Springfield College - Massasoit Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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gianicc Ijwff SPcCurbv, 31.99., 99.©., 99.1 .C ‘V Man!- — a riyht true man however, 1 Vko»t work is worthy a man ' s endeavor. T IS with great respect, admiration and love that we dedicate this book to the Director of Physical Education at Old Springfield. A review of the life of Dr. McCurdy is a great inspiration to the youth of to-day who faces natural diffi- culties in the attainment of success. James Huff McCurdy was born in the country town of Princeton, Maine, on December 2, 18(i(i. He received a public school education here, graduating from high school as well. After securing his diploma he went to Milltown, New Brunswick, Canada, where he worked in a mill during th e winter. He then returned to Princeton and took up farming for a year. Later he went to Bangor, Maine, where he found employment in the foundry of a carriage-smith where he worked a year. On his twenty-first birthday he accepted a position in the Young Men’s Christian Asso- ciation of Bangor. His official duties in their order of importance were janitor, secretary, physical director. He attended summer school here in Springfield in 1888, and in September of the same year he became physical director at Auburn, Maine, where he served a year. The next fall he came here to what was then known as the Training School. He took the two years’ course in one, but, owing to a serious accident in a baseball game in his senior year, he was not graduated. In 1891 he took the position of athletic and aquatic director in the Twenty-Third Street Y. M. C. A.. New York City, and while there studied medicine at the New York Uni- versity, receiving his M. D. in 1893, after three years of hard study. Shortly afterwards he passed the New York and Massachusetts state examinations for practicing medicine. In the fall of 1893 he became physical and medical director of the Twenty-Third Street Branch where he served two years. On July 17, 1895, he was married to Miss Persis B. Harlow of Bangor, Maine. In the fall of that year he was urged by Doctor Guliek to come and teach physical education at the Training School. It seems interesting in this connection that about six years previous Doctor Guliek had seen Mr. McCurdy trying in vain to do a stunt on the parallel bars. He advised him at that time to pack up his trunk and go home, saying he would never make a physical Director, and remarking, “McCurdy, you are as graceful as a cow.’’ But Doctor Guliek did not know his man, for McCurdy had a vision and with characteristic determination he carried it to materialization: and we are mighty glad he did. The Doctor responded to the call and this is the conclusion of his eighteenth consecutive year of service here. He has seen the institution grow from a membership of a few to over two hundred. 5