Mount Vernon College - Bell Cote Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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$istorp of tfje cfjool After dinner there was social relaxa- tion in the parlors until seven o’clock. On Friday nights, callers were allowed, a privilege that was something of an ordeal for the young man who found himself for a time the only masculine creature in the presence of all the young ladies and Mrs. Somers herself! . . . On school nights there were prayers in Mrs. Somers’ room — unforgettable ex- periences . . The amusements provided for the young ladies were limited and relatively quiet: concerts, lectures, simple excur- sions, sight-seeing, and an entertainment at the White House by Mrs. Hayes, a close friend cf Mrs. Somers. The school began to grow, evidence of this being the increase from one graduate in 1876 to five in 1877. The latter year’s graduation took place in the Metropolitan Church. In 1878, the graduating class numbered only four, but they had pro- vided themselves with a motto and class color (blue). The motto Vincit qui sc vincit” became the motto of the school. In the summer of 1880, Mount Vernon Seminary moved from 204 F Street to its new location at 1100 M Street. The first graduating class was in 1881. The school remained at this location for thirty-seven years. During this time, an entire build- ing for classrooms and chapel was built on 11th Street, and 1104 and 1106 M

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JjMstorp of tfje cfjool many hours of his time in service to the congregation. The daily rituals of the school at that stage were stiff but useful in training of the young ladies. The following quota- tion from the book Elizabeth J. Somers by Faith Bradford, best illustrates a typical day at 204 F Street: Seven o’clock was the rising hour, half after seven, breakfast time. The spirit of the morning table was appropriate to the beginning of a new day. A verse of Scrip- ture was required of each gi rl, and woe betide the miss who too frequently pro- duced one noted for its brevity. A walk followed breakfast, then devotional exer- cises; the serious business of learning was pursued until one o’clock luncheon. From three until five was a study period; half an hour was allowed for dressing for din- ner. Dinner brought with it a require- ment that seemed a task at the time, but in later years was a cause for gratitude; each pupil was obliged to present in the course of natural conversation, some sub- ject of art, science, or general current in- terest. Quaint as such a custom seems six- ty odd years after, it was a step toward the acquisition of useful information, and a nct-to-be despised training in the art of conversation.

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HMStorp of ti)e cljool Street were bought and remodeled. Also, 1 1 1 1 11th Street was acquired for faculty and club rooms, and Senior House across the street. As the school grew, the times and customs changed, as did the customs and restrictions of the school, but under- neath it remained the same. It would be impossible to describe and discuss every faculty member, but there are some definitely outstanding ones who must be remembered. Mrs. Adelia Gates Hensley is, undoubt- edly, the person to be mentioned first. She came to the Seminary in 1884 and re- mained there until her death in 1923, holding positions of teacher, principal, first assistant and then associate, and, at the retirement of Mrs. Somers in 1914, head mistress. It was at this time that Mrs. Hensley leased the school, and two years later she incorporated it. And dur- ing this year, 1916, building of the new school, at 3801 Nebraska Avenue, began. It was ready for occupancy the following year. So it was that Mount Vernon Sem- inary changed residence again, but as be- fore, that was all that changed. The spirit and fine standing remained steadfast. Nothing could alter something so deep- rooted. ll ) The most important part of the new school was the Great Hall. This was the backbone of school life, and where the students and faculty would gather to re- ceive Mrs. Somers during her brief ap- pearances there. As 1925, the school’s fiftieth year ap- proached, plans were made for and con- struction completed on, the Elizabeth Somers Chapel, built on the campus. Mrs. Hensley, unfortunately, didn’t live to witness the celebration. She died in 1923 at her home, Gatesley”, within the school grounds. The following year, the school was again thrown into mourning by the death of the beloved Mrs. Somers; although she was gone, there remained behind, radiat- ing from her portrait which hung in Great Hall some of her indomitable spirit and unquenchable loyalty. With the death of Mrs. Hensley, the position of President passed to Miss Jean Dean Cole, who had been at Mount Ver- non Seminary for eighteen years as teach- er, as assistant, and then as associate headmistress. But the job became increas- ingly heavy, so she gave the Presidency and position of dean to Mr. and Mrs.