Delaware Valley College - Cornucopia Yearbook (Doylestown, PA)

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DR. LOUIS NUSBAUM

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Dr. W. A. Haines, head of the Animal and Dairy Husbandry Depart- ment of the National Farm School, came to us as a practitioner of veteri- nary medicine during the time of the physical incapacity of the late Dr. Wesley hlassinger. After the death of Dr. Massinger, Dr. Haines was re- quested to teach Veterinary science and other educational subjects incidental to poultry and animal husbandry in addition to his professional work as veterinarian. The teaching of these subjects gave Dr. Haines a teaching schedule far in excess of any other instructor at the Farm School. Dr. Haines was born at lyloorestown. New Jersey. in 1880, of Quaker ancestry. VVe understand that he still retains membership in that faith. He did farm Work in the spring. summer and fall. hnally completing the courses then given in the old-fashioned one-room school house of that time. After several years assisting his parents with dairy farm responsibilities, he entered the Univerity of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary hledicine. He gradu- ated from that institution in June, 1907, with the degree of Veterinary Xledi- cal Doctor. Dr. Haines is the father of three sons and two daughters. Two of his sons are graduates of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and are associated in general practice with their father. All three of his sons fought with our armed forces overseas. Apparently, Dr. Haines has had nothing handed to him but came up the so called hard Way. Besides supporting and educating a family, he has taken an active part in the public affairs of Bucks County of this state. As an ohicer of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, he was instrumental in organizing the first Bucks County Farm Bureau, now known as the Bucks County Agricultural Extension Service. Dr. Haines represented Bucks County in the State Legislature from 1917 to 1933, eight successive terms in all. He held important positions in many of the committees dealing with agriculture and the public welfare. As part of this legislative work, he sponsored and saw passed through the House and Senate the first adequate appropriation for owners whose cattle Were slaughtered in the program to eradicate Bovine Tuberculosis in Pennsylvania. This marked the beginning of the program which practically eliminated this disease as a cattle scourge in this state. ln 1931. when Penn- sylvania dairymen began to suffer financially from the oncoming depres- sion, Dr. Haines helped introduce a bill which eventually resulted in the present State Milk Control Board. In the interest of sportsmen Dr. Haines was identified with game legislation that was proposed every two years. Another interesting aspect of Dr. Haines' personality is his deep love for all phases of nature. He is especially interested in the reforestation of waste land. Together with the late Alexander C. VVheeler, he prepared, introduced and saw passed an act that made the Hemlock the Official State Tree of Pennsylvania. On our many Saturday morning trips fambulatory clinicsl with him. he has always been interested in pointing out buildings and places of his- torical interest in Bucks County that have been connected with the history of the county, state, and nation.

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llfs3llRlll'i5SllllllDllfEillNllGlllf3f MESSAGE HE present senior class, about to be graduated from the National -w ir'-.5 , . Farm bchool. is the first class to have felt the full effect of the L ' ll' isilfa YV We impact of war conditions. The small size of the class is directly related to these conditions. Prospective students were deterred from entering for fear of selective service interruption of their course. Many others were inducted into the armed forces or volunteered for enlistment when they reached the required age. In general, the situation is too well known to need extended comment. Practically the same factors existed with relation to the teaching and training personnel of the school during this period. Also, needed equipment and services were hard to get and often impossible. Obviously the school suffered from these uncontrollable conditions. and it 15 fair to say that the thing which calls for remark is not the ills suffered. but the fact that the school was able to go on as well as it did. In spite of many changes in the teaching personnel, it is to be noted that the instructional program suffered little material loss. The fact that requirements for student admission had to be lowered to meet existing condi- tions made it necessary, of course, to adapt the curriculum to the back- ground of maturity and preparation of those enrolling. These adaptations. however, were so organized that the ultimate class instruction was made to include substantially everything previously required. Some losses, however, are directly traceable to the small pupilage. Due to the fact that there were not enough pupils interested in any one phase of the school's professional activities, many student clubs were eventually aban- doned. The reduced pupilage and the lowered age also developed propor- tionately fewer student leaders, capable of serving the interests of the student body and of the school as a whole. On the other hand, it has been possible for the students to get better acquainted with each other and for the faculty to know each individual better, thus developing a close comradeship. Uther noteworthy gains are found in the creation of the canteen and in a provision of a program of intramural athletics which would comprise the entire student body. All major sport activities were maintained. and facilities were added for playing hand ball and tennis. lYar conditions. too. were responsible for the condition of courses to train returned veterans. Such courses were provided following lYorld Xliar I and are again offered as a public service in the field of agricultural education. The greatest single change within this period has been the determination of the Board of Trustees to convert the school into a Junior College of agriculture and the completion of plans to bring about this change during the present year. This is the most important forward step the school has taken since its inception. It provides a new outlook for the school, and it is in keeping with the educational. social. and economic advancements of the past century. Present conditions are par- ticularly favorable for the inauguration of such a move. Finally, but as no part of the activities of the recent period. the school this year, becomes f'of age. lt has rendered to the community fifty years of unique and useful service. and it is altogether fitting that proper attention be given to the celebration of the National Farm Schools Colden jubilee. Along with this celebration. the school is the process of raising a Colden jubilee Fund to improve its educational facilities and to bring all properties up to the best possible standards of maintenance consistent with the needs of the new Junior College.