University of Wisconsin Eau Claire - Periscope Yearbook (Eau Claire, WI)

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History Twenty-five years ago when Superior secured a Normal School. Kau Claire was a contestant for such an institution. There was quite an effort made by Kau Claire, hut Superior offered all the land necessary for the needs of a Normal School, besides a very large sum of money. The result was that the school was built at Superior. Later on when Stevens Point was applying for a Normal School, Eau Claire put forth another effort, but failed. Then in the late 90’s the Normal School at River Falls burned down and Kau Claire again made an effort to secure a school. A very large delegation went down to Madison in a special car. but failed to make an impression on the Regents favorable to Eau Claire. The delegates were from what was then known as the Eau Claire Board of Trade with Eugene Shaw, President, and Emmet Horan, Secretary. There were twenty-two in all going to Madison, among them being the above mentioned two. A. A. Cutter, T. K. Erawley. Sr., Frank McDonough, Sr.t and Ralph Rust. As stated above, we did not seem to make an impression. The delegation from River Falls made a very strong plea. Their principal argument was that the school had been in operation there for many years, and should the location be changed, it would result seriously for the public good and interest of River Falls. After this there was quite a lapse of time before the matter of a school at Eau Claire was brought up again. Then in 1908 the people began to realize that in order to secure a Normal School at Eau Claire, it was absolutely necessary to have a representative on the State Board of Normal Regents. There being a vacancy at this time, the people of the city held a mass meeting for the purpose of recommending a candidate for the position, and unfortunately. I happened to he the one they selected. They sent a long telegram, about two or three hundred words, to Governor Davidson. and after considerable wire-pulling and petitioning, the Governor made the appointment. The people now placed the responsibility on me to secure a Normal School for Eau Claire, and 1 reluctantly accepted, being pretty well aware of the fact that it would require a good deal of time and effort. I immediately started on the Normal School question after my appointment. The Regents looked upon it with derision and thought it a huge joke. However. I kept after them, and at last they changed their minds, and I will say this, that the

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THE HONORABLE EMMET HORAN. An Appreciation 1 he man who regarded his selection and appointment to the State Board of Normal Regents as a commission from the citizens of Eau Claire to bring to this community a State Normal School. Accepting his appointment in that spirit, he never faltered, hut worked untiringly through the years. On October 18. 1916. after eight years of service on the Board, he had the satisfaction of presiding at the dedication ceremonies which marked the formal opening of Wisconsin’s ninth Normal School. The worth of his achievement is not yet fully realized but in the years to come, when the school has grown great, when its influence has spread throughout Wisconsin and the adjoining states, then will the people realize the greatness of this achievement and give all honor to Emmet Horan, friend of education and first Regent of the Eau Claire Normal School.

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Repents were unanimous in their opinion that a Normal School be built in Eau Claire. At the session of 1909, we went before the Legislature and sc-sured the passage of a bill providing that the next Normal School erected should be in Eau Claire on condition that the city furnish all the ground, gratuitously, that would be necessary to take care of the needs of a Normal School in the future. Other cities who were contestants for a Normal School at this time were Marinette, Oconto. Green Bay and Rhinelander. Late in August of 1909 a committee was appointed to come to Eau Claire and select a site for the new school. After a careful consideration of sites, of which there were many, the present site was selected. In 1910 the City of Eau Claire deeded to the State of Wisconsin without cost, twelve acres of land for that purpose. This was accepted by the state. In 1911. when the Legislature met, a hill was passed authorizing the State Board of Normal Regents to improve the grounds selected, and to prepare plans and specifications for the Normal School building, which were to be submitted to the next Legislature. We also secured the passage of another hill, which seemed quite insignificant at that time. The bill provided that the Board of Normal School Regents proceed at once to grade and beautify the Normal School grounds, and that a sufficient sum he allowed out of the general fund to take care of expenses thus incurred. That was an entering wedge, because of the fact that we got some of the state’s money. We did quite a lot of grading the following summer. In 1913 the Legislature, after considering the plans submitted, appropriated the sum of $225,000 for a Normal School building. This amount was divided into three installments of $75,000 each, extending over a period of three years. In September of 1915 we began the foundation of the building. In September 1916. the building was completed. Two years ago we secured an amount of money sufficient to take care of the operating expenses of the school for the year 1916-1917. EMMET HORAN. SIGNS OF SPRING. Out of the clouds comes the sun. Tommy and Tim start to run. They talked to the jay And asked him to stay. He said that he would If he possibly could. Then they danced in high glee. And climbed up in a tree. —Mary Jane Culver, 6th Grade.