Western Michigan University - Brown and Gold Yearbook (Kalamazoo, MI)

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PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE Once upon a time, thus all fairy stories commence, so must this as it is a fairy tale that is true — two men climbed a high, steep hill covered with long dead grass, misshapen trees, and small shrubs. It was an April morning, the earth had not yet blossomed forth in all her spring glory to cover the ugly defects of this hill. Nevertheless, these men who climbed had great visions, visions so wonderful and so happy in their culmination that this story may be called a fairy tale. The men who climbed that April morning are two friends of ours. Pres- ident Waldo and Dr. Burnham. As they gazed over the hill, when they reached the top, they saw not only the city at their feet, but looking into the future, that hill so barren and forsaken was covered with beautiful buildings surrounded by w ell kept lawns and neat shrubs. They saw in the future that which we to-day enjoy. This indeed was the beginning of Western State Normal School, though actual building operations were not started for some time. Until a building was erected, classes were held elsewhere. The first summer session met in the Vine Street School, which was then a new building. Classes the first year were held in the old Baptist College located between Oakland Drive and Lovell Street. Thus the work of organization was well started v hen the building on the hill was completed. How different the hill then looked! A part of that vision had come true. Among those who formed that first group of teachers are two that we know well — Mr. Wood, who then had the entire science department, and Dr. Burnham who had charge of the preparatory work in addition to the rural department. While the group of students was small, numbering about one hundred that first year, that democratic spirit was engendered which is so evident in the school to-day. Everyone, students and faculty attended all social functions. Athletic activities were aided by the faculty men who were not

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PRESIDENT DWIGHT B. WALDO, A. M., LL. D.

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averse to pitching an inning or taking the twenty yard dash for the sake of the fun and rivalry. To this right beginning may be given the credit for the com- radeship of the present time. So the school has grown, until now with its three large buildings it rep- resents an investment of $545,000. The last one to be erected was a splen- did science building completely equipped. As the school has added buildings so has it increased its capable faculty, making possible new departments. The State Legislature has been very generous to the school, making in 1915, an appropriation of $480,000, which as yet has not been used. This summer the Manual Arts buildings will be started, to be followed by a new li- brary in which to adequately house the 19,500 volumes and 229 periodicals and new spapers. In addition to these buildings the school, co-operating with two rural districts, has the supervision over model rural schools, one located at Oak- wood, and the other on Michigan Avenue. Thus has materialized that vision of those two men, who saw so far into the future, if this were a fairy story of the usual type, we would say that they lived happily ever after, but instead we wish the school more than mere happiness. May the future bring as much as the past has given. FIRST NORMAL BUILDING 12