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TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAP. 1 FOUNDING OF HUNTINGTON (THEN CENTRAL) COLLEGE CHAP. 2 RELATIONSHIP TO HARTSVILLE COLLEGE CHAP. 3 HUNTINGTON (THEN CENTRAL) COLLEGE--1897-1917
CHAP. 4 HUNTINGTON COLLEGE--1917-1941 |
75 Years - Where Character and Culture Blend by J. Ralph Pfister |
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CHAPTER III
HUNTINGTON (THEN CENTRAL) COLLEGE--1897-1917
The seventy-five year history of Huntington College includes the twenty years when the institution was known as Central College. The burst of enthusiasm associated with the initial work of establishing the school was like a mountain top experience. The day by day activity of the college program was not so glamorous. Some of the enthusiasm waned as the years progressed. A strict economy was practiced in order to avoid indebtedness. Central College, the name chosen for the school, emphasized two aspects. Huntington was a central geographical location for the church. The college was to be under the central control of the General Board of Education, which also served as the Board of Trustees. It was not long before it was learned that the institution had to be identified not only by name but also by location because of other colleges in the United States by the same name. It was not too surprising that the General Conference of 1917 renamed the school Huntington College. Many who had attended and graduated before that time expressed disappointment that Central College was no more. However, the stone pillars at the entrance of the front campus which were erected by the class of 1916 still bear testimony that at one time this institution was known as Central College. The Administration Building was the center of all the activities of the college because this was the only building on the campus. Changes were made in the building as needs arose. The first water supply was a pump east of the building and the toilet facilities consisted of outdoor accommodations on the edge of the ravine. Heat was provided by gravity forced hand-fired furnaces, located in the basement. Lighting for the building was provided at various times by coal oil, natural gas, acetylene gas, gasoline and eventually electricity was utilized around 1905. Installation for steam heat incurred a debt of $1,500.00 in 1903-04. It was absolutely essential for the health of the students to make this change. The old system proved inadequate and bitter complaints arose from the student body and from parents of students.
A better water and sewage system was provided
before the 1909 General Conference session which met in the college building.
Water was forced to a large tank located on the second floor. A portion of
the basement was used for toilet facilities. Cement floors were constructed
to provide for these modern conveniences.
The business office including that of the
president was located in the tower room on the first floor where the
president's office is now located. The rooms on the west end of the first
floor, where the business offices are now situated, were originally one large
hall which served as a chapel. The platform was located on the west wall at
the first, but it was moved to the south side with the seats running the
width of the room. Chapel services were held in this room. Davis Hall on the
third floor was only used for special occasions, such as commencement and
dramatic productions. College Park Church of the United Brethren in Christ
which was organized September 25, 1897 used these college facilities because
they did not have any church edifice of their own. Eventually other changes
in the college program forced the chapel services to be held in Davis Hall.
Lewis Davis
In memory of Dr. Lewis Davis, the father of
higher education in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, the
auditorium was named Davis Hall. Dr. Davis was a native of Virginia and was
enlisted for the church through a missionary project of the Scioto annual
conference in Virginia. He was converted, licensed to preach and eventually
joined the Scioto Conference in 1839. He was a circuit preacher for three
years and then stationed at Circleville, Ohio. After a year he was a
solicitor for the United Brethren Publishing House; then he served as
presiding elder of the Scioto Conference. In 1847 he became associated with
Otterbein University. For the first three years he was the financial agent.
In 1850 he was elected president and served until 1871 with the exception of
three years (1857-1860). He became senior professor and virtually president
of Union Biblical Seminary of Dayton, Ohio in 1871 and taught until 1885. He
was bishop from 1853 to 1860. His sympathy was with the conservative group at
the time of the division. Naming this hall in his honor was a very fitting
memorial to this active worker for the cause of Christian education.
Experiment Station Building and Part of the
Plats
Animal Husbandry
Livingston Hall 1916
The second building on the campus was the
Agricultural Experiment Station. Interest in agriculture was generated by Dr.
F. A. Loew, professor of science and agriculture. In addition to this cement
block building erected in 1914, a portion of the campus was used for
experiments in planting and another area for animal husbandry.
The home that had been built by Dr. C. H.
Kiracofe was purchased by Dr. S. L. Livingston in 1905 and at the conclusion
of his service as professor of theology in 1916 he donated this structure to
the college. It was the first unit of the present Livingston Hall, named in
honor of the donor. Before that time students found living accommodations in
homes of residents in College Park.
The academic calendar for the first twelve
years of schools consisted of three terms. The first term was fourteen weeks
in length, and the other two terms were eleven weeks. From 1910 to 1915 the
year was divided into two semesters. The calendar reverted back to three
terms in 1915 and continued that way for twenty years.
The financial plan by which the Huntington Land
Association gave to the General Board of Education the college building and
campus virtually free of debt prompted the administration to keep the cost of
an education at the lowest possible minimum. Tuition, fees, board and room
for a year amounted to $135.00 on the average. Tuition was $12.00 for the
first semester, and $10.00 for the second and third semesters. If any one had
sufficient funds to pay the tuition in advance for the whole year the charge
was $30.00. Tuition income has never paid the cost of operating the college.
The supporting denomination was challenged to finance the institution so that
it could operate without incurring any indebtedness. A very modest assessment
of twenty-five cents per year from the church membership was to supplement
the tuition and miscellaneous gifts. However, the church was not accustomed
to contributing to a general educational fund. The first few years the actual
giving by the church averaged about five cents per member annually. The total
income of the college for the first year was only $2,617.22-tuition, $997.66;
church contributions, $1,320.32; miscellaneous gifts, $299.34. Teachers in
the music, business and oratory departments received their remuneration from
the fees paid by students in those departments.
When the academic calendar was changed to two
semesters in 1910, tuition was $16.00 per semester. The first raise in the
tuition was in 1914 when the fee was raised to $20.00 per semester. In 1915
when the calendar was changed again to three terms, the tuition was raised to
$15.00 per term.
A common method used to increase the income
among colleges was to sell scholarships. This was introduced in the early
1900's. The scholarships varied from $500.00 for a perpetual scholarship to
$125.00 for a single scholarship. The general conference of 1913 approved the
raising of an endowment fund of $50,000.00. Solicitation was to be made
primarily throughout the church. The goal was increased to $100,000.00 by the
1917 General Conference to provide for a dormitory and a heating plant.
The women of the college community soon formed
themselves into a Ladies Auxiliary, now known as the Huntington College
Auxiliary, to provide some help for the maintenance of the building and to
furnish some amenities that were missing. A small annual membership fee
provided the start for their projects. On occasions the spring housecleaning
of the administration building was undertaken by the auxiliary members. After
ten years the plastered walls were no longer attractive and the Ladies
Auxiliary undertook to provide for the decoration by having them painted and
wallpapered. Drapes were provided for some windows and new office furniture
and chairs were supplied for the offices. The generous contribution of this
organization across the years has been appreciated by the college
administration.
Students were hard pressed financially during
these early days even though the expenses were very nominal. A number were
able to find employment on the campus and in the city. Students were
frequently involved in the janitorial duties. The name of Jonathan Hacker is
listed as janitor in the 1903-04 catalog. When work was available students
could secure permission to work for a week and then return to class work. The
needs of some students can be illustrated by the experience of one young man
from an Illinois farm. He reported that he only had one pair of shoes, and
when he attempted to play baseball, he armed his feet with two pairs of socks
to save his shoes. The other members of the team attributed their loss to his
"shoes."
The college curriculum for the first year
listed three courses with appropriate degrees: Classical course leading to a
Bachelor of Arts degree; Scientific course with a Bachelor of Science degree;
and Philosophical course with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree. A three year
Bible course was offered under the title of Preachers' Normal planned
particularly for ministerial candidates. There was also a music and a
preparatory department. Other departments that were added were business,
oratory, and teachers' normal. The music department was changed to the
Conservatory of Music. The ministerial course was strengthened so that those
who entered with the A.B. degree or equivalent would receive the Bachelor of
Divinity upon graduation. Agriculture and domestic science were added toward
the close of this twenty year period.
A graduate department which conferred master's
degrees to those who had received the corresponding bachelor degree was
instituted in the first years of the college. Later it was discontinued. At
least one of the two years of the course of study had to be in residence. In
addition to the prescribed course of study, a thesis read before and approved
by the faculty was required. Among the first to receive a master's degree was
Matajiro Omeda, a Japanese, who became an outstanding poet, author, soldier
and lawyer for his country. The title of his thesis was, "Confucianism and
Christianity."
The preparatory department provided instruction
for those who had no high school or needed some preparatory work to enter
college. This department was stabilized and became known as the academy.
Accreditation was received in 1908 so that graduates were recognized as
having completed a course equivalent to a standard high school.
By 1917 the Normal, Domestic Science and
Agricultural Departments had been accredited by the state. The elective
system was gradually introduced and was in full operation by the close of
this period.
The library has made a specific contribution to
the instructional program of the college. The description of the library in
the first catalog stated that it was a "small but first class reference
library." At that time it was located in a room on the second floor. The
Huntington Public Library has always been available to college students. In
the summer of 1906 the library of about 1,000 volumes was moved to the south
room on the first floor. In 1917 it was relocated at the west end of the
first floor, where the chapel had been and now where the business offices are
located. At that time there were about 4,000 books.
The first librarians were from the teaching
faculty. Miss Mary Lena Barnes, a former librarian and faculty member of
Hartsville College, served from 1897 to 1902. Other librarians were: Jesse F.
Mack, 1902-1903; C.E. Dull, 1903-1905; C.A. Phillips, 1905-1906; F.A. Loew,
1906-1913; and C.B. Young, 1913-1918.
Ten men from the farm or rural area have served
as presidents of Huntington (Central) College. Log cabins and pioneer life
was experienced by some of these men. They hailed from six different states
and the province of Ontario. Half of these were laymen while the other five
were clergymen. With the exception of Dr. Elmer Becker who served twenty-four
years, the others served terms varying from one to seven years. Four were
graduates of the institution before they were elected to the presidency.
Three others were granted the master's degree when the college offered
graduate work in the early years. Half of these leaders were awarded honorary
degrees by the institution. Three of the presidents have earned doctor's
degrees.
Dr. C. H. Kiracofe
Dr. Charles Hiram Kiracofe, the first president
of then Central College from 1897 to 1902, was born in a log cabin in Augusta
County, Virginia. He was reared on a mountain farm. With 20 months of
schooling he escaped from below the Mason-Dixon line because he was not in
sympathy with the South. He came as a refugee to Ohio at the age of 21. He
graduated from Otterbein University in 1871 at the head of a class of ten. He
was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree by Hartsville College in 1889. He
was an ordained minister of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, but
devoted most of his life to specialized work in the field of missions,
publications, and education.
Mrs. Kiracofe had graduated from Otterbein
University a year ahead of her husband and taught school at Warsaw, Indiana
before they were married. The first year after their marriage they both
taught school at Edgerton, Ohio for a year, and then he preached at Waterloo,
Indiana one year. He taught Latin and Greek at Westfield College, Westfield,
Illinois from 1873 to 1879. He accepted the presidency of Hartsville College,
Hartsville, Indiana at the age of 34 where he served from 1879 to 1889. The
Hartsville College historian, O. W. Pentzer, said, "He was a man of unbounded
energy, giving quick, yet accurate decisions, a man of great earnestness, but
cheerful withal." Describing Dr. Kiracofe as being full of the fires of youth
and himself a youth of vigor, smiling, would say, "You see, you see, do you
not? Then this follows, does it not? It cannot be otherwise. Now then, what
will you do? Go straight forward! Ever on!" Dr. Kiracofe was active in
temperance work and was candidate for Governor on the Prohibition ticket of
Indiana in 1888. There were two sons, Horace and Alvin.
In 1889 Dr. Kiracofe was elected as missionary
secretary by the Twentieth General Conference, and served for a quadrennium,
maintaining his office at Dayton, Ohio. He served as editor of The Christian
Conservator, the official publication of the United Brethren Church, for four
years. It was during these eight years that he spearheaded the drive for a
college under the control of the General Board of Education. He was a member
of that board and also president of the group.
He was considered to be the logical person to
head Central College and was elected president in 1897 and served until 1902.
Along with his duties as administrator, he was also professor of philosophy,
Latin and Greek. As the result of a resignation he became editor of the
church paper again in 1902 and served for three years. Following this service
he was advised to transfer to another denomination because his church did not
have any adequate plan to aid retired ministers. He affiliated with the
Presbyterian church and served pastorates until his retirement.
J. H. McMurray
James Henry McMurray, a member of the faculty
when Central College opened her doors, was elected the second president. He
also was born in a log cabin built on the summit of one of the highest hills
in Tuscarawas County of Ohio. Before 19 he had not traveled more than five
miles from home. The district school and Oberlin Academy provided educational
experience before he graduated from the classical course at Oberlin College
in 1897. He was instructor in the Oberlin Gymnasium from 1894 to 1897. He
resigned a position of superintendent of schools in North Clarendon,
Pennsylvania, to accept a position as professor of science and French at
Central College in 1897. He studied geology at the University of Chicago in
the summer of 1897 and on a leave of absence in 1900-1901 he completed a
Master of Arts at Harvard with distinction in one year, specializing in
botany, geology and zoology. During the summer of 1901 he was one of six men
sent by Harvard University to carry on an investigation for the U.S. Fish
Commission at Wood's Hall, Massachusetts. While teaching he introduced
physical education and athletics to the college curriculum. He was president
for three years, 1902-1905, and also served as General Secretary of Education
for the United Brethren Church. He was very popular with the students and the
faculty and had the respect of the business men of Huntington. The Normal
Department for the training of teachers was emphasized.
After resigning at Central he went to Lincoln
College in Nebraska. He was the speaker for the 1937 commencement and
received the honorary doctor of laws degree.
Thomas H. Gragg
Thomas Herman Gragg, the son of a pioneer
family who traveled to Oregon by ox carts, became the third president. He was
born in Benton County, Oregon and received his early training there. Because
of the lack of finances he was compelled to alternate studies with teaching.
He attended Philomath College, Philomath, Oregon and graduated from the
commercial department in 1884 and the scientific course in 1889. Further
training in mathematics was taken at the University of Chicago. He was
professor of mathematics and commercial subjects at the College of Philomath
from 1889 to 1897. He joined the faculty of Central College as professor of
mathematics in the fall of 1897. He attracted many students to the college
because of his excellence as a mathematician. He participated in varsity
football at center. His well groomed beard was covered with a sugar sack
during practice and playing. Upon the resignation of President McMurray, Mr.
Gragg was elected acting president for one year and thereafter was appointed
president, serving from 1905 to 1911. He was acting dean during the one year
interim presidency of his western colleague, Bishop Hoskins.
Rev. F. L. Hoskins
The father of Fermin Lincoln Hoskins was a
pioneer to the West, crossing the plains to settle at Scio, Linn County,
Oregon. He received his training at a private secondary school, Washington
Seminary, Huntsville, Oregon and Philomath College. While in school he became
especially noted as a mathematician, and was also proficient in Latin, Greek
and several modern languages. He was also a great debater and was known as
one of the best parliamentarians of his time. He received the Doctor of
Divinity degree from Central College in 1905 and completed course work for
the Master of Arts which he received in 1910. He taught in the elementary
schools of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho for 13 years. He was principal of
Eastern Oregon State Normal School, Weston, Oregon, president of Washington
Seminary and Edwards College, Albion, Washington, one year each. In 1911 he
was elected president of Central College and served one year. It was reported
that his personal library was as large as the college library. His service as
bishop of the United Brethren Church extended from 1905 to 1933.
Dr. C. A. Mummart
Dr. C.A. Mummart, the fifth president of
Central College from 1912-1915 was also president of Huntington College
1925-1932. He was born in a farm home near Welsh Run, Franklin County,
Pennsylvania. Poverty in the home forced him to be hired out to work on a
farm at the age of nine. He worked from April to October or November and
spent the winter months in school. Education was not considered essential by
his family, so by the time he was seventeen his education consisted of
reading, writing, arithmetic, and spelling with a little grammar and history.
He decided to teach school by the time he was twenty and actually received
his first contract on his twentieth birthday. He attend normal school in
Pennsylvania to prepare for teaching. Later he attended Central College where
he completed more courses and received more degrees than any other one
person. He received the A.B., B.D. and A.M. degrees and also the honorary
Doctor of Divinity. He attended the University of Michigan one year and
completed the Master of Sacred Theology at Northwestern University. He was a
member of the faculty for a total of sixteen years. He also served as editor
of The Christian Conservator for three years and was bishop of the church for
two different quadrenniums. There were three children who graduated from
Huntington College.
Dr. C. W. H. Bangs
Dr. Clare W.H. Bangs was born in Richfield
Township, DeKalb County, Indiana where his father farmed the Bangs Homestead.
He attended elementary and high school near his home. He was graduated from
Tri-State University and attended Indiana University. He was principal of two
Indiana schools, Flint and Hudson, and taught all the subjects for a three
year high school program. In 1912 he was invited to the faculty of Central
College by Dr. C.A. Mummart, president. Along with mathematics he was to
teach a course in surveying which skill he had acquired at Tri-State during
the summer. After three years of teaching he was elevated to the presidency
and served four years.
His father had felt keenly the lack of
educational facilities in his youth, so he encouraged and made possible the
obtaining of a higher education for his children. An interest in law was
implanted in Dr. Bangs early in life. His father was an actuary of an
insurance company and he often took his son with him to the city and "parked"
him in the county court house where cases were being tried while he conducted
his business. This desire to devote himself to law was encouraged by his
wife, the former Miss Nellie Binning, a teacher of English and oratory on the
Central College staff. He resigned the presidency in 1919 to enter Columbia
University where he secured a law degree. On an honor scholarship a doctor of
jurisprudence was earned at the Sorborne in Paris. He has practiced law in
Huntington since returning from France, and was honored by the city of
Huntington which elected him to the office of mayor. Huntington College
granted him an honorary Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1966. There are two
children, Charles and Sarah. He is the only living former president of the
institution at this time.
The name of the institution was changed from
Central to Huntington College during his administration.
The faculty for the first year numbered seven.
Four of this number were involved in the collegiate offerings, one devoted
his time to the preparatory department and the other two were teachers in the
music department. During the twenty years of the history of Central College
the number on the staff averaged ten with a total of 54 different individuals
who made a contribution to the school. Some of them did not remain more than
a year or two, but others gave a number of years of service. Among those who
served five years or more were: Dr. C. H. Kiracofe, Prof. J. H. McMurray,
Prof. T. H. Gragg, Miss Mary Lena Barnes, Prof. John B. Metz, Dr. S. L.
Livingston, Dr. F. A. Loew, Mrs. Nellie Binning Bangs, Dr. C. A. Mummart,
Prof. C. R. Wood and Dr. C. W. H. Bangs.
Dr. F. A. Loew
Among the many who have devoted many years of
service as a member of the faculty, the contribution of Dr. Fred A. Loew, who
was associated with the institution over a period of 46 years, is
outstanding. He began his college training at Hartsville College in 1895. He
was forced to drop out of school because of finances, and taught school and
married Miss Cora Sebright. In 1899 the Loew family were residents of College
Park and Dr. Loew was a student. After graduating from Central College, he
earned other degrees from Michigan State University and the University of
Michigan. He took up his teaching duties at Central College in 1905 and
taught until a few months before his death with the exception of a few years
of service as the first Huntington County Agricultural Agent during the days
of World War I and a term as Clerk of the Huntington County Court. He was
librarian for seven years, in addition to his teaching. He introduced the
agricultural department and was interested in the construction of the
Agricultural Experiment Station. He was concerned in a number of projects for
student employment. He helped J. Clayton Smith, a student president of the
Huntington College Athletic Association, to launch the program which led to
the construction of the first building to be used as a college gymnasium.
He fathered the Huntington College Foundation
and was a close personal friend of Dr. Jacob L. Brenn, the industrialist who
was the first president of the Huntington College Foundation. Experience at
Michigan State University had given Dr. Loew the concept of a botanical
garden and arboretum. He was thrilled when he received the go-ahead sign from
Dr. H. C. Mason in 1935.
After years of leadership given to the
Huntington College Alumni Association, Dr. Loew fostered the idea of a new
library building as a worthy project of the Alumni Association. As president
of the Alumni Association he promoted this plan and the name given to the new
building (against his will) was the Loew Alumni Library.
His long tenure at Huntington College was his
own choice, because he had continuous offers at the Michigan universities
where he studied to join their staffs at a stipend three times that which he
was then receiving. His alma mater recognized his devotion to the school by
awarding the honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1942. He died November 7,
1950. His only daughter Elizabeth is a graduate of the academy and college.
The net enrollment of students for the first
year was 85. About half of this group were from Huntington and the
surrounding area. More than half of the student body was enrolled in music
courses. The student body averaged 100 during this 20 year period, varying
from 72 in 1909-1910 to 143 in 1915-1916.
There were no graduates the first year. The
1899 class had three graduates. There were over 200 graduated in the 20
years, varying from one in 1900 to 28 in 1917. There were 69 graduates from
the collegiate courses, with the bachelor of arts and the bachelor of science
graduates ranking highest. The contribution of the academy to the total
program can be seen in that there were 45 graduates. There were only three
bachelor of divinity degrees awarded in the twenty years, with eleven more
completing some other theological program. This shows a lack of emphasis upon
theological training for the ministry within the supporting denomination.
"As You Like It"
Student activities have included music,
dramatics, athletics, literary societies and spiritual emphases. The
expressions of these activities have varied across the years.
Male Glee Club
Instrumental and vocal music was included in
the student life from the beginning. The male glee club and the orchestra
included students and faculty in the 1900's. The 1902 orchestra revealed that
the college was co-educational and inter-racial from the beginning.
Orchestra
The
professor of music was a member of the male quartet. These music groups
presented concerts for churches and other organizations, both on and off the
campus.
Elocution was in vogue when the institution
began. Private lessons were given the same as music lessons. This emphasis
was so prominent that at one time a Bachelor of Oratory degree was offered.
The first dramatic production was Shakespeare's "As You Like It" in 1906
under the direction of Miss Nellie Binning (Mrs. C. W. H. Bangs).
Philomathean
Literary societies were a tradition of college
life in the latter part of the nineteenth century. When Hartsville College
closed there were three organizations. In October 1897 two societies were
organized at Central—Philomathean for men and Zetalethean for women.
Zetalethean
Students, faculty members and community residents were on the roll of
members. Meetings were held weekly at 3:00 p.m. on Friday in the first years.
Inter-society programs were presented during commencement week. Society rooms
for each organization were maintained by the societies. The west rooms of the
second floor were the location at first. Later they met in the rooms at the
west end on the third floor. An attempt to merge the two organizations into
one known as the Athenian Literary Society took place in 1902, but it did not
prove beneficial; so the next year the two groups were reactivated. Programs
usually consisted of music, orations, debates, and original literary
contributions. There was a large portion of the meetings devoted to
parliamentary procedure. One officer was a critic who evaluated the program,
calling attention to the good points as well as grammatical errors and
mispronounced words.
Lecture courses have been a part of the college
life from the beginning. At times these programs have made a vital
contribution to campus life. At other times they have disappeared from the
scene. The first recorded lecture program was for the 1902-1903 school year.
Numbers were: "Impersonation of David Copperfield" by Herbert Sprague;
concert by Central College Glee Club; "Abraham Lincoln" by Prof. S. D. Fess
from the University of Chicago; "An Egyptian Prince" by the Rev. T. M. Guild,
pastor of Huntington Methodist Church; and "Rimes Rough Hewn," original
poetry read by Paul Leston Corbin. The general content remained the same. The
program for 1914 was to include two musicals, two lectures and one
entertainment.
During the 1911 school year a natural history
society was organized known as the Central College Agassiz Association. The
purpose was to promote scientific education, to collect natural and
scientific specimens and to make general observations of scientific
phenomena. This club had a life span of a half dozen years.
A student ministerial association was organized
in 1906 whose purpose was to provide a fellowship for ministerial students
and give opportunity for expression of their Christian faith. Some type of
ministerial fellowship has had intermittent existence during the years.
Published literary productions have also been a
part of the college scene. An annual, known as the U. B. C. was first
published in 1900 and came out each year for seven years. The next
publication was a monthly magazine, Central Literary Data. The first
issue was October, 1910. When the college name was changed, this paper was
renamed The Huntingtonian.
For a few years around 1910 male students
engaged in military drill weekly. They took the name of Central College
Cadets. The commandant was W. H. Kindell who had experience in the Ohio
National Guard. The purpose was physical exercise, knowledge of marching
commands, and coordination with the group.
The first annual stated that the college colors
were apple green and scarlet, which are still recognized as the official
colors. A college yell was given:
U. B., U. B.! Who you B?
I B Central, U. B. C.
"Hurrah for Central," words and music by Prof.
W. H. Kindell, was the first approach to develop a song for an alma mater.
The debut date was December 21, 1910.
The entire student body and faculty had an
interesting experience on November 28, 1911 when Mayor Shank of Indianapolis
provided a free trip by interurban to the state capital. A fine luncheon and
sight-seeking were included in this "field" trip. This gesture on the part of
the mayor resulted because of an unintentional statement included in a chapel
address which he had presented previously.
The spiritual life of the college community has
been intertwined with that of the College Park Church of the United Brethren
in Christ. Services for the church were conducted in the administration
building because there was no separate church structure. The minister of the
church was frequently designated as the college chaplain. A student group,
known as the Young People's Christian Association, held weekly Sunday evening
meetings. Later this group became known as Christian Endeavor. Other groups
were organized as the needs arose, such as the Young Ladies Missionary Band.
Daily chapel services were instituted the first week of school in 1897. The
annual baccalaureate sermons and commencement addresses as well as other
special lecturers have helped to uphold the moral and spiritual values of
life.
A co-educational institution provides
opportunity for "boy to meet girl." Many young people have not only developed
their life philosophy and discovered their life work but also have found
their life mate during their college experience. This was not only true of
students but also faculty. It was while Dr. C. W. H. Bangs was president that
he was married to Miss Nellie Binning. Amusing anecdotes have filtered down
through the years of the times he visited Miss Binning at the Loew residence
where she was living.
Some of the students who entered the state of
matrimony because of their college experience during these two decades were:
Otto Bowman and Mary Morehouse, Chester A. Philipps and Mary McMurray, Ralph
W. Wood and Roxie Kerns, Clarence Bender and Alice Howe, Roy S. Kindell and
Mazo Ferguson, Charles Clay and Lessie Miller, George A. Shepherdson and Nina
Stemen, Perleh J. Harpham and Nellie Whitaker, Clarence E. Brinckerhoof and
Daisy Kretzinger, Wright Moats and Clella Hildebrand, Herbert Miller and
Orpha Miller, Vernon Kopp and Audrey Phillips, Ray C. Pellett and Ruth
Snyder, Waid W. Tuttle and Leotine Brower, Paul H. Galbraith and Ruth Cooper,
William Swales and Mary Hartman, Harold R. Auman and Dorothy Mosier, Stanley
Birdsall and Minnie E. Shields, and Earl F. Nauss and Minta Skinner.
Baseball Team 1901
An athletic program is a manifestation of the
abundant energy which is an inherent quality of young people. In the early
days of Central College the athletic program was engaged in the outdoors,
because there were no facilities for indoor sports. Basketball for women and
baseball and football for men were the sports that were a part of the campus
life. An athletic association was organized by Prof. J. H. McMurray, former
athletic manager and captain of the football team of Oberlin College. This
organization came into existence the fall term of 1899, the third year of the
history of Central College. The format for this association was based upon
the State Intercollegiate Constitution. This organization was responsible for
the total program including the finances as well as coaching. The officers
elected were: Charles E. Dull, president; Robert F. Clark, vice-president;
Otto B. Bowman, secretary; Daniel A. Powell, treasurer; Milton W. Barnaby,
manager of football team; Byron M. Bowman, manager of baseball team; and J.
Calvin Morehouse, field marshal. The first football team was coached by Prof.
McMurray and with the exception of two or three, none of the team members had
ever seen a football game. Baseball teams had a similar experience. The
"commons" was the athletic field, located in an area west of College Avenue
between Himes and Opal streets.
Football Team 1900
An interesting feature of the athletic activity
in these early days was the inclusion of faculty members on the team. Prof.
McMurray played center on the first varsity football team while Prof. T. H.
Gragg was involved in varsity football.
Girl's Basketball
Basketball was the organized sport for women.
At first this activity was considered too feminine for male participation,
but by 1909 provision was made for a "gymnasium" by partitioning the west end
of Davis Hall and basketball for men became one of the leading sports. This
gym was eventually condemned as being hazardous to the structure. Basketball
continued with outdoor practice, some floor practice at the Huntington Young
Men's Association gym and some games in the Huntington Coliseum. Prof. Ray C.
Pellett made a contribution by coaching and planning for suitable sites for
practice and games.
Basketball Team
The first venture to provide something
permanent as an athletic park was an attempt to raise funds to provide for a
gymnasium in 1904. A tract of ground north of the administration building was
designated as the location of this proposed park. Cash and pledges for this
proposed gymnasium were given in the amount of $1,200.00. This contemplated
athletic park was probably too far ahead of the times and it lost for want of
further support.
Tennis was introduced by the construction of
tennis courts east of the administration building where the parking lot is
now located. Students were involved in this program in the summer of 1915. |
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