Massanutten Military Academy - Adjutant Yearbook (Woodstock, VA)

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uf Brief Hisforjf of Our School HE word MASSANUTTEN is rather difficult for a good many people to understand, for it is not what you would call a common word. In fact, it is unique. It is of Indian origin and is supposed to mean Great Mountain, although it has received different definitions by historians. We find the pre- fix in Massachusetts, massa-soit and others. This name has been applied for many years to the fifty- mile range of mountains which splits the Shenan- doah Valley from Strasburg to Harrisonburg into two sections. It is a beautiful range of mountains, towering in some places over two thousand feet above sea level. Some geologists say it is a slip from the Appalachians on the west boundary of the Shenandoah Valley. Be that as it may, the word MASSANUTTEN is very well known in Virginia and when the founders of our school selected this name, they gave it a distinctive character. Some schools are named after the towns in which they are located, others take the names of benefactors and distinguished people. Suffice to say that in the forty-one years that Massanutten has been operating, the name has become well known throughout the land, through many channels of publicity and, by virtue of the songs and cheers and sentiments attached to the name, it is very dear to the alumni and friends of the school. The village pastors of the Valley, after discussing the matter at the church meetings for many years, finally decided to establish a school. In 1898 they bought the Riddleberger property at the southern end of Woodstock. This consisted of a spacious colonial house surrounded by a grove of young Norway maples. The house was erected in 1880 and the trees were planted soon afterwards. Massanutten is the product not only of the de- sire of the Reformed Church membership in the Shenandoah Valley, but was the dream of a few men who found leadership in the Rev. Silor Gar- rison. Articles of incorporation were granted and a Board of Trustees was authorized by Judge Thomas W. Harrison in 1899. Rev. B. Stone- sifer, a pastor, was designated to solicit funds for the remodeling of the building and the purchase of equipment to open what was to be known as a co-educational school. At that time there were very few high schools in the Shenandoah Valley. Private schools held sway, but even these were far more modest than they are today. The church membership was quite elated over the idea of a school and supported the project enthusiastically. The Riddleberger building was remodeled to com- prehend all of the needs of a small school. Thus, Massanutten started on her career much as a young man with a knapsack slung across his shoulder would start on a journey to make his fortune. For fourteen years the school was conducted as a co-educational school and the boys and girls came mostly from the Shenandoah Valley. Mr. Garrison presided as Head Master for four years, and was followed by Rev. R. R. Jones, who served for two years. The tuition charge was very low and it was difiicult to finance the school, and the question arose whether or not to try to carry on. It was then that Dr. Benchoff was invited to accept the head mastership. After visiting Woodstock, he was impressed with the beautiful location and the possibilities of building a preparatory school, and accepted the call. He has been Head Master since 1905. This brief history must, of necessity, omit many interesting facts about the growth of the school. At first, Dr. Benchoff had in mind to build a school for one hundred boarding students. After the World War he revised his program, basing his decision upon his experience and the infiation that naturally followed that era. Having made a care- ful study of the situation during his administra- tion, he has set his goal at two hundred boys as a safe number which can be controlled and directed ideally in a program of Christian education and leadership. A properly written history of Massanutten would read like an epic. During these years it has been the task of the Head Master to not only find money

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T has been said, and wisely so, we believe, that behind the manifest achievements of a great pur- pose stands the personality ofone man, whose fore- sight, strength and enduring qualities are to be found in every inch of brick and mortar, in every laborious ascent toward the objective. That Dr. Bencholf reflects such a personality goes without question. Uncompromising in fearless adherence to principle, stalwart in friendship, a patient and experienced counselor, his determination and en- ergy are reflected from a character buoyant with hope, strong with resolution and consequently impressive in stature. In no sense devoted to pedantic frills, unpreten- sious and unassuming in his relationships, Dr. BenchofT's teachings of good common sense have a habit of imbedding themselves within youthful minds and of returning long after prep school days have ended. A personification of what he teaches, our Head Master truly typifies leadership at its best. He reminds us of the saying: VVhat you are speaks so loudly l cannot hear what you say. MRS. H. J. BENCHOFF The Fin! Lady W' Masranuflefz . W5 DR. H. J. BENCHOFF Our Colonel HERE is a quality of graciousness transcend- ing a mere practical knowledge of conventional formalities. It arises from qualities native within a person: enthusiasm for one's work and a genuine devotion to all things associated with it, a sense of loyalty given expression in sacrifice and service, and from a sincere interest in people and a sympa- thetic regard for their personalities. These are the reasons why, in our judgment, Mrs. Benchoff can be thought of as a charming hostess and a gracious friend. Cut Head Master's wife possesses far too abun- dant energies, however, than are necessary for the duties of hostess. Much of the beautification of our campus we attribute to her originality and planning, few improvements have been made with- out some lingering trace of her helping hand. Yet, active as her life is, and weary as she must some- times be, there is always enough vitality remaining for a pleasant smile, a welcome greeting, a witty remark, always time to make provision for the comfort and well-being of someone else.

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for buildings, but to find students, set standards, direct activities and comprehend all of the problems that naturally go with an expanding institution. Lantz Hall was erected in 1909, Sperry Hall in 1915, The Virginia Lee Harrison Gymnasium in 1924, the annex to Lantz Hall, equally as large as Lantz Hall, in 1927, and the Thomas Harrison Swimming Pool in 1928. Each of these buildings is well constructed. There was a plan from the very beginning, and step by step that plan is being achieved. From an original boarding school attendance of ten boys, it has grown to an enrollment of one hun- dred and thirty boarders and thirty day students. This does not seem remarkable in itself, unless you know the story, which shows that each year indi- cated an increasing strength and an advance upon the previous year. The original campus of live acres has grown to twenty acres. It has been landscaped and athletic fields have been built to take care of the student body in sports and recreations. Shrubbery has been planted and each year the campus becomes a greater delight to those who live oh it and visit it. Sufiicient land has been purchased to take care of the future, and all of the activities that would be required in the set-up for a two hundred boy board- ing school. All of the buildings were erected with that idea in mind. Sperry Dining Hall will care for two hundred, the Auditorium will seat two hun- dred and fifty, the Gymnasium and Swimming Pool are spacious and were built for the two hun- dred boy school. Even the central heating plant was installed sufficiently large to take care of the proposed new building, which will complete the picture. Up to this time the task has been that of a pio- neer, and now Massanutten faces a new era. Dr. Benchoff had long had in mind to develop a camp in the Massanutten Mountains, or along the Shen- andoah River somewhere nearby, which would serve as a retreat for camping expeditions. Herein lies another interesting story in which one of the famous seven river bends of the Shenandoah River was obtained through gift and purchase. During the past six years we have been watching the growth of Camp Lupton, which carries out the idea of outdoor life and recreation, and all who see it are delighted with the equipment and the environment. It has splendid possibilities, which will be developed in the coming year. This, in brief, is the story of Massanutten. A good elder had left a thousand dollars to the village pastors which was their sole asset when they de- cided to purchase the Riddleberger property for a school. That gift has been matched by many other similar gifts, larger and smaller. The alumni have been especially devoted to the school, as indicated by the fact that one of them gave us our dining room, and another our gymnasium, swimming pool and a good lift on the farm. You have heard us talk for a long while about the proposed new dormitory and administration building. It will make room for seventy-five more students and four more teachers. lt will have other features which are greatly needed for the comfort of patrons and alumni. Students, friends, benefactors are all asking when will we have the new dormitory? This is the big question that faces us now. The answer is that if Massanutten has accumulated all of this property in thirty or more years, starting with practically nothing, our faith leads us to believe that the new building will be realized in the near future. Other paragraphs in this book speak of our achievements in our activities. Many people have wondered Why we have risen to such high position in the secondary field of education, with graduates in over thirty colleges and universities and with a reputation that is enviable. It is because the Spirit of Massanuttenn arouses loyalty and affec- tion, without which very few successes in life are accomplished. You can't live at Massanutten without catching this spirit. And then there is something about Virginia and the Shenandoah Val- ley which support the enterprise. The Massanut- ten life offers a happy experience to the boys who enter her halls.