University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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board . Thos. in car- ted the recep- i t lion, le first tution. ley the 2.811; 9,150; I made uh, of History of the Normal in the West (Concluded.) heating, new plumbing and painting. The main site given by Kearney was originally divided by several streets and the tract contained more than twenty acres, besides one and one-half acres across the street on which Green Terrace is located. On October 15 the members of the board again visited Kearney. I’he next day, accompanied by Architect Berlinghoff, C. H. Gregg and J. (I. I.owe. they drove out to Green Terrace, inspected it and gave instructions to Architect Berlinghoff to prepare plans and specifications lor repairs on it. These were approved on November 9 at Lincoln, but in December plans not requiring so great expense were presented by Messrs. Gregg and Thomas, and were accepted, the work to be done by the city of Kearney. Early in the spring Architect BerlinghofTs plans for the Normal itself were accepted and the contract let to Kimtzen Isdell The hoard met again in Kearney, June 3. 1904. Those present were Messrs. Majors. Rogers. Ludilen, Delzell and Fowler. They drove out to the site to select the location for the building. Architect Berlinghoff was to have been there to stake it off but was detained by high water. It was decided that the building should face the east, across the center of Twenty-fifth street, 250 feet back from the lot line. It was also decided that there should be public driveways fifty feet wide and extending in curved lines from 'Twenty-fifth street and Ninth avenue, around the ends of the buildings to Tenth avenue. Later the bonds of Knutzen Isdell to construct the building were approved. Thus was com- pleted one great chapter in the history of this State Normal, and a notable one in the history of Kearney enterprise. CAR. IVVN. •cation R, The • rirac- being vc rage offered • team

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History of The Normal m the West (Continued,) The state board of education, while making a tour of western Nebraska viewing locations, visited tvearm U 'U' lake, power plant, and principal school buildings, and were given a hurried view of the town to judge of surroundings. In tion and banquet was given in the rooms of the Hamilton Loan and Trust building, now occupied by the Farmers Bank, .if the banquet was given in the rooms ol the Hamilton Loan and t rust building, now occupied oy tne varmers manic. vfter i » E. C. Calkins took charge of the gathering and announced that the claims of Kearney for the new Normal would iw he pres- speaker was John N. Dryden. He represented the moral and educational features of the town as well adapted to the needs of su Professor A. O. Thomas gave figures relative to the population within a radius of one hundred miles of Kearney, that tended to logical situation for the new school. Some of these figures are as follows: Population of state, 1,066,300; within the named - school population of state, 275,340; within radius, 120,294; eleven state institutions south of Platte, four north of it; teacher- within the radius, 3,485. He also gave a table of distances by rail from all important points to Kearney. The members ni responses, and speeches were made by Messrs. Frank Harrison, Hostetler, Murch and Brown. The results of all of Kearney’s exertions for the western Normal are seen in the following extracts from the Kearne September 1, 1903: “The following brief telegraphic specials were received from 4 o’clock until 4:20 this afternoon: The First Bulletin. Lincoln, Neb., September 1.—After one hundred and eleven ballots Kearney secured the location of the State Normal sch«« Lin ni n Norris Brown Congratulates. Lincoln, Neb.. September I.—Kearney wins on hundred and eleventh ballot. Congratulations. No Last Vote in Detail. Lincoln, Neb., September 1.—After one hundred and eleven ballots the state board of education selected Kearney a for the Normal school. Last ballot gave Broken Bow 2, Kearney 4, Ord 1. Selection made at 3:15 o’clock. 'in n Within a few minutes after the receipt of the last bulletin the news was pretty well over town and then something hr steam laundry and flour mill whistles set the noise going and soon every noisy contrivances that could be got hold of was used to nv Here are some of the reasons why Kearney secured the Normal: All of the educational interests of the state were V tically one fifth of the territory of Nebraska, therefore the Normal should be as far west as Kearney; railroad facilities ;k daylight runs from all principal points; its location is proven by statistics of the past twenty years; it has a beautiful locatio and lighting systems, and in addition the town donated a fine plot of land, well located, and a beautiful dormitory. At the meeting of the hoard on October 3, by unanimous vote of the six members present, the deeds to the site a'd by Kearney were accepted as were also the bonds covering an agreement to repair Green Terrace. Among the r jpairs s • I 1 board . Thus, in cal- led the recep- •t Hon. te first tution. ley the 2.81 lj 9,150; I made ub, of Tar. WN. ) cat ion R. The noise.” i nrac- being verage offered steam

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Laying of the Cornerstone Lydia Salgren. The laying of the corner stone of the State Normal school occurred October 18, 1904, under the auspices of the Nebraska Grand Lodge, A. F. A. M. A severe rain storm interfered with the ceremonies, but hundreds of men. women and children braved the elements to witness this auspicious event, which was to mean so much to future generations in western Nebraska. Neither the roll of thunder nor the tattoo of falling hail could dampen the enthusiasm of this memorable gathering. Grand Master C. K. Burnham had charge of the ceremonies and his voice rang clear and strong amid the disturbance of the elements and it seemed to lend additional impressiveness to the ceremonies, by reason of the stormy setting, bringing to mind that perhaps many a storm would have to be braved by the founders of the institution before they would be permitted to see the full fruition of their cherished hopes. The grand officers who participated were Charles K. Burnham, G. M.; F. j. Switz, D. G. M.j H. A. Cheney, G. S. W.; L. H. Blackledge. G. J. V.; J. L). Hawthorne, G. T.; G. E. Haase, G. M.; A he Newcomb, G. S. W.; C. W. Gibbs, G. J. W.; Geo. C. Ray, G. S. B.; P. T. Lambert. G. T.; Rev. A. Lemkau, Puisant; S. J. Fair. A. H. Morris, G. W. Barker and J. Wilson, stewards ; George A. Beecher, G. C.; and Norris Brown, orator of the day. In the box which was imbedded in the corner stone was placed the following articles: Proceedings of the grand lodge of Nebraska for the year 1904; proceedings of the grand council of Nebraska for 1903 and 1904: proceedings of the Grand Commnndery of Nebraska for 1903 and 1904 : copy of the laws of Free Masonry for Nebraska; election of 1904 ; copy of the Holy Bible; directory of Rob Morris Lodge No. 46 and by-laws of the same; directory of Kearney Chapter No. 23, R. A. M.; directory of Ht. Hebron Commandery No. 12, K. I'.; directory of Tuscan Chapter No. 35; copy of the session laws of the state for 1903; annual catalogue of the State Normal school at Peru; letterhead of the State Normal school at Peru; abstract of the proceedings of the board of education declaring Kearney the choice for the location of the new school; prospectus of the Peru summer school, S. N., 1904; copy of the invitation sent out by the state board of education; proposal of the citizens of Kearney to the state board; views of Kearney; list of subscribers to the subsidy fund for location of school; copies of the Daily Hub, Kearney Democrat. New Era-Standard, Journal, Poultry and Dairy Journal. Industrial School Courier, and a roster of the city of Kearney for 1904. The inscription on the east side of the stone is as follows: “Laid by Grand Lodge, A. F. A. L, October 18, A. D, 1904, A. L. 5904, Charles E. Burnham, grand master.” The inscription on the north side is as follows: “Board of Education—R. A. Tawney, president; W. K. Fowler, secretary; Peter Mortensen, treasurer; L. P. Ludden, T. J. Majors, J. E. Delzell, C. H. Gregg. C. E. Berlinghoff, architect; Knutzen Isdell, contractors.” A mass meeting at the opera house in the evening was called to order at eight o'clock by Superintendent A. (). Thomas. The house was filled to overflowing. Seated on the stage with the members of the board were such prominent men as E. Benjamin Andrews, chancellor of the State University; Professor J. W. Crabtree, president of the Peru Normal; Hon. Moses P. Kinkaid, congressman from the Sixth district; mem- bers of the Grand Lodge of Masons, and other distinguished visitors. After special music Superintendent Thomas introduced Chancellor Andrews who made a short address of felicitation on the location of the school in the city. He reminded the people of Kearney that in the bestowal of such a school a responsibility was also involved and that on the citizens of Kearney rested, in a great measure, the failure or success of the school. This was followed by a short address by Professor Crabtree and State Superintendent Fowler, which were followed by a vocal solo by Miss Beulah Greene. The address of the evening was made by Hon. Norris Brown. In part Mr. Brown said: “My friends, you people look mighty good to me. This has been one of the best days of my life. One hundred and thirty-five years ago today it rained. On that memorable day the municipality of Peru was incorporated. Ever since then the Normal school spirit has been rampant.” Following along practical lines in a twenty minute speech, the speaker declared that education was the supreme test of civilization and that with it there is advancement in all things, moral, spiritual and temporal. The program for the evening was closed with a piano solo by Mrs. II. J. Hull and a vocal duet by Mesdames Stickel and Steadman.