University of West Georgia - Chieftain Yearbook (Carrollton, GA)

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to the campus as many students, alumni, and fac- ulty left to defend their country. The school sur- vived the Boll-Weevil Depression of 1920, at which time I. S. Ingram became its head. Enter West Georgia From my lofty height, I wit- nessed in the late 1930 ' s a col- lapse in farm prices. Suddenly, because of a rapid growth of consolidated high schools which overlapped the work of the A. and M. Schools, there was an immediate need for a revision of organizations and objectives. In the place of separate boards of trustees for individual schools and colleges, the state legislature set up a Board of Regents composed of laymen empowered to receive a lump appropriation for higher educa- tion and distribute it to the representative schools according to their needs. I had the high honor of being godfather for West Georgia College, the in- fant daughter of this wise Board of Regents which received its inspiration and authority from the Reorganization Act for Higher Education under the administration of Governor Richard Russell. The Board had abolished all District A. and M. Schools in 1932 and created new institutions, among which was West Georgia College who opened her eyes for the first time, April 15, 1933, combining Bowdon State College, Powder Springs A. and M. School, and Carrollton A. and M. School. Located in Carrollton, it was to be a junior college whose purpose was to emphasize teacher education. Irvine S. Ingram, the former principal of the Fourth Dis- trict A. and M, School, was chosen by the Regents to set up and head the new institution at the origi- nal site of the Fourth District A. and M. School. Following the instructions of the Board under the Chancellorship of Dr. Philip Weltner, this in- fant school flung open with pride her doors to an enrollment of 228 students. Of these 49 transfers from other schools graduated June 6, 1934, in ceremonies in the city auditorium, with Governor Eugene Talmadge presenting the commencement address. realized that here was a man who was fully de- voted to his school, faculty, and students. Mr. In- gram stoo d gallantly while the entire state of Geor- gia asked this question: Will West Georgia College go down to the pits of uselessness, or will it grow and prosper and become Georgia ' s leading junior college? Today we can look about us and realize that this noble man maintained a stalwart faith in God as he led his students toward the school ' s original objective: Progressive Development of Individuals to Take Their Places In and Improve Society. As I watched West Georgia y grow physically, I also saw that she was establishing traditions that would be handed down from generation to generation. But more important was the development of academics, and of places of prominence made by faculty and students. During the year 1917, a second dormitory was erected to house women students. Due to the en- larged enrollment and a new need for additional space, the dining hall was moved to a new structure situated directly behind the academic building. In 1934 the Log Cabin was built for Home Economics classes and new class rooms were added under the old dining hall, which was formerly at the site of the present Science Building. General Extension classes of the University System were set up in 1934 to be within a radius of thirty miles of West Geor- gia College. These classes would allow teachers in the surrounding communities to receive further preparations for teaching their students. Thus even the older teachers acquired invaluable knowledge during the trial years of West Georgia. One may be assured that growth and prosperity of this great institution cannot be attributed to the prominence of academics alone. Often I ob- served men and women slave, study, and strive for dreams of achievement, not only for themselves but also for their beloved school. The President As I watched Mr. Ingram, I Glancing back, a vivid array of faces appear

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Lot no, 99, Land district no. Lot No. 99 jQ.. y Qj.Q he numbers drawn by Lawrence Richardson of Columbia County in the land lottery of 1825. How vivid is that day in my memory, for that is the day I began my vigil from the red hills of Georgia. Mr. Richardson received title to approximately 200 acres of land some- where west of the Chattahooche River. In 1830 the land was sold at public outcry to settle a claim against Richardson. It brought $21, or about ten cents an acre. It passed into the hands of William A. Walsh, who never occupied the land. Obadiah Wright, who at that time was a recent immigrant to the frontier county, secured the land and made some clearings and improvements. Before the end of the decade it was again sold at the fall of the sheriff ' s hammer. By this time cotton was now king and the red soil of the land provided a new means of wealth. Thomas Bonner from Clarke County bought it and immediately engaged Y. Hendrix to construct a permanent dwelling house there. This was completed in 1844. The big house stood then on a little knoll about halfway between the road and our present drive. Twenty yards farther back, where Adamson Hall now stands, was the kitchen, in which the house servants cooked the food which was brought into the dining room on large trays. A commissary room joined the kitchen, and a smokehouse stood not far away. Across the road in front of the dwelling were the barns, the gin house and a cotton press. The slave quarters were strung along the ridge from the rear of the kitchen to the present site of the Admin- istration Building. The burying ground for the slaves was the area now occupied by Melson Hall. In 1860 I sadly watched as Bonner ' s two sons marched off with a company of volunteers to the tune of Jim Patrick ' s flute. Late in 1863, several thousand federal cavalry under General Stoneman, marching from Selma, Alabama, to join Sherman below Jonesboro, passed along the road which now fronts the campus. Some of their foragers raided the smokehouse and barns, taking hams, shoulders, milk, eggs, flour, corn, and hay. They did not burn anything and did not molest the women. Peace came, followed by reconstruction and eco- nomic and social adjustments. The land in time became the property of the Sharp family, and in 1906 it was deeded to the board of trustees of the Fourth District A and M School. The idea of the Agricultural and Mechanical Schools originated with Governor Joseph M. Ter- rell in 1902, but the bill creating them was not passed by the General Assembly until 1906. The citizens of CarroUton and Carroll County donated the ponderous sum of $39,000, with hghts and water for ten years, for the establishment of the Fourth District School. Of this amount $9,000 was paid for two hundred and seventy acres of land, which was bought from B. A. Sharp. The first two buildings, the boys ' dormitory, now Mel- son Hall, and the Administration Building, were erected by Mandeville and Aycock, contractors, for $30,000, which represented the actual cost of building, plus one per cent. Each bedroom had a double bed, a combination dresser and washstand, a study table, a washstand set, two straight chairs, a Hot Stuff Heater, and shades. The classrooms, domestic science depart- ment, dining hall, and kitchen in the Administra- tion Building were adequately equipped. The price of board the first month per pupil was seven dollars and thirty-five cents, which repre- sented the actual cost of provisions and fuel. Dur- ing the first thirteen years, the board rarely ex- ceeded eleven dollars. Professor J. H. Melson became the school ' s first principal and served for the first thirteen years of its life. Much of the success of the A. and M. School was due to the efforts of Professor Melson during the time he headed the institution. Melson Hall was named in his honor. The A. and M. School flourished until America ' s entry into World War I in 1917 brought sadness I J I I '

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before me. There are faculty members and students who devoted time, energy, and talents so that future generations could profit from their efforts. During the depression years, competent faculty persons were available, and West Georgia College was fortunate to secure such services as those of Dr. James Boyd of Georgia Institute of Technol- ogy ;Dr. Robert Strozier, president of Florida State University; Miss Anne Weaver, Librarian; the late professor of English, Gordon Watson of Alabama State Teachers College; Dr. J, C. Bonner, Head of History Department, Georgia State College for Women; Dr. L. E. Roberts, President of Middle Georgia College; and others of comparable train- ing and experience. Dr. Gunn was the first Dean of West Georgia College and Miss Sara Ward was the first Dean of Women. Mr. Strozier was first Dean of Men. It would be quite difficult to verbally express the appreciation and esteem the students as well as fellow professors held for these people I have named. I saw the first scared, timid, and boisterous fresh- man don the now traditional red and blue rat caps which are still a very definite part of West Georgia life. The school colors of red and blue were selected by the faculty and approved by the student body. The red was to represent hardship, glory, and honor in addition to the main branch of the Red and Black in Athens. The blue was to represent hon- esty, sportsmanship, loyalty, and truthfulness. To- day ' s West Georgia students are just as proud to wave high the banners of red and blue as those were who set the precedent. After much dissension over the choice of the college emblem, the students adopted Braves in honor of Mcintosh, the half-breed Indian who aided the federal government in procuring a treaty with the Indians, which opened the western sectors of Georgia for settlement by the white man. In honor of the memory of Mcintosh, the horse block was procured and placed in the corner stone of Adamson Hall. From an editorial in The West Georgian, November 17, 1933, are taken these words, The state of Georgia, the western part, and even our campus are marked by the Indians. This horse block has been removed and now stands as a small monument near the east gate of the front campus. I become quite amused when I see today ' s stu- dents complaining about their one weekly assembly. While West Georgia began making history, she required her students to attend chapel twice each week. One chapel program was of a devotional nature and the other featured speakers and student- presented programs. Freshmen then were allowed two dates per week. For entertainment, couples and groups played games and made conversation . In the early thir- ties, social dancing was pronounced as a part of the physical education program by Dr. D. M. Bras- well, physical education director. He said, A few years ago the person who danced was automatically stereotyped and placed in the great class of people who would, by dancing, wreck their lives and be of no worth to cooperative commonwealth. Hap- pily this attitude is changing by more and more people securing opportunities to see and experience real social dancing. Today I smile as lovely belles and proud gentlemen maintain the tradition of dancing as the most popular source of recreation on the campus. Vespers were inaugurated during the first year of the life of West Georgia. These services were held ' weekly on Sunday evenings to complete the day ' s devotional services and to give all a chance to experience Christian fellowship right here on the campus. I am grateful that this facet of col- lege life has been retained by my sons and daugh- ters. Vespers has served through the years as a link between college, the students ' new home, and the churches of CarroUton. June 1, 1938, marked the adoption of the West Georgia College alma mater, which was written by