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

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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

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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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Dormitory Events Ernest Danly. i ne of the more important features of the history of our school is a brief outline of life at the dormitory. It is important, more especially to the boys of the school, for various reasons. With the first plans of the school came plans for a dormitory in connection, and as a result we have thl large, pleasant looking building known as “Green Terrace. It is three stories high and is constructed toward the south, facing the school building and at a distance of about a block. The rooms are large and well furnished. The building is heated by steam, lighted by electricity and contains numerous bathrooms, conveniently located. One of the features of the dormitory is its large reception room on the first floor in the center of the building. The bay windows and beautiful stair cases at either end of the room, the post seats and cozy corner, the delicately tinted walls, the rich carpet and substantial mission furniture attract us as we enter. Ever since the dormitory has been open to applicants for rooms it has been filled with charming young ladies. With the beginning of school, Mrs. Eva Case acted as preceptress. By her many deeds of motherly kindness and her noble womanly traits she commanded the love and admiration of all with whom she came in contact. She sought to make those about her happy and in time ol trouble none was more ready to help. As is often the case with those who are always seeking the welfare of others, illness fastened its grip on her life. Immediately the many in whose hearts she had won a place, offered their assistance. After a prolonged illness at the dormitory and at the home of President Thomas, during which time all possible aid was given her, it was thought best to remove her to a hospital. Accordingly she was taken to the Presbyterian hospital at Omaha, where death overcame her. During the time of the more serious illness of Mrs. Case. Miss Anna Caldwell was assigned the duties of preceptress at the dormitory, which position she still retains. By Iter ways she commands the respect of all her girls and maintains the good name of the dormitory. Frequent entertainments and social evenings are given to the public by the girls at the dormitory. These evenings are always thoroughly enjoyed by all who attend. Many other noteworthy events have occurred at this place. The first entertainment of any sort in the history of the school was held in the dormitory. It was a public introduction of the Normal faculty to the people of Kearney. It occurred on Friday evening, July 14, 1905. The receiving line numbered thirty-eight and included members of the faculty and of the board of education. Eight refreshments were served in the dining room. This was the first formal opportunity for the Kearney people to sec what had become of some of their money so generously given in connection with this building and they came in great numbers to inspect. They seemed to be well satisfied with what they saw. With the beginning of school in the next fall part of the enrollment took place at the dormitory. The reception room was used for this purpose and it made a very suitable place when means were so limited. Shortly after this occurred the first V. W, reception to the students of the school. As the students and teachers entered they were given a slip of paper on which was the statement, “I am (give your name,) and the question. “Who are you? With these pinned on our clothes acquaintance with strangers was easily made. Refreshments were served and games played, thus making a delightful evening. 'The next event at the dormitory was a Hallowe’en party. Upon this occasion nearly all the lights were turned off. Jack-’o-lanterns were quite numerous. A small admission was charged at the door, the money thus taken in going for curtains and other needed articles for the dormitory. After entering, the people were escorted about the building, upstairs and down, and through dark chambers and balls, amid a chorus of moans and various other weird sounds. Hideous, mysterious ghosts were on every hand. Our reception was warm, to say the least. We traveled from chamber to chamber, each more terrible than the last, from the home of the Gipsy fortune tellers, to the climax of the weird and ghastly, “the chamber of horrors.” On a couch, among the bones of many animals, lay the remains of the departed, pale and ghastly. About her moved the hideous troop of mourners of every description. It was enough to make one’s hair rise