Office of Student
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Student HANDBOOK
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HISTORY AND TRADITIONS
A Brief History of Stevens and Its Castle
In 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology was founded with a bequest
from Edwin Augustus Stevens to establish a school of Mechanical Engineering
based on scientific principles. The school stood on the edge of the
family estate at Castle Point in Hoboken.
The lithograph on the wall of the Stevens library shows a stately Victorian
mansion, Castle Stevens, standing on the spot where the Wesley J. Howe
Center is today. The Stevens family then owned most of present day
Hoboken and a large part of northern New Jersey.
In the 1800's, Hoboken was a popular summer resort for wealthy New
Yorkers. They would take advantage of the ferry service begun by Col.
John Stevens to spend an afternoon walking in the Elysian Fields. Local
attractions also included Sybil's Cave, just north of Castle Point,
where visitors could drink cold spring water that dripped from the
walls, or a ride on the Stevens Steam Engine, which ran on a circular
track at the south end of town.
The Castle was also a prime Hoboken attraction, with its cantilevered
walnut staircase in the main hallway, which rose in a semicircle from
one floor to the next with no visible means of support. It was considered
aesthetically pleasing and a work of engineering genius one example
of why the Castle is considered by some as the roots of Stevens Institute.
From 1911 until its demolition, the Castle served as a residence and
housed several administrative offices.
It is survived by a few myths and legends, particularly ghost stories.
The well-known ghost, Jan of Rotterdam, was once a resident of Hoboken,
whose life was cut short by an Indian raid. He is reputed to roam Castle
Point on windy March nights looking for his missing scalp. Rumor also
has it that three tunnels, used for the purposes of the Underground
Railroad, exist under the Point.
Today, the Center stands where the Castle once stood, but time has
changed more than the landscape. Stevens now provides at the undergraduate
level a well-rounded engineering program as well as comprehensive programs
in science, computer science, and humanities. On the graduate level,
about 20 programs lead to master's and doctoral degrees. For over 125
years Stevens has offered its traditional programs and is moving into
new and exciting areas of modern technological education and research.
The Stevens family would no doubt approve.
The Stevens Seal
Edwin Augustus Stevens, the founder of the Institute is on the Stevens
Seal. The Latin motto "Per aspera ad astra" means "Through
adversity to the stars."
The school colors are cardinal red and silver gray. The official
nickname of Stevens is "The Stute," though it is also referred to as "The
Old Stone Mill" or "The Mill." The official mascot is Attila
the Duck.
 Stevens
has its own songs and two of the most common are "Alma Mater" and "The
Old Stone Mill," our fight song.
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Alma Mater
Where flows the Hudson River out to the mighty sea.
On Castle Point so proudly stands there in majesty.
Stevens, our Alma Mater, homage to Thee we pay.
With loyal hearts and voices true to the Red and Gray.
Though years our path may sever and best of friends may part,
We'll ne'er forget fond memories treasured within our hearts.
Our thoughts will turn to Stevens and with our comrades be
Stevens, fair Alma Mater loyal and true to Thee.
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The Old Stone Mill The Old
Stone Mill
There's an Institute of engineering
That is known as the Old Stone Mill;
Every part of it is dear
To a Stevens Engineer
From the shop to the Castle on the hill;
And where her sons and daughters gather
And you bet your life they'll say:
"The Engineers the Engineers
Are in the lead again today."
Stevens, we're true to you
And to the old Red and Gray;
Stevens, we're going to raise
Your colors high today.
"I'm a rambling wreck from Stevens Tech.
A mechanical engineer"-
We can hear the old song still,
And
it means we're going to fight, fight, fight,
For the Old Stone Mill.
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