Dickinson State University - Prairie Smoke Yearbook (Dickinson, ND)

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PRAIRIE SMOKE vancement. The number of students enrolled the first year was I 00, for the year 1921-22 the list reached 697. Meanwhile the faculty also has become larger. The number has increased from five in 1918 to thirteen in 1923 and includes among its members, scholars of distinction and culture. The material equipment too, has been increased to keep pace with the increase in numbers of students and faculty. The dormitory for women, Stickney Hall, built in 1921, stands on the west of the building site; it is built of brick, is three stories high, and contains sleeping rooms for fifty women, besides the dining room, living room, music room, and the various other rooms necessary to living conditions. In the second year of the school’s life the legislature made appropriation for $90,000 for buildings. The legislature of 192 3 made additional appro- priation of $60,000 and on Monday, April 16, 1923, at 4:30 P. M., in the presence of a crowd of students and townspeople, the corner stone of the main building was laid with appropriate ceremonies. The building will be of brick, four stories high, have a frontage of 284 feet, face south east, reach 163 feet back, and contain 52 rooms and full basement. The men's dormitory will stand north east from the main building, fac- ing south, and will be a replica of the women's building. The buildings are now in process of construction and will be ready for occupancy January, 1924. All this splendid development has materialized under the guidance of our efficient president, aided by the resident directors. Their untiring zeal, broad sympathy, wisdom, enthusiasm and industry must ever be kept in mind in considering the success of this, The Dickinson Normal School. The admin- istration is not only progressive, urging the school onward toward leadership in the state, but provides to the greatest extent possible, for every refined and cultural influence in and about the school.

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PRAIRIE SMOKE HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE SCHOOL. Soon after the Slope country of North Dakota was permanently settled the people began to feel the need for a Normal school in this part of the state. At that time there were three Normal schools in North Dakota, those being at Valley City, Mayville, and Minot. All four were situated well to the north and west of the state in whose services they were erected. The logical location, then, for the fourth Normal was in the western part. The swift development of this part of the state made this section a favored one and the position of Dickinson as a trading center for a large agricultural area and several hamlets, influenced the legis- lature to make this city the seat of the fourth Normal school. The location having been decided upon, the site was selected by the board of Regents, bought by the county of Stark and the city of Dickinson and presented to the State of North Dakota. It consists of sixty-seven acres of choice land and lies just west of the city of Dickinson. On a beautiful rounded butte near the eastern edge of the tract, will stand the main group of buildings. The legislature of 1917 made an appropriation for buildings and main- tenance, but the governor vetoed that portion of the bill which provided for buildings, leaving twenty thousand dollars for maintenance, and school opened the following year. During the season of 1918 a very successful summer session was held, being conducted by Superintendent Peter S. Berg of the Dickinson city Schools. More than one hundred students were enrolled July 18. 1918. The Board of Regents meeting at Fargo, elected Samuel Thomas May of Madison. South Dakota, president of the new school. The Elk's building was rented, a course of study was formulated, necess- ary furniture, apparatus, and supplies were purchased, a faculty of five mem- bers was selected, and school opened October 1, 1918. The school grew rapidly in numbers of students, faculty and equipment, and practice teaching was organized within the city schools of Dickinson. The Normal school is fortunate, indeed, in being granted the privilege of training its teachers in this fine system of schools which is under the efficient management of Peter S. Berg, who is also director of the training school. The school has expanded in various ways to keep up with educational ad-

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 r-r—=— PRAIRIE SMOKE —----- STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION R. B. Murphy