Furman University - Bonhomie Yearbook (Greenville, SC)

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THE SCHOLASTIC YEAR, 1926-1927 - HE year 1926-1927, now rapidly drawing to a close, has been marked by important achievements in l:urnun University. The session began with the inauguration of Freshman Orientation Week, a plan for the introduction of new students to college before the work of upper classmen begins. Those closest to the situation feel that the plan worked well, and it is the purpose of the University to continue it. There have been enrolled in the University for the year 554 students, distributed as follows: Freshmen .......................................................... 164 Sophomores . 132 Juniors.............................................................. 94 Seniors . . ..................................................... 100 Law Students....................................................... 24 Special Students ................................................... 18 Extension Students ................................................. 22 In addition to these, thirty students have enrolled for correspondence work. The total enrollment therefore is 584. More professors have taught during the session, and more courses have been offered than ever before. In recent years practically all departments have increased the number of courses offered, and several new departments have been added. For the present session the work in biology, history. Bible, and education has been expanded and the enrollment in these departments has been large. Other departments have maintained the high standards of previous years. Remarkable success has attended student activities during the year. In Glee Club work, lebating. and athletics. Furman men have given a good account of themselves. The Y. M. C. A. has been active in fostering the religious life of the students. A meeting led by Dr C. A. Owens and conducted under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A. and the faculty deepened the spiritual life of students and faculty. The session has seen the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the founding of the University. Furman was founded in 1826. and on December 7 and 8. 1926. the completion of a hundred years of service was fittingly celebrated. December 7th was devoted to an academic celebration, and December 8th to an alumni and denominational program. Among the speakers were some of the leading educators of the country, several of them alumni of Furman University. An effort inaugurated four years ago to add $500,000 endowment to Furman University in the centennial year has resulted in the addition of approximately S400.000. The General Education Board of New York City, offered $175,000 on condition that the University would raise $325,000. Considerably more than $325,000 was subscribed, but because of financial depression in the State not all of the money subscribed has been paid in. and the date set for the end of the campaign has been reached with a shortage in payments of about $69,000. It is hoped that the General Education Board will grant an extension of time and that the full amount will be raised. R. N. Daniel, than. Pa jr Ttcsnty-tftm

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ADMINISTRATION Miss Byrdie Kelley Bookkeeper MISS CORDELIA MCCURRY Secretory to Dr. Clark MRS. IRENE S. Howard . Secretary to Dean Miss Eolinf. Wheeler Nurse Miss Winniered Brunson Secretary to Dr. SlcGlothlin I:, w. Brockman Business Manager 1‘aijc Tunny-tix

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SHORT HISTORY OF GREENVILLE A BOUT one hundred and fifty years ago Greenville county, after a year s war with the (2 1 Indians, was ceded to the State of South Carolina This section, known as Greenville District, had previously been the hunting ground of the Cherokee Nation, and was only slowly settled by white men. First hunters, then traders made their way into the new land, then following in the wake of these came the permanent settlers. One of the first settlers. Richard Paris, in 1776 built a corn mill on the falls of Reedy River, just opposite the site of the present Camperdown Cotton Mills. The number of inhabitants increased, and soon the name Plcasantburg was given to the little settlement Plans were drawn up for a town in the middle of which was to be located the court house, and down one of the side streets of which was to be a gaol, as the jail house was at that time called. The original plat called for four blocks on the east side and four blocks on the west side of a street leading from the river to the head of the avenue. The head of the avenue is the place where Washington street now inter sects Main. Most of the land was then owned by I.emuel J. Alston He put on sale the newly-sur veved lot of Pleasantburg. but they went slowly. The first one. an acre in size, sold for S I 00. Soon Mr Alston sold his entire holdings to Vardry McBee of I incolnton. N. C. Shortly Info re then the name of the little town had been changed from Pleasantburg to Greenville, and though the origin of the name is uncertain it is probablv derived from the name of the Revo lutionary leader. General Nathaniel Greene. For a few years around 1851 Greenville flourished as a summer resort. The following years saw the establishment of Greenville Female College: the gradual growth of the town the erection of the more influential churches: the early popularity of Chick's Springs: and in 1852 the establishment here of Furman University. The newspapers of Greenville have been important factors in the growth of the place. The oldest was the Mountaineer, which for years was owned and edited by Col. James A Hoyt. There were also the Daily S'etc . later becoming the Greenville S'eu'%: and the Evening Herald. which became the Piedmont. The Southern Railroad coming in 1872. and Laurens Railroad in 1882 brought im portant advantages to Greenville then beginning about 1894 began the growth of textile in dustries which has given the city of Greenville the right to call itself the Textile Center of the South. Turning from the history of Greenville, it would be interesting to consider a few up-to-date facts relative to the city and surrounding sections There are in the county twenty-five textile establishments manufacturing annually products valued at $40.000.000. In addition the largest dyeing and finishing plant in the South, and the only bleaching plant which handles fancy silk and cotton mixed goods for the trade are located here. J. K Sirrene if Company, nationally known engineers, has its home in Greenville. The chief money crop of the county is cotton, and the staple is cultivated here as a rule free from the ravages of the boll weevil. In recent years strides have been made in fruit growing, particularly along the slopes of Paris Mountain, and the livestock industry is proving increasingly profitable With the exception of Memphis and New Orleans. Greenville is the largest inland cotton center east of the Mississippi River. The banking resources of the city total more than $25,000,000. The public school enrollment of Greenville proper and suburbs is over 10.000 The Public Library ministering to the reading needs of Greater Greenville has an annua] circulation of over 200.000 volumes, and represents the last word in efficient management. Greenville with an altitude of 1.040 feet, lies four and one-half miles from Paris Mountain with an altitude of 2.054 feet, while about thirty miles from the city and touching the northern edge of the county are the ranges of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Excellent highways lead from the Textile Center to the Land of the Sky. I’age Twenty right