Bluefield State College - Blueprint Yearbook (Bluefield, WV)

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A picture of Payne Hall that served as the men’s dorm. (It used to stand A picture of Mahood Hall that served as the women’s where the gym parking lot is now.) dorm. In 1895, the site consisted of four acres. Then in 1916 it was decided by a council to retain the present site and purchase additional acreage. As a re- sult of this, Mahood Hall, Lewis Hall, and Payne Hall were erected. (These all served as dorms for the men and Above: The construction of the Basic Science Building. Right: The finished product —a picture of the Basic Science Building as MAE A as ‘Mahood womens dorm, we know it today. Payne men’s dorm, Lewis women’s dorm.) Below: Construction of the addition to Dickason Hall.

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+8 J bt iets dS mae ee ae ae Ee vila a i i (} Aue ait pEee mt itt ane inh fant : ine er it , mig iS Lannea We Pant Above: Conley Hall the oldest building on campus. Below: Aview of Mahood Hall (then the women’s dorm) from the front of Conley Hall. Notice the flag pole and circle driveway. re 3 BLUEFIELD STALE TEACHERS COLLL Established as the Bluefield Colored Institute by act of the Legislature in 1895. Later the school.became’ an institu- tion of higher learning for Negroes. Renamed and given its apace Ue i a In 1931, the name of the institute was changed to Bluefield State Teachers College. Bluefield State be- gan to expand its campus. Construction on the campus: In 1930 Conley Hall was erected. It then housed the Science Department and its labs, English Department, Business Depart- ment, Administrative offices, and the business of- fices. The library was located in Mahood Hall. On the morning of April 23, 1937, a fire raged through the building virtually consuming the entire library col- lection. Construction of a new library began next to Conley Hall and on December 3, 1938, the new building was dedicated. On January 10, 1970, an addition to the library was approved. Dickason Hall was dedicated in 1952 with an addi- tion being approved in the fall of 1970. The addition now houses the computer center and nurses center. Construction of the Student Union began in 1962 and was finished by the 1963-64 academic year. In 1966, the Health and Physical Education Build- ing was built. In 1970, construction of the Basic Science Build- ing began. Before 1970, the site was occupied by Arter Hall, the old gymnasium, which was demol- ished. The building was opened for use in the fall of 1971. The Science Department was moved to Basic Science after a chemist almost destroyed Conley Hall when he combined the wrong ingredients. Ma- hood Hall was remodeled and the Business Depart- ment was moved from Conley Hall to Mahood Hall.

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BSC AND THE FUTURE — Dr. Jerold O. Dugger, President BSC Bluefield State College has over the years established itself as a reputable and effective college. It has fulfilled its mission very well. The successes of the past, as impressive as they have been, do not guarantee the college’s role in the future. The college will have to provide a high quality education and make it accessible to the citizens of the service area and beyond. This is going to require dedication, flexibility and hard work beyond what most of us have known. The model that was effective in the past will not necessarily be the right one for the future. The future of Bluefield State College will depend upon its ability to provide a solid academic background for students, equip them with occupational competencies, and attend to their social, cultural and personal develop- ment. This must all be done within an intellectually stimulating atmosphere. The college must always be out on the cutting edge of the future but must never lose its firm grasp on the past. The ingredients for future success are present. With students, faculty, and staff working together to assure a high quality education geared to the realities of the 1990's, I predict that the future of Bluefield State College will be bright indeed. 5