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

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y, few text books. Here It was altogether a glo- d. This of course was a 1 coupled on to the heat Before this it had been a and the obstacles that at udents were permitted to ud by those in the same ipe red. Then things did to direct students to a few dents in there, too, were story and Mrs. Richmond meed. On December 20, i real earnest for the first ms pennants were waved, regg and Childs did, and attired in caps and gowns. Ld begun to form its own zell. Mercer. Ludden, Me with two beautiful chairs i instructors in these lines ncluding many prominent iperintendent Abbott gave gether it was a great nine . The school organization as seemed to move with the ep” is the word to the new icultv meetings, which are Sketch of S chool Life at the Normal (Concluded) calculated to keep the instructors out of ruts, and to put them in touch with the best thought and the best people of the day, and so far they have not only done this but have afforded most pleasant evenings from the social standpoint. On February 21, 1907, President Thomas’s new home was formally installed into the Normal scheme. The occasion was the second pro- fessional faculty meeting. It was just a family gathering of the Normal folks, at any rate that was the way the host and hostess made them feel. They were given permission to inspect the new house. Some had built, some had future intentions, all were interested. Well, it was a great meet- ing, strictly professional,4’ and one long to be remembered. But it was only one, for since that time it has been the scene of many delightful evenings for faculty, for students, and for the educational friends of Kearney. People are made to feel at home at President Thomas's house, something is always in store for those invited, and one goes away feeling that it was good to be there. The Normal has received two visits from the State Examining Board. The first was made on Friday, May 17, 1907. F. B. Sherman and C. A. Fulmer were the members present, and though Friday is a poor day to see the school in good working trim, they had some very flatter- ing statements to make about what they saw. One of them stated that they came to Kearney with a standard in mind by which to measure the work. It not only came up to the standard hut stuck up above it. On their next visit, in the fall of 1907, the whole committee, Superintendent Fulmer, Superintendent Bodwell and Principal Cora O’Connell were present. They had words of praise similar to those made on the first visit. The summer school of 1907 was like the preceding one, full of hard work for teachers and students. There were present many who had taught a number of years successfully, and came for special work along some line. The great event of the session was the visit of Governor Sheldon and wife on July 25. It was a hot day. They arrived in the afternoon. Chapel was called at 3:30. Being near the close of the term many students had already gone home. However, in the face of such obstacles, a chapel full of students greeted tine governor. That evening President Thomas gave a reception at his home in honor of the governor and wife. The first semester of 1907-08 started off exactly according to schedule with a good attendance in spite of the new entrance requirements. During the vacation great improvements were made in the building. The walls and ceilings of all the hallways and some of the rooms were beautifully tinted and the floors were oiled. Later some much needed and most convenient furniture was added to the office and to the library. Valuable additions have also been made to the laboratories and to the school in every particular. Something lias been done, too, in the line of decorations. The first piece was a bust of Shakespeare given by the Italian artist, who made the moulds for the capital stones in the building. Professor Murch donated the silk flag that hangs in chapel, and Mr. Gregg the large one that floats from the Normal flag pole. The class of ’07 left as their memorial the “Winged Victory” on the second floor. The debating society contributed the beautiful oak base it stands on. Money is already in the treasury to purchase a number of handsome pictures for wall decorations. Such is the life of this flourishing educational giant of the west. All are kept at work, all lines are advanced; the same spirit pervades the whole movement. What of its future? Let him who dares, prophesy.

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Sketch of School Life at the Normal (Continued) was terrific. No heat in the building, not a door swung, not a casing on, few of the floors laid, no blackboards, no library, few text books. Here certainly was a chance for patience and good feeling and it came in abundance. All laughed and joked and did their best. It was altogether a glo- rious beginning. On October 1 the first door casing was put in. Heat was soon needed, and the little oil stove was produced. I his of course was a mere hint at heat, and was generally so taken alongWith the rest of the jokes. By November 1 two traction engines had coupled on to the heat pipes, and then things went fine until the heating plant was finished. By this date, too, one stairway was completed. Before this it had been a rather rickety climb from one floor to another. But from this time on the school grew constantly and in all directions, and the obstacles that at first had scented so ominous, one by one began to vanish. Teachers began to hear classes twice in the same place. Students were permitted to pass from one room to another without carrying chairs with them. Enough text books were accumulated to go around by those in the same family, or same immediate neighborhood, doubling up. In time—a long, long time, it seemed, blackboards actually appeared. 1 hen tilings did boom; but for some time a search warrant was necessary in order to find chalk and erasers. Soon Miss Jennings began to direct students to a few j straggling books on the library shelves, and an occasional whiff from Professor Sutton's door indicated that the students in there, too, were getting a taste of real life. On Tuesday, December 19, a special Christmas program was given in chapel. Miss Caldwell told a Christmas story and Mrs. Richmond sang a Christmas song. The board of education expected to be present the next day and a special program was announced. On December 20, j which was the last day before the holiday vacation, the students assembled in chapel early and school spirit broke out in real earnest for the first time in the history of the school. Volley on volley of class yells rolled up from various parts of the room and numerous pennants were waved. It was a great exhibition for fifteen or twenty minutes. The full board did not get in in time to see it, but Messrs, (iregg and Childs did, and both made speeches. May 18, 1906, was Senior day. The class marched into chapel preceded by President Thomas and Dr. Clark, all attired in caps and gowns. he room had been decorated in their class colors. It was quite an impressive sight, and indicated that the Normal had begun to form its own traditions. On the evening of May 28, a public reception was given in the chapel. Speeches were made by Messrs. Delzell. Slercer, Ludden, Me-1 Brien, Majors, John Dryden and Governor Mickey. The students and faculty presented President and Mrs. Thomas with two beautiful chairs for their new home which was then building. Summer school opened June 6. Students fairly poured in and they all wanted to take the five essentials. I he instructors in these lines were almost buried alive, but they all lived through it. There were many visitors from various parts of the state, including many prominent educators. 'The school was enlivened by a number of special county days and some good programs were rendered. Superintendent Abbott gave his illustrated lecture on “The Philippines” and the Slayton Jubilee Singers entertained the students one evening. Altogether it was a great nine weeks’ work. The year 1906-07 started off quietly with a large attendance and “business” written on every feature of the work. The school organization seemed to be complete, a school tradition established, student organization aroused to the opportunities. Everything has seemed to move with the swing of an old school ever since, no grand stand plays, but good, solid, earnest work toward a definite goal. “Catch step” is the word to the new students and it is remarkable how soon they get into line. In this year President Thomas began the professional faculty meetings, which are calculated to kee] not only done th On Febru fcssional faculty They were given ing. strictly “pre evenings for face something is alw The Non and C. A. Fulme ing statements to work. It not on Fulmer, Superini 'The sumo taught a number Sheldon and wife many students ha President Thoms The first: During the vacai beautifully tintec Valuable additiui decorations. Th Professor Murch left as their mem already in the tre west. All are ke prophesy.

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( ne t to the boys o have t hr lar£ school buildi electricity an iloor in the c delicately tir applicants ft) With traits she cot trouble none her life. Im the home of she was taker utui C'aldwc all her girls i Fretju enjoyed by a x hool was he July 14, 190' were served i generously gi xiw. With i purpose and i school. As t question, ‘‘W sanies played lights were tu curtains and through dark reception was 1 «utuue teller.4 «4 the depart