College History
The Bedford Campus
By June 1974 the founders had identified a suitable and affordable location for the new College: a five–acre property in Bedford, New Hampshire known as the “Bedford Motel.” The owner of the motel, Richard Deyo, was willing to carry the initial mortgage. This generous gesture by Mr. Deyo smoothed the way for the founders during these early months.
However, there was one “small” problem: The motel was booked with guests until early September 1974, when the first students were scheduled to arrive. To fulfill the terms of the purchase–and–sale agreement, Francis Boucher, John Meehan, and Peter Sampo – and their families – agreed to operate the motel throughout the summer.
When the last motel guests left on September 1, quick renovations were made the next day, and the first group of students arrived on September 3.
From 1974 to 1991 the College remained in Bedford. During these years the College developed the Bedford campus in many ways, and continued to develop and refine the Program of Studies.
On July 28, 1978 the State of New Hampshire Legislature empowered Magdalen College to grant the Bachelor of Arts degree, and in 1983 the College received authority to award the Associate of Arts degree. In addition, on October 17, 1983, the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy empowered Magdalen College to award the Diploma for Religious Instruction.
Several College traditions and customs were established during these early years: The Social Club was instituted in October of 1975, and feast day celebrations and retreats were incorporated into the academic year. The Summer Youth Program began in 1975, bringing high school students from throughout the United Stated, Canada, and Mexico to the campus every summer for study, prayer, and recreation.
In September of 1976, the Friday night lecture series began under the name of the “Archbishop Robert Dwyer Lecture Series.” This was renamed the “H. Lyman Stebbins Colloquium,” in memory of the late founder of Catholics United for the Faith who was a good friend and benefactor of the College.
The three founders, along with all initial faculty and staff, assumed many different roles in the early years. Dr. Sampo was President of the College and a Tutor until 1977. Mr. Meehan taught philosophy and theology, served as Dean of Students, and then became President in 1977. Mr. Boucher served as Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees until 1981. Dr. George Stanciu was hired as the College’s first tutor in 1974, and became Academic Dean in 1975.
The generosity, creativity, and labor of many early administrators, tutors, students, and friends made most of the initial campus improvement projects possible. The condition and size of almost all campus buildings made numerous renovation projects necessary as the student body grew.
Other than the renovation and expansion of existing buildings, the College also purchased two “manufactured” buildings in 1976 to meet both classroom and administrative needs.
In 1979, the College acquired a military chapel from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. This chapel was carefully dismantled and relocated to the Bedford campus. Many students returned early that year to help in the reconstruction and renovation of the chapel. It was complete in the fall of 1982, with a dedication Mass celebrated by Most Reverend Odore Gendron on December 8, 1982.
