Hinds Community College - Eagle Yearbook (Raymond, MS)

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., rw » g«™iur; v v»f ? ' f vr TT i,, ty WXn • ), tv ' f] ll-«e f»ll » » l » il»» .»u - - iWi ijff It. Mil 1IU ■ .. %4L3 R. E. L. Southerland 1918-1930 Dormitory A — the first dormitory for women. G. J. Cain 1930-1938 Dormitory B — the first dormitory for men. It was decided in the first year to introduce mili- tary training, and to require all boys to take the train- ing. A competent instructor was engaged, and all boys were furnished military khaki uniforms. The Raymond Drug Company was the authorized agent of the school for the sale of textbooks. Books used were those adopted by a state commission for use in all agri- cultural schools of the state. The retail dealer was re- quired by law not to sell the books at more than 15 per cent above the wholesale price. Since the school was co-educational, certain restrictions were imposed between the boys and girls. It was not deem- ed wise, however, to separate them entirely. They took their meals together and recited together in the same class rooms. At frequent intervals, on Saturday evenings or Sun- day afternoons, the boys came to the girls ' dormitory for an hour or two together. Aside from this, communication between the boys and girls was limited to the demands of common courtesy. Superintendent Taylor resigned in the spring of 1918 because of illness in his family. R. E. L. Southerland was made acting superintendent for the remainder of that ses- sion and was then elected superintendent. The entire Hinds campus in 1917-1918.

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Superintendent ' s home, 1917 In The Beginning 1917-1918 Founded as a County Agricultural High School in 1917 with the expressed purpose of providing educational op- portunities at low cost to students willing to work, the school was built on the old home site of J. R. Eggleston, captain of the Merrimac of Merrimac and Monitor fame. W. N. Taylor was elected as the first superintendent. The campus that first year consisted of the Administration Building, two dormitories, then later a power plant, one barn and 74 acres of land — all valued at $86,663.69. The original board consisted of H. V. Watkins, Jack- son, president during his tenure of office from 1918 until his death in 1944; C. S. Spann, Raymond (1918-1923); F. M. Coleman, Jackson, secretary by virture of his position as county superintendent of education (1918-1936) ; D. C. Simmons, Utica (1918-1936); and D. W. Graham, Bolton (1918-1936). The school had an enrollment of 118 students, taught by a staff of eight faculty members, and was admitted to membership in the Southern Association of Secondary Schools during the first year of its existence. First campus building — Administration Building — built at a cost of $21,434.54. This building later became known as the old science building.

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3 siss 5 . ' » Original college barn in stage of construction. fear? ■ ■ ■ - j§ $$ The Hinds Junior College kitchen and chief cook. At the time, the necessary mules for farming. College powerhouse, one of original buildings. Work On The Farm Was Required In the beginning, all boys were required to take a course in agriculture, covering four years, and a course in manual training, covering two years. The girls took a re- quired course in home economics, covering four years. Theoretical instruction along these lines was supplemented by abundant practical work in the kitchen, dining room and on the farm. A most important function of the school was to stimu- late the agricultural activities on the farms of the county, and a thorough extension department was provided. The institution acted as a clearing house of useful in- formation to the farmers of the county. To this end, a mailing list of the farmers was kept in order that all useful advance information along agricultural lines could be properly disseminated. The school served as the Poor Man ' s College. Before the advent of the agricultural high school, it was impossible for farm boys and girls to obtain education because of prices, but Hinds gave them a chance to work their way through an education. No student was turned away if she or he were willing to work. «i S2 7? , Tf 7-