BANGOR, Maine — A longtime Bangor educational institution marked a major milestone on Thursday with an open house, tours and, of course, a cake.
Beal College celebrated its 125th birthday with several area elected officials, alumni, students and faculty on hand.
“I’m so happy to join you today. I think everybody in Bangor has some connection with Beal College — a family member or a friend or somebody who’s gone here,” City Councilor Ben Sprague said before presenting a Bangor City Council proclamation acknowledging the achievement.
“One of our big challenges in the state is we need economic development,” he said. “Businesses are there. They want to hire people, but they need the workforce with the skill sets and people bettering themselves, getting ready to go out and join the workforce, improve their careers and grow.
“Bangor is fortunate to have many high-class educational institutions, including Beal College, and 125 years is very impressive, so congratulations to everybody who’s associated with Beal College on the 125-year anniversary,” Sprague said.
While they could not be there in person, Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Bruce Poliquin both sent along congratulations.
Founded in 1891 by Mary Beal, the college that now bears her name initially was called Bangor Business College and opened on Oct. 20 at 127 Hammond St., occupying the original YMCA building.
In 1892, Beal, a native of Norway, bought the Shorthand Department of the college after teaching classes for three years. Twelve years later, Beal’s School of Shorthand and Typing broke away from the college, according to Bangor Daily News archives.
Classes were offered at various downtown locations for the next decade. Beal sold the school two years before her death in 1924.
Beal’s school was located at 9 Central St. for more than 30 years, despite the fact that it was bought and sold many times.
In 1970, Beal College bought the old city hospital and used it as a dormitory until 1975, when the school moved its entire operation to the former almshouse.
Today, the college is strictly a commuter school and is located at 99 Farm Road. It specializes in associate’s level degrees in such programs as business, medical, law enforcement, substance abuse counseling and welding, to name a few.
The small local campus has an enrollment of about 350 students, who attend classes year-round and whose academic year is divided into six eight-week “mods,” according to the school’s website.