North Carolina State University - Agromeck Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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a9aaa) THE AGROMECK EEEFECrfe At last, on Oct. I, 1889, the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts was formally opened for students. The College at that time consisted of only one brick building and a corps of five instructors, appointed by a Board of Trustees. Too much honor cannot be accorded this band of earnest men who as directors and as faculty went forward so quietly, but faithfully, with small capital and amid many dis- couragements, to build up a college whose scope of work and whose purposes were alike new to our people. To the call for students about fifty responded. A majority of these were farmers or sons of farmers. The college commenced growing from its very birth; not too rapidly, but slowly, surely increasing year by year. When found absolutely necessary, money for buildings and apparatus has been appropriated by the Legislature from time to time. The college met with opposition at first from some quarters, as it was thought to be antagonistic to the University and the other colleges of the state. But as it pursued its way. it became evident that it did not antagonize other colleges, but simply supplied what could not be obtained there. The men who were guiding it held it strictly to its proper sphere. It stood then, .it has always stood, for strictly technical education. This fact was at last clearly recognized, and all opposition to the institu- tion died a natural death. As time passed students were graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering. These young men were eagerly employed by different in- dustrial concerns in this and other states. The young graduates stood the test of commercial life and made their marks as men trained and worthy. The eyes of the people were opened. They saw that what had been ridiculed as an experiment had been tried and not found wanting. They saw the great need over the whole country for educated industrial workers. They saw the harvest reaped by men able to do the world ' s industrial work. They saw the great opportunity presented to their sons and eagerly took advantage of it. Since that time the College has been crowded and its capacity taxed to the uttermost. To meet this growth great expansion became nec- essary. The corps of five teachers in a few years became a faculty of eleven professors, assisted by nineteen subordinate instructors; where one building stood, thirteen now proudly lift their heads, among them some of the best in the state. The one first constructed—the main building, as it is called, being about the center of the group— Is still used for class rooms, laboratories, and the upper floors for dormitories. Primrose Hall (named in honor of Mr. W. S. Primrose, one of the founders of the institution, whose wise counsels and fidelity have contributed so greatly to its success) is a two-story building with modern appliances, containing the Horticultural depart- ment. This building with its greenhouses adds much to the beauty of a very attrac- tive campus. The Mechanical and Electrical buildings arc plain and substantial, containing laboratories, shops, drawing and recitation rooms. The dairy and barn are frame buildin gs, admirably adapted to their purpose. The Textile building, just completed, is a modern, up•to•date cotton mill, containing all modern machinery. t9 •

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THE AGROMECK Can TEXTILE BUILDING ' park that he had given to the city of Raleigh. This generous giR fixed the establish- ment of the college in Raleigh. 1$

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H E AGROMECK ' km: see The infirmary is a two-story building, equipped with all the best appliances, and under control of an efficient matron and nurse. The boiler-house is immediately back of the main building, and contains the boilers, fire pump and the machinery connected with the steam heating plant. There are also four very good, but small, dormitories to the left of the main building as you face it. At present two buildings, which will add much to the College, in appearance and usefulness, are nearing completion. The new Watauga, which is a very handsome, well-equipped dormitory, rises from the ashes of the old which was burned on Nov. 30. 1901. The fire originated in the culinary department, which then occupied the VIEW 1.00KINO NORTH lower floor, and some of the students barely escaped with their lives, losing all their possessions. A few instances of heroism connected with this fire may well be men- tioned here: Some students, awakened by the flames, went from room to room, rousing the inmates and dragging them from their beds, where they would soon have been suffocated by the smoke and heat. These young men thus saved many lives, while all their own worldly goods fell a prey to the flames. Others formed a bucket brigade; others climbed on the roofs of adjoining buildings and heroically fought the flames in the bitter November winds. Many other instances might be mentioned, but these 20