Case School: The Evolving History

Department of Civil Engineering


Historical names


1886-1900

In 1884, Prof. John Eisenmann becomes the Head of the department until 1886. He was replaced by Prof. Cady Staley in 1887. Dr Staley also was the President of the School. In 1887, Frank Neff was appointed Instructor in Mathematics and Civil Engineering.  After Staley's resignation in 1902, Prof. Frank Neff becomes head of the departments and continues as head until 1931.

In 1887, a new course in sanitary engineering was added to the curriculum. In 1888, the civil engineering department added Student Inspection Trips as part of the practical instruction. These trips took students to "the various engineering works, quarries and industrial manufacturers of practical interest to the engineer."

At the beginnings of 1890, more emphasis was given to the road and bridge engineering.

In 1894, Prof. Charles Trumbull joins the department.

Mr. Charles Gaffing, a graduate of the class of 1888 received the first Civil Engineering degree in 1897 with a thesis entitled “The Extension of the Cleveland Water Supply."


1900-1929

Like the other School departments, the Civil Engineering department was focusing on keeping up with new developments and the industry needs. Thus, in 1904, the department offered course in railroad engineering, along with highway engineering, roads and bridges and details of construction. However, when the importance of railroad engineering reduced by 1929, the department's  emphasis changed to highway engineering and mechanics of structures.

The Department occupied twelve rooms in the Main building and used the campus and adjacent grounds to teach surveying. In 1907,  the rooms were used as recitation rooms, drafting rooms, library and reading rooms, cement and concrete laboratories, and offices. The library contained 1000 volumes, 2200 indexed pamphlets and 7000 prints and photographs. "The instrument room contained a precise level of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Model, a 100-foot standard bar for comparison of tapes, 20 complete engineer's transits, 12 engineer's shovels, chains, level and sight rods of all types, and many cases of structural models and materials.''

To increase practical opportunities for students, the department established the first off-campus Surveying Camp in 1907. Known as Case Camp, the location moved every other year or so, until 1918 when it moved to Waynersburg and remained there until 1938.