University of Wisconsin Stevens Point - Horizon / Iris Yearbook (Stevens Point, WI)

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FACULTY 1913 Prudence Cutmcht Critic (Primary) 1913 Martha Lancwill Critic (Grammar Room) 1913 Frank Watson Geography Jessie Burce Faculty Editor 17

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THE TALE OF TWENTY YEARS In the heart of the ruined palace I came on an ancient man; He told me a tale of the vanished throng, And this is the way it ran. 'The good old state of Massachusetts, famous for its historic elms and oaks—sent forth an acorn which fell on the hard, unturned soil of the 'Territory of Wisconsin near where the capitol at Madison stands today. 'Though the ground soon proved mellow and rich, the atmosphere remained cold and uninviting, and the acorn lay on the ground, unable to send forth rootlets. One day, however, some hoary-headed bewhiskered men picked up the acorn, and knew it to be one from the 'Tree of Knowledge. 'They planted it carefully in the vicinity of the state house and it grew and flourished. But though its broad branches gave grateful shade to those who came under its kindly shelter, there were many who could not come to the great tree, and as the years passed, there came to be many in our growing commonwealth who called out despairingly, “Send us, a tree also, our fathers, or we faint on the barren wastes, under the blazing shafts of ignorance.” 'Then the Solons shook their heads in disapproval, saying, “We must not let the people die in want of Knowledge. Let us transplant some of the rootlets of our beautiful tree, and employ caretakers to nourish them.” Accordingly, after a few years, five little sprouts had been dug up and replanted in places the most favorable for the growtth and protection of the little shoots. 'These places were Platte-ville, Whitewater, Oshkosh, Milwaukee, and River Falls. Shortly after this the caretakers discovered a sixth rootlet which they wished to transplant. They anxiously looked over all the land in the state “north of the north line of 'Township Number Twenty-four, north.” After careful inspection and thought one of them said: “In my travels I saw a spot where the sunshine in its dazzling brightness, the rains in gentle frequency, and the soil of golden sand as soft as down, seemed to be Mother Nature’s own choice for the bed of our little seedling. ’Tis a point in Portage County where the Wisconsin winds past a stately city. Tell me, worthy Solons, shall wc not decide on Stevens Point?” With one acclaim they all assented, and on July 22, 1893, the city of Stevens Point was made the proud possessor of the sixth normal school, largely through the effort of Judge B. B. Park, one of our legislators. How' great has been its growth, how fondly it has been cherished, how carefully nourished, it is for us now to consider. When the little root reached Stevens Point some of the care-takers were greatly troubled about a suitable habitation for the production of the delicate stalk. Soon, however, a practicable plan for the building was adopted, and on November 3, 1893, the contract was let to E. Bonnett and Son. 'The great railroad strike of 1894 delayed the transportation of materials. Thus it was not until September 17, 1894, that the school opened its doors to students. The dedication took place October 18. The building then occupied a fine site of five acres, fronting on Main Street in the Eastern part of the city. 'The lawn had been leveled and given a finely prepared top and a beginning was made in beautifying the grounds. 'The building is of Black River Falls pressed brick, rising above 3 basement wall of cream-colored sandstone, with light terra-cotta trimmings. In the basement of the building are the fuel and boiler-rooms, janitor’s apartments, and men’s cloak rooms. The basement also contains playgrounds for the children of the Model school, floors of the gymnasium, well-furnished bathrooms and dressing-rooms adjacent to the gymnasium. 'The first floor is almost wholly given up to the Model School, except that portion occupied by the upper portion of the gym- It is written— “The realization shall he greater than the dream. 19