Brevard College - Pertelote Yearbook (Brevard, NC)

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Christian Ideals Promoted Brevard continues success of predecessors. Man cannot live in the future alonei he must drift back to his past happi- ness if his life be complete (Foreward by Editor 1936 Pcrlelotc). If this history section is to be complete, one must turn back the pages of time and study the thoughts of the panarama of stu- dents who have passed through the gates of Brevard College. The ' JCs were a time when young men and women did not have private conversations on campus unless they were in a group or with proper chap- erons. But that doesn ' t mean students didn ' t meet and fall in love. John W. Miller (Class of ' 38) recalls his most memorable experience with a young woman. The opening day of my senior year when, as a member of the wel- coming committee. I met the train from Asheville and among the fresh- men greeted was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Ruth Helen Wag- goner, from Walkertown, North Caroli- na. She also had the heaviest trunk, or at least it seemed to be, as I helped lug ' it to the 2nd floor of West Hall. Ruth and I were married in December 1939 — the best thing that ever hap- pened to me as a result of attending Brevard College. As during any time period, dating was a major topic. Dat- ing had many restrictions and the song of the time was A Fine Romance With No Kisses (Evelyn Cross Hankins, Class of ' 38). The financial situation of the ' 30 ' s couldn ' t have been the best. It was the time of the Depression. John Miller re- calls: There was not a single student who owned an automobile on campus even tho the student body was com- prised of about 350 students. My mem- ory is vague regarding costs of room, board and tuition but I would guess the total annual cost was about $350. I know I had only $75 when I arrived there in fall of 1936. The college itself must have been hard pressed finan- cially but we students weren ' t too aware of those problems, the bulk of the student body was so engaged (in work study) in one way or another. To help meet my college expenses I worked in the cafeteria as a waiter, ran a drycleaning route thru Taylor Hall, pressman in the print shop (The Clarion) at I5it per hour and finally as a soda clerk in Long ' s Drug Store up- town. During her early years Brevard be- came well known in Western North Carolina for her farm. Many students worked their way through school do- ing chores on the farm. The farm grew mostly corn which fed the livestock. The dairy had one bull, seventeen milk cows, four heifers and five calves. Some students, like Evelyn Hankins. worked in the kitchen. My first year at the college everyone had to work for 6 months. This was duty in the kitchen such as peeling potatoes, stringing beans, washing greens, set- ting tables, cleaning up after meals, washing dishes etc. I did not mind the work as everyone was involved and with this plan of self-help many could attend college who otherwise would have been denied a college educa- tion. Many clubs were formed in the early ' 30 ' s because most students had very little money. Students found ways to enjoy themselves on campus through clubs such as: Mnemosyneans (literary society), commercial club, travel club, Delphian Society (literary society), Photonature club, boosters club and Pertelote. VISIONS OF THE PAST As wc have seen science classes have long been part o( Brevard ' s curriculum. Here a more receni group of siudenls prepares for class. This student appears to be out of place m the pond that used to be on campus.

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Rain IS a familiar sight (or Brevard students. An overview of Brevard before many of todays buildings were completed. constructed. An infirmary was built in memory of a former student. Mary Frances Stamey. The James Addison Jones Library was built and named for tfie man who donated the money for the library. Originally the library was housed in what is today the Coltrane Fine Arts building. In 1948 the college became fully accredited by the South- ern Association of Colleges and Secon- dary Schools and the University Sen- ate of the Methodist Church. During the Coltrane administration, there were four deans. All four men helped shape Brevard College. Mr. Trowbridge was the first dean. Dr. Coltrane brought him from Weaver College. Mr. Trowbridge was loved by faculty and students alike. He left in 1935 and was replaced by Mr. Caney E. Buckner. Dean Buckner left to pursue his undergraduate studies at Chapel Hill in 1943. While he was away, a pro- fessor of psychology. Dr. Burt Loomis. was acting dean. After two years Mr. Buckner decided to stay in school, so a permanent dean was found. Mr. Joel J. Stevenson. Mr. Stevenson had numer- ous responsibilities: he had adminis- trative duties and managed the book store. One co-worker said of him, He is mild mannered and kind but staunch in the defense of his principles-, he is hard working but accesible in the time of need. All of these men helped Dr. Coltrane uphold the high standards Brevard College had created for her- self. In 1950 Dr. Coltrane decided it was time to retire. Reverend Mr. George Brinkman Ehlhardt became president. This was an unforgettable administra- tion. Mr. Ehlhardt decided that the campus should be cleared of trees and the buildings should be painted. This part of Brevard College history was full of social events. Soon the bills could not be paid; enrollment dropped-, a ter- rible fire occurred in the Administra- tion building that created great repair bills, and at the beginning of his sec- ond year the president was in the hos- pital. The Reverend Mr. Robert A. Sta- mey was chosen as the third presi- dent. President Stamey arrived at a time when the school was in a state of dis- pair. The temporary barracks that had been built earlier were beyond repair-, the dormitory situation was deplor- able. Mr. Harry Dunham left half of his estate to the college. This enabled the college to resume building immediate- ly. The Methodist Church also support- ed the school by allocating funds to the school for building. During the Sta- mey administration Brevard College celebrated her 100th anniversary and a centennial arch was built to com- memorate the event. President Sta- mey resigned his position in 1957. Dr. Emmett McLarty was chosen as the next president of Brevard. He took office on May 3. 1957. He began a ten year building plan which would see Bryan Moore Science Building. Bo- shamer Gymnasium. Beam Administra- tion Building. Beam Dormitory. James Addison Jones Library and the A.G. Myers Dining Hall built. Dr. McLarty also believed in the individual. He said once. I cannot speak for all colleges, but I can speak for one: we at Brevard believe in the primacy of the individ- ual. President McLarty died in office in May of 1968. The garden in front of the cafeteria was planted in his mem- ory. The college moved into the late ' 60 5 with a new president-the Reverend Mr. Robert Aldine Davis. He took of- fice on June I. 1969. President Davis finished Dr. McLarty ' s building pro- ject, reduced the debts greatly and constructed more buildings. But in March of 1976. he left for a new posi- tion in Florida. Our current president took office on August 15. 1976. The enthusiasm of Dr. Jacob C. Martinson. Jr. is greatly felt throughout the college. In his 1983 con- vocation speech. President Martinson said. Brevard College is Unique. If it were not so, we would have no reason for existing. Brevard — an institution where char- acter is formed, dreams are dreamed, visions are seen, a place where a sound educational foundation is laid, on which youth can build a temple (Bre- vard College history by Marjorie Craig). Many people have dreamed dreams and seen visions at Brevard; may these next fifty years allow dreams to be followed and more vi- sions to be fulfilled.

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CTF A football team was even in exis- tence in the ' JCs. McLarty-Goodson stands on the 50 yardline. In 1934 the outlook for the team was fair. There were around 40 players on the team with an average weight of only 150 pounds. Brevard played such teams as Lees McRae. Applachlan (freshman). Furman (freshman). WIngate and Mars Hill. In 1938. the first Oriental student ar- rived from Seoul. Korea; his name was Soon Yi Kim. The ' 40 5 brought a time of strict rules following the tradition of church- related colleges. After 6 p.m. no girl was permitted to leave campus with- out the permission of the Dean of Women: no woman could ride in a car unless she had permission from home specifying the escort, time and desti- nation! and for a young man and wom- an to walk across campus, there had to be a minimum of two couples. Manda- tory chapel attendence was enforced. Once a day students had to attend chapel. But even with all the rules, the students had not lost their sense of humor. A sign hung on the dormitory that stated CLOSED FOR BREEDING. In 1941 the attack on Pearl Harbor came. Gilreath G. Adams, Jr. (Class of 1943) remembers that day. I suppose one of them (my most memorable ex- perience) was during lunch hour on Monday. December 8. 1941. ' Pearl Har- Dances have always been a favorite student activity. bor Day ' of course was on Sunday the 7th when the Japanese attacked our base there. We ate ' family style ' , all in one dining room in the basement of old ' West Hair, about where Dunham building is now. We filed into our as- signed places. Someone had brought a small radio and it was tuned to Wash- ington where President Franklin D. Roosevelt was addressing Congress and asking them to declare war on the Japanese and the Germans. We ate in almost complete silence as we listened to that fateful broadcast. In fact most of us were not very hungry and we soon left rather quietly and went on to other duties, hardly realizing how that action would affect all our lives. Many students found work-study very beneficial. The college had a 130 acre farm and much of the work was done by students. Vegetables, fruits, eggs, chickens, pork, beef. milk, but- ter, and flour were yielded on the farm. All of these products were used by the college kitchen and the excess was sold to the townspeople. The pro- fite helped with the expenses of the college. Other work-study jobs included working in the college bookstore like Mr. Adams did. I worked in the col- Clothing and styles have changed every decade since Brevard ' s beginning, but pretty girls still enioy being photographed.