University of Idaho - Gem of the Mountains Yearbook (Moscow, ID)

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RIDENBAUGH HALL Sekt al

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The Armory and Gymnasium The students are this year happy over the possession of a new Armory and Gymnasium. Certainly it has been needed! Think of our boys being expected to break the world’s records with no place save the garret of the Administration Build- ing in which to do the winter training; and fancy the girls of the P. T. A. doing their basket ball practice and other little stunts in fear and trembling on the upper floor of the Mining Building—being reminded always by their dear teacher that they have promised to be “very careful that no plaster is jarred from the walls.” And imagine the horror of a young and unprotected maiden when she enters the ground floor of the Administration Building some stormy noon, only to distinguish through the gloom the measured tread of many feet, the rattle of musketry and the glitter of steel, and suddenly to find the guns of an entire army leveled upon her! Of course she usually screams and the soldiers grin,—which assures her at once that they are mere men and not “warriors bold.” But the end of all these blood-curdling scenes is at hand. We have our Gym and we hope soon to have some apparatus. In 1903 the legislature granted an appropriation of $25,000.00 for an Armory and Gymnasium. Everyone who was in school that day when the telegram was received remembers the exciting times. A quarter holiday was declared ‘and all the students went down town to demonstrate to the natives by means of band music, ‘Varsity yells and banners that college people are a most appreciative class of human beings. In May 1904 the contract for the work was awarded and work was pushed to a completion. The building is to the northwest of the Administration Build- ing about seventy yards. It is a commodious structure 120 by 7o feet, built of red pressed brick having a basalt basement and trimmed with granite. In the basement are the baths, locker rooms and the military drill rooms together with equipment storage rooms. The offices and main hall are on the first floor. On the upper floor are the reception rooms, gallery and the running track. The interior finish is plain—even severe—imposing upon one its massiveness and stability. From our University have gone athletes and military men to many parts of the world, and some of them have won such laurels that we have quite forgiven them for racking our nerves by giving us a miniature earthquake every evening when they flock to the little gym in the attic and when they were drilling in the basement of the “Ad.” If the boys have gained such honors under previous in- adequate conditions, is it not t o be feared that with our new Armory and Gym- nasium we shall weep in vain for other worlds to conquer? 27

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Ridenbaugh Hall The State Legislature of 1901 made an appropriation for a girls’ dormitory at the University. It was a generous gift from the taxpayers of the state to the young women of Idaho. The building was erected in tgo2 and dedicated to, and named in honor of, Mrs. Mary E. Ridenbaugh, vice-president of the Board of Regents. ‘This was a fitting testimonial to the active interest taken by her in the accomplishment of this object. The hall was opened in April of the same year, and its comforts, cheerful surroundings and pleasant home- like life have brought many young women under its direct influence. One of the pleasant features connected with the dormitory is the “Riden- baugh Reading Club,” which was formed in November, 1902. The object of the club is that it should represent the iniellectual life of the Hall. Each member is assessed a small amount annually and this fund is used for subscrip- tions to current periodicals. Several contributions of books have been made to the library,—chiefly by Mrs. Ridenbaugh. Those who are familiar with dormitory life understand that, if rightly di- rected, it becomes one of the most helpful influences in a young woman’s edu- cation. By the constant association with others the individual view point is extended; we become more thoughtful of the opinions of our neighbors; take a keener interest in one another’s joys and sorrows; become observant of the little courtesies of everyday life which mean so much; and unconsciously learn many things not found in books, that will broaden our minds, strengthen our characters and make us worthy of being counted true college women.