Concordia College - Spire / Concordian Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

Page 17 text:

There come to mind many incidents that delighted former Concordians but that are completely unknown fo the last generation of students. There was, for ex- ample, the old night watchman in Hanser Hall who groped his way about at all hours of the night to safeguard the building despite the fact that he himself was barely able to see. The old ‘‘College Moon” came to a tragic end when it was demolished in the twen- ties. This was the last of a number of light towers erected by the city of Fort Wayne for the purpose of illuminating the streets. The ““Moon”’ rose to a height of 150 feet and carried four huge electric lights at the top level. It was the outstanding landmark on the southwest cor- ner of the campus, and a poem by the Rev. H. W. Gockel, now of “‘This is the Life’’ television fame, memorialized it forever. The ‘‘Tabernacle”’ A temporary classroom building which later became Bethlehem Luth. Church, Fort Wayne. The lastest in pep ses- sions and automobiles. 13 The culprits pose by the wreckage of the college moon. The old swimming pool, long since the faculty garage, is still remembered by many. The old ‘“‘Tabernacle’’, a temporary classroom building placed just in front of the swimming pool in 1922, was the butt of many jokes current at that time. The old horse and car- riage barn, formerly located near the gym where the parking area now is, was the scene of a most thrilling fire. The tragedy was that several horses—not as fleet as Swaps, perhaps, but nonetheless good horse-flesh— lost their loves.

Page 16 text:

Student life at Concordia never was colorless and drab. Place a large group of lively youths in a dorm for nine months and interetest- ing incidents are bound to happen spontan- eously, or with only a mite of encouragement. Stories, stories, and without end, are told about the primitive early days. They are stories that sprang from the depth of human emotions. But life in the last decade has became especially intricate for the student. Let us turn our attention to some phases of this area. Sports were a great interest at Con- cordia at all times. Our present gymnasium was constructed in 1927-28. Dedication of the com- pleted gym was held in June of 1928, with a series of four military tournaments. The college pionered in baseball and established a number of firsts. Basketball flouri- shed long before it became full grown and de- veloped into the Hoosier hysteria of the present. Football, for some reason, never struck root at Concordia. The climax in college basketball was | attained in the last years when our team was entered in the National Junior College Tourna- ments. Who can forget the homecoming event at the opening of the basketball season with 12 Do you know that in Decem- ber, 1927, twelve men organ- ized a fencing club, and each received four lessons in the de- licate art of fencing? The bowling alley bottoms became the canteen counter tops. — Basement of Crull Hall. the hotly contested game between the alumni and the varsity? Older alumni reminisce over the field days at Driving Park. Primaners constituted an advance guard to make preparations on the scene the day before the event. Track events, bountiful eats, and the dark cigar for any shaver who was brave enough to tackle one, without faculty penalty but usually with much physical discomfiture, all of these are favorite topics in the discussions of alumni of that era. ° Sey = teeta inated nents

Page 18 text:

“Ready, aim, fire!”’ Perhaps the most unique institution at Concordia over the span of years and also one that provided memories that will never be for- gotten, was the military department. Remember the fun you had when the cavalry major made his appointments and you eagerly awaited the arrival of his troop of white horses? Remember the thrill of appearing in a stunning uniform and marching, chin in and chest out (far out), in ca- dence on Decoration Day, during the annual tournaments? The older students r ecall the thrills of serving on guard duty on Halloween night, when everyone was challenged with bayonet fixed, especially members of the faculty. Those who participated in the trip to Detroit in 1930, on the occasion of the quadricentennial of the Augsburg Confession, will never forget the thrill of presenting an exhibition of drills on the Fair Grounds to a capacity crowd. The Concordia Cadets entertaining their Washington Street neighbors with rifle drills. Detroit hospitality went all out in bringing the entire Concordia family, including the faculty, to the Motor City on a special train. And the Wabash outdid itself in providing most pleasant facilities for the joyous trip. Others will recall the sham battles in which they participated, even through they were all-night affairs. Still others find their pulses quickening as they recall when their names were shouted out during promotions or as they step- ped forward to receive the sabre or other awards of military distinction. The rifle team provided an outlet for special skills in marks- manship.