Drake University - Quax Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

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Ticket buyers queued up EBF.. . .. Stan Kenton . . . PIIOTOGRAPIISZ J. K. BROXVX LL A 24 . . . and the loudest brass section ever unleased in university auditorium construction techniques used on the Drake buildings closely paralleled those employed by ancient Egyptian eontractorsg prefabricated concrete slabs set into place to form walls, hallways, and rooms. The pace of the construction ran along so smoothly that in February, l953, students were informed that they could apply for rooms in the three dorms for the coming school year. Union labor, however, had its mind on other matters, called a strike against its contractors and halted work for ten summer weeks. The labor stoppage crushed university hopes of having the units ready for a grand opening at the onset of the 1953 tall term, and, driven frantic by the approaching deadline, the university ap- pealed to all comers for help in completing the dorms. Among those applying for part-time work were ten fac- ulty members, who sought to bolster meager teaching in- comes with the dollar-an-hour recklessly offered by the school. The unruly side of the buildings was apparent soon after the first week they were occupied. Doors failed to close properly, and closet doors, in reality sliding panels, refused to budge. Although this condition was later cor- rected, many students had removed the doors in utter disgust. Carlsbad-like was the appearance of ceilings in the rooms, large droplets of once soft concrete had seeped be- tween forms and formed miniature stalactites. One room featured a unique bit of deeo1': a rusty nail protruded from the rough room top. AFROTC cadets lined up to hear a one-man brass section at retreat f ---- r -W-f-raw ffszzr-'-'w-'we'-vw-few W-L '- -w-vw--vmmroe V w

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form of structural defects and theoretical ideas which failed to prove their merit in actual practice. The Timex-Delfnhic article first announcing the project stated the units designed to house 585 Women would cost about 52.6 million. The university intended to raise a million and a half to supplement a million-dollar loan from the Federal Housing and Home Finance agency. Expectations of a groundbreaking ceremony in 1950 were dampened by a steel shortage resulting from the Korean War. 1VIarch and April of 1952 proved to be vital months for the embryonic buildings for six sealed bids for the construction work were opened before university officials and the bidders. The contract for the general construc- With students gone 'For Christmas holidays, watch- man Ed McKinney became biggest, and only, man on campus tion was awarded to Weitz Co., Inc., Des lV1oines, whose figure of nearly 51.4 million was deemed reasonable. Ground-breaking ceremonies were performed on April. 16, 1952, before a crowd of 100. President Harmon per- petuated the dog-eared custom of ground-breaking, assisted by trustee Ralph Jester, alumnus Arthur Kirk, and the then SFC president Robert Ray. The area in which the dorms were to be located was cleared of Lochroft hall, a permanent type brick building which was destroyed, and Indiana hall, a frame structure of postwar vintage which later rose, Phoenix-like, beside the Heldhouse to serve as a ticket oHice for athletic events. Sidewalk kibitzers were offered an opportunity to View a 20th century reenactment of the Pyramid-building, for l -.. , Eg- ' 1

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SAE's quarfei' sang iheir way fo applause and a frophy in APO's quari-ef confesf Candidaies for degrees and Hweir admiring relafives saf wifh faculiy and adminisfrafive officers: heard violin and organ solos before degrees were conferred during February com- mencemeni' ceremonies af Universiiy church