Eastern Michigan University - Aurora Yearbook (Ypsilanti, MI)

Page 8 text:

Lnnzfzitic altar: When bicycling was the popular sport and means ol travel, and long skirts dominated the Fashion sheets, the First Aurora was planned under the able editorshipot j.S.l.athers. That was in i892- a year memorable not only because a line of Fifty Aurorcxs was born, but also because genuine athletics appeared lor the First time on the Michigan State Normal School campus. The nextyear the gymnasium was ded- 'a .FSU ff' icated, thus ending Forever the cautious lndian-club gymnastics of the class room. The gym provided For the care ol the bodyf ' the library-a hodgepodge of chairs and tables housed in Pierce l'lall- nourished the mind. The attic which shelved a large number ol the boolcs laclced even candle light. Couples spent many intriguing evenings in a futile f'N,xj? N Search for Hassigned readings . Eighteen ninety-tive saw Starlcvveather X ' 'V I . .. ' Us lips- l-lall dedicated to the social and religious life of the students. And the fact if. 'UUUFUL ' M .gf-'T'i' ' thatthe patriotic spirit has alway Q . E . . A l i fsi - '.-'J -.- been onthe campus was evidenced by the motto of the , ,u g . , i ' . 1 it GY? -i f VJ' 's' class of 96, ulmpossible is un-American . ln ' 'I897 Welch l-lall was dedicated and the name ol Michigan State Normal School was changed to Michigan State Normal College. No longer was the cur ' 6 riculum limited to English and the classics-

Page 7 text:

During the nine years that john M. Munson has served as pres- ident oi Michigan State Normal College, he has endeavored to expand the campus into a modern educational institution. l'le has worlced steadily through the authorities and benelactors oi education to secure the allot- ments to carry on progressive building program. l-lope For the future came in 1937 when the Briggs Field House and athletic stadium was erected. Finally in 1938, his program began to materialize as construction started on the julia Anne King and the Bertha Goodison Residence l-lalls For Women, the l-lealth Residence, and the l-lorace Raclcham School ol Special Education. These buildings were ready For student use in the tall oFi939. l-lovvever, the presidents egorts did not cease with the completion ol these, and vvorl4 was begun on a new shop and a men's dormitory during the spring of 1940. By tall of the same year, the john M. Munson Residence l-lall For Men and the john W. Stevens Shop became a Worlcing part ol the campus. The presidentis building program still is continuing as construction vvorlc on the l-lover Laboratory of Science progresses. Briggs Field House Horace Rackham School of Special Education Health Residence julia Anne King Residence Hall john M. Munson Residence Hall ii . ii Y. sg... , iii.. 5 . . . 2 if L! 4.. mf. fist. Wig 'fqfr g-'. , Dj 5 i a n i i :N 5 einer' A 'W - : A . '-.Y AZ' 1 'Vi fx' ss A . 4 V, ., .. is . R' 5 5555- h.. ffiE : V I-, 5' '12 , Q9 W ii iii' 'Wat' 'QT ' 5 ' ' -' ' Rf'-iifii.. Eif- ' 'Pii?'j.f1fi?iQli ' f f'

Page 9 text:

FIFTY YEARS S,.w 'iQx QMNZ! students began to spend four years on campus in an etlort to earn their AB. or BS. degrees. By this time the Aurora chronicled the events of the literary societies - Adelphic, Athenaeum, fef fi v' Crescent, and Qlympic - into which existing organiza- ,gz9,0.Q'v uEE'4,iit tions had been combined. ills . l - -01 4 'tlftygsfszssfsfd f . . . . . . . 'M 'AW V . - . - The Friday night meetings ofthesocietieslnthe north wing s ??3 ol pierce still linger in the ...i, ig' memory ol many. 1 ,X T y at - Then Npemember the Nlainen- and at Normal l-lill 'l5OO StUd9I'1tS cheered Gnd Fired a small cannon as the boys lelt For camp. -lime went on and the ,CQ Aurora announced that one could attend fVl.S.lNl.C. For the small registration lee of 559.00 per year. Rooms could be had for less than STOO per week, and 51.75 paid one's board lor seven days. The next year the Senior class chose Ha tower o' wisdom and silencenhlohn M. Munson, to lead I f them. And soon the Science i lu building and its thirteen chimneys appeared. Years came and Went. Enrollment had increased to the extent that there was rumor that the psych- ology classes would be held in the presidentls barn. C. P. Steimle had his picture talcen- surrounded by his girls' basketball team. Une day in 1907 an automobile spasmodically climbed Normal Hill. Classes were linterrupted 'E-M - . 'ribs For thirty minutes while students Watched its progress. ln those days minstrel shows were the entertainment, and lVl.S.N.C's Senior class produced several with end men and all of the trimmings. Daily the interurban and the Ann- Arbor 7