University of Wisconsin River Falls - Meletean Yearbook (River Falls, WI)

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CONTENTS 0 THE COLLEGE 0 ACTIVITIES 0 SPORTS

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FOREWORD 1949 marks the seventy-fifth year since the founding of the River Falls State Teachers College, and the '49 MELETEAN in addition to reviewing people and events of the past year also pays honor to the people and events of former years that have made the College what it is today. 6

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THE OLD NORMAL SCHOOL BUILDING THE FIRST BUILDING ON THE CAMPUS ERECTED 1875 DESTROYED BY FIRE 1897 THE RIVER FALLS STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE Founded 1874, the fourth normal school to be established in Wisconsin by the Board of Regents of Normal Schools. Opened 1875 with a faculty of nine and a student body in the Normal Department of 104. 1897— The Normal School building destroyed by fire. The school opened at one o'clock the next afternoon in buildings offered by citizens of River Falls, and continued during the year without the loss of a single student and but one half day's loss occasioned by the fire. 1898— South Hall erected and opened September 6. 1909—First summer session held. 1912—Department of Agriculture established. 1914—North Hall constructed. Two tracts of farm land, aggregating about forty-five acres, purchased. 1917- 1920—Further purchase of farm lands. 1918— Barracks built in 1917 for a unit of the Student Army Training Corps transformed into shops for the Agricultural Mechanics department. 1920—Athletic field purchased. 1926- 1927—Four-year courses leading to the degree of bachelor of educa-cation established. The River Falls Normal School becomes the River Falls State Teachers College. 1927— The Training School Building constructed. 1930—Industrial Arts Building completed. 1935— River Falls State Teachers College granted accreditment in the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. 1945—Appropriation of $347,000 by the state legislature for the construction of new buildings. A part of this fund used to construct the Campus Apartments for married veterans and to purchase houses which have been converted into residences for students, especially a dormitory for freshman girls. 1948—Completion of addition to the Industrial Arts Building. 1948-1949—College enrollment breaks all-time record with an attendance of 831. 8