London's Bicentennial (Snippet 22)

 HELLMUTH LADIES' COLLEGE

    In the second half of the 19th century, if you asked any American what they knew about London, Ontario, the answer would likely have been, "It's the home of Hellmuth Ladies' College."  I think that is the case because any newspaper search about London in those days yields "hits" about the Hellmuth Ladies' College, the advertisements for which are ubiquitous. London for them must have been imagined as the "Athens of the North."

                                  Higher Education in London, Ontario
  Elevated above the Thames, young ladies were lured to come to the "sanitary surroundings" in the Forest City where they could study, music, dance, French and refinement. To illustrate what was advertised, here are some samples and they range from such papers as, The Salt Lake Herald, Southern Christian Advocate (Charleston) and The Portland Daily Press (the one in Maine.) These are from the 1880s and there are many more from many different newspapers.

This picture is from the 1890s. 

    The property is located on RIchmond at Windermere and is now mostly a retirement facility, but you can stay at the Guest House on the Mount if you are visiting.

 Farther up the river Thames, east on Windermere, young ladies coming to UWO could stay at Spencer Hall well into the 1960s. One of the finer dormitories found anywhere, I would think. It is now the Spencer Hotel and Conference Centre and you can stay there as well.

  Young women used to be able to come to another "ladies'' college in London which was also an attractive place, located until just a few years ago, above the corn fields across the road from UWO. It ceased to be a college for women a few years ago (see, "Bad News From Brescia.")

 

  The corn fields were removed to make room for parking and the Ivey Business School and the space at Spencer Hall on Windermere is now also associated with the Business School. Progress, I suppose.