Springfield College - Massasoit Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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Golden Years ▼ ▼ T startling football teams. If ever there was a golden age of sports at Springfield, it was then. It was Springfield who played with ale in the first game of indoor football in the Madison Square Gar- den. In 1907 in the Harvard Stadium Dr. McCurdy demonstrated his invention, the spiral pass from center and the forward pass before a crowd of 45,000 spectators. In 1910 Springfield maintained a decisive lead over West Point m a stirring football game which finally ended in a victorv for the Army when they kicked a last-minute goal kick. This year marks the advent of Coach Brock for the soccer team. Then, as today, there was an effort being made by the student body for the restatement of the college title. Our present-day “ radi- cals” prove to be no novel group after all. By 1915 such structures as the Administration Building, an addi- tional gymnasium (West Gymnasium), the library and the McCurdy Natatorium were present on these grounds. Among the faculty at that time were such men as Professor Hyde, Professor Affleck, Dr. McCurdy, Dr. Campbell, and of course Dr. Berry. Here appear the most significant links in the chain of growth between the original creation and the present college as we know it. Not only in the realm of sports were we prominent then. Profes- sor Hyde was already outstanding because of his poetic and musical contributions. In 1915 he was not only writing poems, hut playing the organ and writing music with proficiency. Woods Hall was functioning as a social and dining hall then as today. 1 here were private eating clubs, among which was the noted Piggly Eating Club about which organization little can he gleaned from the records, hut which seemingly was a real force at the time. The entrance of the United States into that horrifying struggle in 1914 had a parado.xical effect upon Springfield. From a standpoint of service to the Allies, the college contributed many valuable men to the cause, though sacrificing ultimately some of her finest and most capable leaders. If a “dark ages” was to be noted it was from 1920 to 1930. Society was rebuilding its broken and disintegrated routine. Everywhere reconstruction was predominant. Even the college, though not actually torn and discouraged, was involved in an effort to rebuild, reorganize and develop more effectively its increasing student body and curricula. By 1930, the school was efficiently equipped with proper buildings to accommodate her rapidly increasing student body. It was then that the influx of numerous progressive young professors marks the new era of growth for Springfield. There it was that the college finally escaped the narrow and somewhat stagnant traces of the nineties and awoke to a redefinition of courses and curricula, result-

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▼ Golden Years T T the work in which it has since so dehnitely contnhuted a systematic code of ethics. Also out of this interest in the sport world developed the games known as volley hall and basketball (the latter being de- veloped by I ames Naismith ), two games which have since grown into tremendous popularity m gymnasiums, summer camps and recrea- tional groups evervwhere. In 1891 the title of the new institution was changed from the . M. C. A. I raining School to the International . M. C. A. I raining School. From then until the present day, the attendance of international students, foreign exchanges, and active interest in world affairs have been considered of major importance upon the Springfield campus. I he early part of the nineties found the same campus we now know a barren wilderness. It was not such for long, however, as pioneers began clearing and leveling the grounds on which now stands the structures we boast. Thirty acres of property bordering the calm waters of Lake Massasoit were purchased. Then the primary bit of construction was the creation of the gymnasium. Fhis structure, which cost some S-4,000, was being built during the panic of 1893- 97. This crisis rigidly and sourly tested the new institution as to Its financial stability. Fhe college withstood the terrirtc strain, and the gymnasium was completed and dedicated to the study and prac- tice of Physical Education in 1894. During this period of storm and stress the students were smcerelv cooperative and anxious to help. I hey were always ready to assist m any duty which would help the Alma Mater become a better institution, and as a result of their manual labor, m the same year that the gymnasium was completed an athletic field was equipped. Interesting because of the seeming p aradox is the informa- tion that during these early years winter classes were often dis- missed because of the immense amount of snow surrounding the h uildmgs. Peculiar by way of analogy is the fact that Elmer Berry decided to come to Springfield at the opening of the I ' w entieth Century. After graduating m 1902, he returned as an assistant instructor m 1903. With him and the new centurv came many changes. An outstanding development of this period was the raising of the endow- ment of Sioo,ooo, and the considerate gift of the social hall by Mrs. Elinor Woods. Once more a philanthropic activity helped the growing college. After the purchase of five more acres of land, an- other gift of twenty-five acres on the south side of the lake was do- nated to he reserved for purposes of expansion. In this first decade of the new century much history m the world of sport w ' as made. Alonzo Stagg, the “grand old man of football,” who had come to the college earlv in the nineties, was turning out T T T 14

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▼ (j olden Years ▼ ▼ ing in the establishment ot the Social Science, Natural Science and General Arts and Sciences departments in 1934. Today vve see the successkil result of the incessant efforts of those pioneers ot the previous century. Springfield College— a broad pro- gram a well-balanced curricula an efhcient faculty- a well- balanced foreign association a college experience ot diversity, offer- ing the young man with a purpose an opportunity for a technical and liberal education among men of character, purpose and ideals. .■ nd thus we see Springfield today, training and developing men of purpose and character. 1 omorrow, we can visualize the college still training men who, hv their ability and unique college experience, are in demand by society, to mould and guide the lives of not only the voLith of America, hut also to lead the parade of social intercourse among adults, m an attempt to realize the abundant life. W e salute you, Springfield, for your indomitable spirit, growing through the years. Sometimes you were thwarted, hut you kept constantly moving. W e admire your graduates in their service to man throughout the world. And so a toast to you, Springfield, on this birthday, commemorating your golden ANNIVERSARY. “ To you, beloved Springfield, in your success this memorable year. For your value to man, may you never die.” 16