Goshen College - Maple Leaf Yearbook (Goshen, IN)

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In September '03 the campus presented no such appearance as it does in the spring of '08, The entire cam- pus was a stubble field. Instead of the long, pretty walk a deep ditch extended from College Avenue to the foundation of the college building. In a few weeks however, the walk was laid. During the spring of '04 some grading was done on the east side of the walk. Through the enthusiasm and Hnancial aid of the C. M. A. Society a fountain was erected in front of the College. Especially delightful is it to listen to the soft, tinkling music of the water as it rises high above the fountain and then breaks into a silver spray, rippling playfully from basin to basin in a sweet, sinking cadence. Gradually the campus acquired a more dignified appearance. At the north end there arose a stately struct- ure of iron and granite overarching the driveway and walks which has become known as the Aurora arch. True to the spirit of the society which supervised its erection it became a gateway to the source of knowledge and in- spiration. Each night its lights send forth their rays to pierce the darkness and to guide the homeward-bound. The dormitory became too small and as a result the commodious Kulp Hall stands opposite facing the morn- ing sun. These dormitories, if they could speak might tell us of many girlish pranks, of birthday surprises, 10 to 10:15 P. M. spreads, of robbersl?l who at least succeeded in frightening the fair maidensg and they might give a thrilling account of a disastrous C?J fire which was extinguished by the valiant lads of the fire department. After the erection of Kulp Hall grading was done on the West side of the walk and today a pretty green carpet extends from the college building to the arch. Trees have been planted which in the future will shelter the studious young men and young women from the bright rays of the sun, as well as add an air of aesthetic com- pleteness to the campus. As early as 1904 a tennis court was constructed. At present we have three, the last having been dedicated and presented to the young women by the young men of the athletic association, April 29, '08. The athletic field used by the young men is located on the college grounds north of the campus. Students of Goshen College have their outings as well as did their predecessors at Elkhart. Were the trees which grace the banks of the Elkhart river suddenly in possession of voices, what secrets could they not reveal, - what history disclose! Doubtless they would tell of frequent excursions of students in search of wild flowers for botanical study or for pastimeg they could tell of those who sought for rocks in their geological trips 3 of those who went out by twos to hear the lays of the feathered choirg they would tell of those entranced by the beauty of the river itself and who listened with delight to the soft murmur of the waves as they lapped aimlessly against 19

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1 star upon his coat and a billy in his hand standing near the entrance of the Institute building. He allowed no one to leave the campus until he bore upon his left arm the mark of the physician's scalpel. Any student attend- ing Elkhart Institute during the early spring of '02 will well remember that smallpox, vaccination and pest houses were the topics of the day. Entering again in the autumn of 1902 the lawn was more beautiful than ever, the building was the same, with the exception that class rooms had been enlarged where it was possible and the dining hall had previous to this time also been enlarged, yet everything seemed so small and crowded. We became cognizant of the fact that we were many more in number than we had been in 1900 and that the management was looking for a larger home for us. We received but little practical assistance from the citizens of Elkhart but the neighboring city of Goshen welcomed us to a beautiful location on her southern border. Sometime during May '03 this offer was ac- cepted and on June 12 of the same year the dedicatory exercises of the site of the new Goshen College building, were witnessed by over two hundred and 'fifty people. After a dedicatory prayer, Attorney Deahl of Goshen gave a very Htting address of welcome to which Prof. C. H. Smith gave a response. After several other short ad- dresses, the ground outlining the new building was broken, J. S. Hartzler holding the plow drawn by a team belong- ing to C. P. Yoder. In looking forward it seemed almost impossible to think that on Sept. 29, '03 school would open in this new location but by energetic labor the new dormitory planned for, was sufficiently completed to shelter the ingather- ing maidens on the second floor, the first being used for recitation rooms and chapel exercises. The southern section of the basement was a carpenter shop, reading room and dining room combined. There amid the sound of the hammer and saw of the carpenter, professors and students did their work. Swiftly as possible the main build- ing was raised and a few weeks before Christmas the chapel exercises were held in the reading room. By Jan. 6. '04 a sufiicient number of rooms were completed so that the schoolwork could be transferred from the dormitory to the college building and on the evening of Jan. 8, '04, the new building was dedicated. To the student of Elkhart Institute this seems a large building and the dining hall in the dormitory with a capacity of a few more than one hundred seems large enough to suliice for many years. I As 1898 saw one young woman graduating from a two year academy course, 1901 the first class of students completing a four year course, so 1904 saw a class of twelve young men and women complete the newly outlined six year course. 18

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the sandy shores, or of those who stood enraptured at the sound of the water as it came dashing down over thi rocks with a rush and a roar, flinging the white spray in all directions. One organization which has done much in unifying the student body in the development of both the socia and spiritual life of the individual is the Young Peoples' Christian Association. It is the organization which affect: the life of every student and much of the harmonious work of the student body must directly or indirectly be at tributed to this strongly organized body of young men and women. Thus, in so far as our memory has served us faithful- ly, we have tried to record some of the important and most interesting facts in the early history of our Alma Ma- ter. Historians tell us that the present is but a reverber- ation of the pastg that events in human history transpire in a never ending cycle 3 whatsoever may be gleaned from the first few years of the individual's life shall fortell its future. Let the world then listen as the Seers of the class of 1908 left the veil which curtains the future from the pres- ent and in prophecy reveal its mystery. Coming years shall witness the same growth in numbers of students, efii- ciency of management and ideals of faculty and student body. As in the past great men have been tutored within these walls and have gone forth to bless the world, so again will there be in this train, philanthropists, scholars, orators, statesmen, divines, yea even rulers shall go forth to sway a household if not an empire. The influence of our institution shall no longer be limited to touch and mould the lives of a few, but its influence shall go onward and outward, from generation to generation, We trust to the end of time. 20