Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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The Palace CARDS GIFTS AGGIEVILLE HITS CENTURY MARK Aggieville, USA, known for its dedication to K-State students, celebrated its 100th anniversary the week of Oct. 9. In the 1880s, the area now known as Aggieville looked quite a bit different. Houses were sparsely scattered across open acres of fields, and dirt roads the main pathways to wrote Dan Walter, in the book Aggieville 1889-1989: 100 Years of the Aggieville Tradition. The foundation for Aggieville began back in 1889 when George W. Evans opened a laundry service for students. Students could drop their laundry off at the Aggieville store and a worker would take the clothes downtown to be cleaned. During the second year of the store began selling pens and other supplies for students. Later the store found a barber to cut hair. In 1899, students formed a cooperative to provide to students at as close to cost as possible, said Walter, Book Store textbook manager. This store included a dining hall, bookstore and clothing store all within the original building. In 1908, the student built the first brick building in Aggieville. Joseph Guy Varney purchased two lots of land in 1904 and later started an ice cream and candy store and the College Book Store. Two theories surfaced on how Aggieville got its name, said One suggests the name from the K-State sports teams, then nicknamed the Aggies. The other theory stated the name came from a salesman who addressed a letter to an area in care of Aggieville, Manhattan, Kansas. During the celebration, visitors were treated to Aggieville hospitality. The festivities included nightly tours through local bars, daily tours of Aggieville, a historical hunt, a charity auction and a pig roast. A large birthday cake was also made for the occasion. by Joni Everhart ♦ Leo Jensen, left, and Mike Volanti, Cherney Construction, Manhattan, begin the $1.95 million renovation of by tearing up sidewalks. (Photo by Christopher T. Assaf)

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Older Freshmen ♦ 29

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HOT SPOT RENEWS Renovations sweep the streets of Agggieville Construction barriers, hard hats and became commonplace as workers moved in and started a $1.95 million in Aggieville. This is something that needed to be done for a long time, said Juli Salberg, executive director of the Business Association. Construction on the began in June 1989 and was scheduled to be by August 1990. The renovations included improved sidewalks, lighting, landscaping and a new parking lot near 12th and Laramie streets. Aggieville merchants were optimistic that the would bring new customers to the area. There ' s no doubt about it. It ' s the purpose of it, the method to the madness. will be so beautiful by July that people won ' t be able to resist coming here, said Dean Taylor, owner of The Palace. Taylor and other Aggieville property owners were funding the project jointly with the city of Manhattan. The city paid 63 percent of the bill and property owners paid the remaining amount. Property owners were not the only ones involved in the renovations. For $40 individuals purchased granite inserts with the name of a group or individual on it. We bought an insert because our roommate is married, and we wanted to get her that would be unique. Since we spend so much time in Aggieville, it only seemed appropriate, Amy Saathoff, senior in economics, said The inserts were popular according to Salberg. We ' ve sold quite a few, around a hundred. But there will be 1,200 granite inserts throughout the area ' s sidewalks whether there are names on them or not, Salberg said. When the bandages were removed and the facelift completed, Aggieville greeted its visitors with a new look, image and atmosphere. Whether you ' re coming to Aggieville for the first time or the 100th time, you ' ll notice it, Salberg said. by Traci Lindstrom ♦ Engraved granite sidewalk help finance the sidewalk beautification project. (Photo by Oliver Kaubisch) ♦ Al McKee trowels concrete for the resurfacing of the Aggieville sidewalks. (Photo by Oliver Kaubisch) ♦ Aggieville Renovation ♦ 31