Rocky Mountain College - Yellowstone / Poly Yearbook (Billings, MT)

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2 HIS? S.Xl,I.IE CA-XXI PREIAI. Alatron. If A fi V X vt. R MR. ELNER EAEIKEH Superintendent of Polytechnic: Farms. 4 kit? .V f I f I MISS LUCY MORSE I'i'ix'z1te Se-c'i'eta1'y. Assistant in Shorthand -5 V n A ' f , -M, ' fail . -7 'W - ' X , ,,., V b . WM-WWW. qv, .' :L f , , 4',kD.!IiHON B. SHERRY AXSSQFILXQIT Instrilvtor in Ele- nientziry Branches :ind Athletics.

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F Q-HW AU5 ' L I MISS L-IEIAELQ lJi'kf'1QARIj EAHIAE H. LUKENBILL lC11glish,T.z1tin, Shortllaud and Typewritiug, German , - I I . -V ,ax -Q vvvlc V 0.5 . -..3,,: I 4 - 1 1 f i: A , , . .,.. ff ' f ROY C, KING MISS NETTIE BETH DAVIS Agriculture, Athletic Coach. ML1SiC-

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The First Three Years of the Polytechnic From the View-Point of the First Student ln the summer of 1000 wor.l went out over Nlontana that a new school was to he openecl at llillings. lt was :mnouncerl that any young' person coulrl enter anrl receive a training' to prepare him for useful citizenship. ln my mountain home at l,ake View, Montana, l hcarrl of this new school, anrl it gave mea vision of what l coulil make of myself. After writing to the clirector of the proposed school for information, it ilirl not take me long' lu rlecicle that this was a great opportunity for me :intl that l woulfl he a stuflent at the Polytechnic. On October 241 1 starte.l out on horse-hack to the railroafl station, one huuilrefl twenty-five miles away, ancl hought my ticket lu llillings. l arrivcrl at llillings two rlays hefore the school was to open, ancl founcl that l was the first stnrlent on the grounrl. The huilflings were far from complete, having' been staiteil late in the summer. The campus consisterl of sixty acres of lanrl three miles North- west ull llillings. The huililings unflcr construction were Science Hall, a two-story hrick huil.ling: :intl four cottage tlormitories, each plannefl to accommoflate ahout thirty stuclents. l'nfler the circumstances, the managers of the school were ohligerl to secure lorlgiug' anil recitation liuilflings for the stuflcnts wherever they coulrl in llillings. ,Nu olrl exhihition hall was fitteil up for a lirrys' ilormitory :intl Nlr. l,. T. liaton took care of the girls in his home. lxinillls in various husiness hlocks anrl the hasement of the pulilic lihrary were securecl for re- citation purposes, while the chapel of the Y. Xl. C. A. was nsecl for a general assembly room. lly the time of the opening' on Uctoher Sth, nearly a hunflrerl young people hacl arrivecl from various parts uf Montana anrl 1Yyoming'. Xlle were all enthusiastic over our school in Bill- ings, hut were looking' ahearl to the time when we were to move to the new buildings out on the Polytechnic farm. lt was not until the 31st Hf'lE1l1l12l1'Y that the school was movefl to the present huilclings. The moving out through the mufl, ancl the jolly times we hafl getting' settlecl in the new huilclings. will never he forgotten hy those who hail the experience. During the first month we were supplieil with canrlles. then lamps. antl finally electric lights. The first year was a year nf organization. During' this time our athletics anrl societies were estahlisheil. llecause uf unsettleil con-litions. the basket-hall team was the only athletic success. This team was rlefeaterl only once-hy the Triple Us. the champions of the North- west. .Xs soon as spring openerl. track anfl liaseliall liecame the learliug features with the hoys. ln the two track meets which were helil, the hoys of the Polytechnic showefl their superiority over their aflversaries. During' this first winter three literary societies were also organizecl. The Pioneer Literary Society for hoys. anil the Alpha Literary Society for girls, were first plannefl, hut on the night of the organization of the Pioneer Society, over half the hoys withrlrew from the proposerl society ancl organizerl a rival society, known as the American lfagles. Each of these societies strive to excell the other in literary work anfl fle- hating. Another active organization of the school that shoulcl he mentiouecl, was the Polytechnic Clliurch. This organization starteil six weeks after the school was movecl to its permanent home, with a memhership of over fifty. ln connection with the Christian Fncleavor Society. it has hail a large influence in the life of every sturleut. The three great holiclays of the first year which have remainerl as the great school holi- rlays ever since, were Moving Day, which is now known as eXnniversary Day: May Day, anfl Commencement Day. Nay Day was given up to the crowning' of the King' ancl Queen of Xlay, anrl the May Pole rlance hy the girls anrl hoys rlresserl in Rohin Hoocl costumes, fol- lowecl hy the contest of strength antl skill in the various lines of athletics. At the close of the first year, tive stuflents, who eutereil the school with atlvancecl stanfl- ing, were gratluatefl. The first school year closeil Nay 27th, all going home for vacation ex- cept the few boys who were to work the school farm cluring' the summer. -1 2-