LARGE CROWD WITNESSED CEREMONIES LAST THURSDAY
The long wanted ornamental gateway is at last to become a
realization.
Thursday noon there gathered at the gateway, an enthusiastic
crowd of faculty and students and at the appointed hour, Pres. Worst picked
up a shovel and turned the first sod in preparation of the construction of the
new gateway. The President remarked that after twenty-one years of waiting,
a permanent gateway was to be erected due to the initiative and efforts of the
class of 1912 and Mark Heller in particular. President Worst’s labors
were followed by strenuous efforts on the part of the several deans and member
of the faculty and judging from the velocity at which the sod flew, we think
that it is entirely possible that they had wielded the shovel many times before.
Miss Haggart and Mrs. Sheppaerd proved themselves to be experts of rare ability
in that line and their labors were only exceeded those of Prexy. After
the members of the faculty had warmed the implements of excavations, the students
pitched in and quite an impression was made. Mr. Hannan required all passersby
to take a hand at the digging, so in future years, many will be able to claim
the distinction and honor of commencing our first gateway. During the
ceremonies the old familiar college yells were given with a vim which sounded
fine for the developing of good rooting this fall.
This gateway is to extend from
the hedge on the south boundary of the campus to the north side of the walk
making a total of 80 feet. There will be four large pillars on either
side of the drive and one on either side of the walk. These four pillars
will be connected by a panel work and an ornamental seat, backed by grill work
will be placed between the two central pillars. The structure will be
set deep into concrete and will be built of brick, sandstone and granite.
There will be an ornamental urn at the top of each pillar, about which large
electric lights will be placed on the campus and street sides. The iron
grill work will be artistic.
The gateway will be paid for
now by the board of trustees and then contributions can be made by classes or
other organizations of the college and as each contribution is made, the contributors
will have their names engraved on the brass plates placed on the gateway.
The first contribution was made by the class of 1912. The structure is
to cost about $2500, so various organizations will have plenty of opportunity
to make donations. It is probably that gateways will be constructed at
other entrances when this one is paid for.
The class of 1912 and Mark Heller,
its hustling member, are to be congratulated upon this effort to perpetuate
their memory on the campus.
Haxby and Gillespie the leading architects of the city have kindly lent their services to the Board by presenting them the plans of this gateway. The firm spent much time and labor on the project in order that the structure would be worthy of an institution of this sort, and feel the Board, faculty and students feel very grateful for the architect’s donation.
* This article is taken from the September 24, 1912 issue of The Spectrum.