Ellen C. Sabin, continued

There she battled vermin, dirt, lethargy, child labor, crime, disease, and saloon parents to keep her children in school.

At thirty-seven Sabin accepted the position of Superintendent of Public Schools in Portland. Catharine Beecher would have been pleased to see that she was recognized financially for her worth. Although her pay was lower than that of the male who preceded her, she was able to take a further cut in order to accept the call to return to Wisconsin and become the President of Downer College. Once her leadership skills at Downer were recognized in Milwaukee, the Trustees there began to work toward a merger of Downer College with Milwaukee College. This merger created Milwaukee-Downer College in 1895.

Until 1910 the College had been associated with a preparatory department, or high school. After the major building campaign in Sabin's presidency, Milwaukee-Downer Seminary separated from the College and moved into its own facilities across the street, Hartford Avenue.

Milwaukee-Downer College in 1901
Holton, Merrill, and Johnston Halls