway and you can Ferry Hall enclosed by several miles regarding alfalfa. Gunton Memorial Chapel, established in 1905, toward spot of 1700 Southern area and 1100 Eastern is actually brand new nearest Presbyterian chapel senior friend finder, in which Reherd manage preach a couple of times along side 2nd 40 years. Once their inauguration once the president to your university on the Oct 2, 1914, Reherd have got to work increasing the structures on the university. Converse Hall got unused for a couple of ages and you can endured that have broken windows in advance of Reherd attempt into the developments. The guy as well as built the fresh President’s Home towards the 1300 East round the regarding Converse Hallway, and began really works yet another men’s dorm. The newest dorm was only a good tar-roofed strengthening nicknamed “the brand new chicken coup” it was the beginning of Foster Hall.

Reherd’s fundraising kept the college afloat. Their fundraising procedures on Midwest therefore the East received service regarding dedicated Presbyterians eliciting donations to own Westminster, an excellent Presbyterian stronghold in the middle of “Mormondom”. Unfortuitously, luck wasn’t always quietly of your own university. Towards morning out of February 23, 1926, months just before Reherd and the School embarked into the an alternative fundraising venture inside the Sodium River, Converse Hall ran right up inside the flames making just the skeleton of this building. Fundraising perform was up coming geared toward reconstructing Converse, hence turned-out profitable enough to birth arrangements for a different sort of gymnasium, later on intent on Charles Payne for the 1928.