James Madison University - Bluestone Schoolmaam Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

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THE SCHtftfLMAAM 172 plans for the formation and naming of two literary societies. Within the next week or ten days two literary societies, the Laniers and the Lees, were organized. The former chose violet and white as their colors; the lat- ter, gray and gold. The violet of the Laniers and the gold of the Lees were adopted as the school colors. Ahout the same time that the literary societies were being started in their re- spective paths of literature and history, the Young Women ' s Christian Association was formed, and steps were taken to develop an honor system in tests and exami- nations. In connection with the honor system, plans for student self-government were also considered and forwarded to some extent. Among the very first students to .arrive was Nannie Sword, of Lee County. We called her The Sword of Lee. Two other early arrivals were Mary l.ale and Mary Sale. We also had Tuanita (Stout) and Annie Laurie (Johnson)

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The board of trustees organized at Harrisonburg April 29, 1908. On June 18 they purchased forty-two acres of land, part of the Newman farm, for the school grounds. n the 26th of the same month Julian A. Burruss was elected president. Ground was broken for the first buildings on November 25, 1908; and (in April 15, 1909, the cornerstone of Science (Maury) Hall was laid with appro- priate ceremonies. The first faculty meeting was held in Science Hall at 11 a. m. Wednesday, September 22, 1909. Those present were: President Burruss, Cornelius J. Heat- wole, John W. Wayland, Elizabeth P. Cleveland. Natalie Lancaster, Yetta S. Shoninger, Althea E. Loose, Margaret ( i. King, and Lida P. Cleveland. At a meeting held the next day. September 23, 1909, John W. Wayland was elected secretary of the faculty, lie held this position ten years. On September 2? Miss Cleveland, chairman of a committee on literary work, reported tentative

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among the first girls at Blue-Stone Hill. This name, Blue-Stone Hill, came into currency shortly after Christmas the first session, when President Burruss found the song of the same name in his mail box. Other celebrities that have graced our campus in succeeding years are Clara Barton, Grace Darling, Mary Garden, ( J. Farrar, Kathleen Mavourneen, and Nellie ( iray. During thirteen days, from September 22 to ( )ctober 4, 1909, there were seven faculty meetings! But inasmuch as most of them were held before the students came, they had no special significance. September 28 was tirst registration day, and on Thursday morning, the 30th, the first general assembly of the school was held in the rooms of Science Hall that are now the chemical and physical laboratories. The rostrum was at the east end of the hall.