Washington State University - Chinook Yearbook (Pullman, WA)

Page 24 text:

mo The night of January 12, 1892, a lone student spent a long, cold night alone in a tiny building on top of a deserted hill, keeping the fires going so that the plaster would be dry before morning. The next morning, five faculty members opened the first classes of the new Washington State Agricultural College and School of Science. The facilities were meager and the country dreary. The tiny build¬ ing—to be named the “Crib” by later students—measured only 36 by 60 feet. A town of 350 persons huddled in the valley at the bottom of “College Hill.” Not a house or barn dotted the hill be¬ tween the college building and Main street, only a widening path connected the two. The town of Pullman didn’t look much like a college town in those days. Its main traffic consisted of cowboys ambling along Main street in chaps and sombreros or prospectors eagerly urging their pack burros westward. The students bore little resemblance to collegians of today. For the majority who were unable to pass “the satisfactory examination in reading, spelling, penmanship, arith metic, grammar, geography and United States history” required for freshman standing in the new institution, preparatory courses were offered. But the little college in the middle of the Palouse survived. By 1893 a dormitory was erected—Old Ferry hall—which housed 136 students, and two years later familiar landmarks Stevens hall and the Administra¬ tion building stood solidly on the hillside. Enrollment had risen considerably, many students were working their way through school at a wage of 12 4 cents an hour. In the early years of the 20th century, the college became what we know it as today. Bryan, College, Van Doren, Morrill, Ferry — following its predecessor which burned down in 1897 — and Science (now Arts) halls all were placed on the hill. In the meantime, the town of Pullman was growing upward to meet the college. In 1905, the unwieldy title was officially changed to the “State College of Washington.” Just after the turn of the century, college officials decided to build a gymnasium. Having only enough bricks to construct the outer walls, they tore down the “Crib,” cleaned off its bricks and used them for the inner walls of the gym. These bricks have seen the building change from the men’s to the women’s gym, thence to army headquarters and emergency dorm during World War Two, most recently to the home of “TUB labbers”—until now, with the advent of the CUB, a lonely shell with an undetermined future.

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Qovernor Langlie Re-elected last fall as chief executive of the State of Washington, Governor Langlie has continued his support to the program of the State College. He has faith in the promise that agricultural education and experimentation hold for the future of the State of Washington; he has al¬ ways been most interested in the agricultural work of the college. No stranger to the Palouse country, he visits the Pullman area often. Not all trips are business. Last fall he enjoyed a cen¬ tral spot in WSC Home¬ coming activities as he crowned Queen Angie Snook during halftime fes¬ tivities of the Homecom¬ ing game with Oregon State. Himself a graduate of the University of Wash¬ ington, he attended the alumni banquet and Homecoming ball with as much energy as any re¬ turning grad—andcheered the colorful homecoming floats along with loyal collegians. Governor Langlie chats with President French (left), during Homecoming ceremonies at halftime 24