Ricker Classical Institute - Aquilo Yearbook (Houlton, ME)

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The Aquilo ing a loss of S125,000. Records almost a century old were burned. It marked the end of a 56 year old landmark of not only Ricker but of Houl- ton. Many facilities were at Ricker's disposal for use as classrooms, among these were the Meduxnekeag Club, Elks Club, several churches, and Watson Hall. Facilities of the high school were also offered. No sooner had the remaining ashes of Wording Hall cooled than the trustees were having meetings and discussions over a new building. Plans were worked out, but the results were not made public. Meanwhile, the classes were go- ing along as well as possible in the improvised school rooms. Through the years of 1945-46-47 and still in the present year of 1948, a new modern, spacious classroom building was built, replacing the one so suddenly lost in 1944. Classes commenced in the new building in the autumn of '46, Also a new gym was planned and commenced as another new building for a part of Ricker's campus. The present campus covers an area of about eight acres upon which stand five buildings-a classroom building, administration building and library, president's home, and two dormitories. Besides this campus the college has acquired several buildings at the Houlton Air Base for the pur- pose of housing and feeding the college students. The classroom building, being new and modern, is completely fireproof. It contains a large study hall, complete and separate departments for home economics, physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering drawing. It can accommodate at least 450 students. The men's dormitory is on the campus. It contains several rooms and apartments for teachers, a kitchen, a dining hall where all on- campus students eat, and rooms for about 50 men. The building has a sprinkler system for protection against fire. Few college men can be housed there. The girl's dormitory, Haskell Hall, is a fine, residential home with well furnished rooms. A house mother is in residence at all times. The administration building is of brick construction. It contains a library, president's office, treasurer's office, a women's lounge, and apartment for the faculty proctor, and rooms for 12 college women. The newest addition to the campus is a gymnasium-auditorium which was completed early in 1948. It will serve as a social center for the whole student body. This build- ing was constructed by means of a grant of money from the Community Facilities Bureau and F W A. The building contains a large stage, a stan- dard baskebtall court, seats for 1,000 fans, and facilities for lockers, show- er rooms, team rooms, and athletic storage. Ricker is a member of the National Association of College and Second- ary Schools and of the New England Junior College Council. It is fullv ac- credited by the Department of Education of the State of Maine. Ricker Junior College confers the degree of Associate in Arts. Work satisfactor- ily completed by students is accepted for credit by other institutions of higher learning. During the past years students have transferred with advanced standing to Bates, Boston University, Bowdoin, Colby, Defiance, Mt. Allinson, Northeastern, Tufts, University of Ohio, Katherine Gibbs, Temple University, Rhode Island State, University of Miami, Massachu- setts School of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, University of Illinois, University of Texas, Gordon College, and others. For several years great emphasis has been placed upon a broad train- ing in education as well as vocational need for such training. In prepara- tion for this training Ricker Junior College offers courses such as, Pre- medical, Pre-Dental, Pre-Nursing, Pre-Legal, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Secretarial, and Refresher courses. The Liberal Arts Curriculum can be adapted to provide the necessary educational foun- : C262 c

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The Aquilo Welch. Many of the following principals became outstanding leaders of education and of theology, Much information, both educational and social, became available, con- cerning education at the academy through the first newspaper, The Aroostook Pioneer, at Presque Isle. After April 30, 1860, much news ap- peared in the first weekly published paper in Houlton known as the Houlton Times. Recognition was continually earned. Many other papers appeared with data on the activities and about the growth, the develop- ment, and the education at the school. In 1873 Houlton still had the only academy. At the time the school had four teachers, and its purpose was to furnish the young of both sexes an opportunity of obtaining a thorough and practcial education , and this pur- pose still, in my opinion, holds true in the school. The greatest blow to the school in its early years was the passage of the high school law in 1873. This law gave any town the authority to es- tablish a good, free high school under certain conditions. Also the academy was unused for one year as the town of Houlton could not see it s way clear to take it over. About the same time, Colby College began to plan for three affiliated preparatory schools to be located in different sections of the state. The transfer of Houlton Academy to Colby was effected in 1887, and the college took full charge in the .fall. The general opinion of the people at this time was that the academy was rapidly attaining a posi- tion equal to that of the best schools in the state . During the next decade of expansion in students and in courses of study a new academy building, the gift of Mrs. Catherine L. Wording in memory of her husband, was erected, This gift was brought about through the continued interest of Dr. Ricker. This building was called Wording Hall, and in the year that the building was finished the name of the school was changed from Houlton Academy to Ricker Classical Institute, in honor of Dr. Ricker. In 1889 legislature passed a resolution appropriating annually for the term of ten years the sum of 31,000 to Ricker. In the beginning of the 1900's the people again found Ricker the only academy in Aroostook. State aid was given to the school in 1901 on a basis of the courses given and through a bill stating that a school wherein a tuition pupil attends should maintain at least one approved course four years in length. In 1903 a classification of high schools in the divisions of grades or classes A, B, C, was formed. Ricker stood as Class A and main- tained that high standard from that date until the present day. In 1926 a junior college was started. A great majority of citizens scorned this act. Even many of the school's trustees doubtfully backed this proiect. At this time Ricker as a secondary school was not so promis- ing as it had been. This too was the year in which Mr. Roy Hayes took office as the school's principal, ' A girl's dormitory was purchased in 1928, and in 1930 an annex was erected known as Haskell Hall. A new dining hall was put into the boys' dormitory. Ricker Classical Institute has always emphasized those things which contribute most to the development of strong trustworthy characters, and the teachers have been chosen for their interest in young people as well as fog tlieir teaching ability. This fact still remains in the history of the sc oo. The school went on much the same after 1940 with few changes in the teachers and courses until March 29, 1944, when a fire, started from some unknown cause, destroyed Ricker's classroom building,Wording Hall, caus- ' .W,g,,,-,,,.,g,,,,,g,,,g.-.T . ,...-:w..,,f Z5 I -A, M--. .hrwr H g, , ,

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The Aquilo dation for further professional study in the fields of law, medicine, engin- eering, nursing, dentistry, and others. The pre-professional curricula are broad and inclusive enough so that, should a student for any reason decide to change his field of application and continue his education in another field, he can do so without encountering too great a difficulty. Two courses in Business Administration are offered-one for the student who plans to continue his studies later at a four-year college and take a degree and one for the student who does not plan to go on and take a degree but plans to end his education at Ricker. This course can be adjusted to fit the needs of the individual student. The refresher curriculum is adjustable and can be changed to meet the needs of a student also. It is set up primar- ily for those students, veterans, and others, who have been out of high school for some years and need to refresh their high school courses before going into college work. It is also suited to the needs of those who did not complete their high school work and now wish to finish as soon as possible. These courses carry no college credit, but may be used for college admis- sion and high school graduation credits. High school subjects may be chosen in order to complete the required number of units for graduation or for college admission. Yes, Ricker has grown year by year as a student proceeds from year to year in school. It has had its triumphs, failures, hardships, but like all good things is coming out right. It would not be right to say like all good things it comes out right in the end for Ricker's end is a long way off. Ricker today is a school from which students are proud to be graduates and one which they in turn would want their children to graduate from too. Leora Glazier '48 Friday - The Thirteenth I always have detested Friday-the-Thirteenth, I still detest Friday- the-Thirteenth, and I always will detest that unbearable day which comes once a year to haunt me and to leave its scars to haunt me for the follow- ing days. 'Why must such an obstacle Cas this abominable day isj have to appear in the course of any human life? Friday-the-Thirteenth is much like Thursday-the-Twelfth, or Satur- day-the-Fourteenth in many respects. For example, the sun comes up, a mild wind blows, and the weather seems to be perfect. In spite of all visible perfection, I have learned from experience that this perfection is but a tool in the hand of that sinister Being who spends its day haunting innocent human beings and who flits about throwing its curse on every unfortunate person it comes in contact with. We humans are easily tricked by the spirits floating about us. In spite of extensive education, we do not learn to think as we should, The spirits are very much aware of our stupidity. That Being who rules all activities on Friday-the-Thirteenth takes advantage of the weather. It knows that unsuspecting humans will eagerly make plans for the day as they look out their windows and see the sun sending forth its Warm rays. Why wouldn't one decide to go for a walk on such an agreeable day? C273