Wittenberg University - Witt Yearbook (Springfield, OH)

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Professor Hiller is one oi Wittenberg's fore- most musicians. He also originated the college colors, cardinal and cream, lie wrote the Alma Mater song. The “gab room is a general hang-out at Myers Hall. Co-eds refuse to accept the accusa- tion now. but once they. too. had a gab room. The first door to the left when one enters Reci- tation Hall, led to BLAIR HALL. The other half of the present building program. It was sup- posed to house the academy— but will only serve as a home for the department of educa- tion: since the academy has been discontinued. the abode. The gig- gling from that room is silenced forever. Instead, the click of a typewriter beats out its merry note, for that room is now the college office. The walls used to have inscriptions on them, but now they arc covered with a coat of paint. Tattered carpet i gone forever. Perhaps it was worn by dancing, perhaps by so much treading to and from classes, when co-eds wanted a place to rest. This was the home of the Kuterpca Literary Society, which i' still a campus organization. Keen after Philo and Excel, organizations for which men worked earnestly, are gone. Kuterpea remained. The Budget was once the comic paper of Wittenberg instead of the Witt. Wittenberg men used to imitate professors at Dorm parties even to their faces. Now Wittenberg co-eds imitate them by dressing like them even to slick sheik hair. Fifty years ago men were rushed as eagerly for literary societies as they arc for fraternities today. During the Civil War. the students, who numbered 160. responded so well that they won the com- mendation of the government. Some of them served for three months, while others served from one to three years. The physical side of the college activities of the early days occupied a different position and per- formed a widely different function from the present day athletics. One could scarcely call his student recreation athletics. In the morning before classes the students took walks until the hour for the first recitation, which was nine o’clock. After classes at four in the afternoon, the entire school was allowed to participate in football. There were no co-eds in the school at the time. In the early days of Wittenberg history all students were assessed a poll tax of two dollars road repair, or had to work on the highways two days out of each year. Wittenberg avenue was then a private drive leading to the creek, and the supervisor graciously granted the students permission to cancel their obligation by repairing the roadway. One of Wittenberg’s presidents was Dr. Ort. There are probably more stories told about him than about any of Wittenberg’s presidents. One of Dr. Ort’s favorite stories was the one about the wagon. In the days when the Dorm was lighted by lanterns each evening at dusk. Dr. Ort was proctor. There was a student who drove a big farm wagon laden with supplies from his home in Drake, county. The college fellows liked this wagon so they took it apart and carried it up the front steps to the second fl )or. They had to be quiet when they entered the building so they would not disturb Dr. Ort. Off came their boots in the darkened hall. One had trouble taking his off so he whispered to another who was standing near to hold him while he removed them. The other complied in silence. The next morning he found out that Dr. Ort was the obliging benefactor of the interesting occasion. DR. B. F. PRINCE Laying the cornerstone ot the New Blair Hall. This ceremony was held during the first week of school this year. Five men made up the fac- ulty during the period of the Civil War. Dr. Sprecher was president: Dr. Geiger had [ 19 2 7 WITT F. N B F. R G E R Page Thirteen

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authority. One morning when he came to class he consulted it and found that it registered freezing. The weather was mild outside, 'twas true, hut classrooms are cold for more reasons than one. when it isn’t proper for them to he. And this one was cold apparently. At any rate Dr. Keller dis- missed the class. After they left, the mercury ascended to the normal position in which the stu- dents had found it before they packed it with ice. The present field NEW CHEMISTRY BUILDING This is onc-half of the present building program. It will re- lieve quite a bit of tension for crowded Space for classes in the scientific division. house was for many years the gymnasium and stood along the western part of the campus. Some stu- dents were even so daring as to attend dances and keg parties in this famed building. Perhaps it is just as well that these «lays are past and gone forever. It L the custom at Wittenberg to plant an oak on the campus at commencement. One year the student who was appointed to get the tree experienced considerable difficulty in getting one to suit his taste. Finally he rode down to Clifton on his bicycle, hoping to find a tree so worthy as to be planted on iiis Alma Mater's campus by his fellow class mates, lie returned triumphant with his little tree. At commencement it was planted with due ceremony, and many were the minds that turned to thoughts of great oaks from little acorns grow. Time passed and the tree didn’t grow into a big oak after all for it was a scrub ash. and it didn’t change a bit. A tardy rule was in force thirty years ago or more. In order to maintain it. Sam Keller, professor of mathematics, locked his door after the bell had rung. One day the late comer was Sam Shaffer. ’94. who. when he found the door locked, took time to push his calling card under the door. Professor Keller, who always appreciated good jokes, considered this a huge one. He took the card, but refused to open the door. A day or so later another student tried the same thing. This time Professor Keller’s strong arm reached out. grabbed him. and threw him into his seat. That tardy rule went the way of others. If you think that Wittenberg co-eds are ruthless and heartless today, you should have come to Wittenberg years ago. Then girls gave men the mitten just the same as they do now. To be sure. I)r. I ,.- F. Prince. Wittenberg’s grand old man, found a petrified mitten under a tree and he is sure that that i just what happened. He is certain that a young lady and gentleman were out under the tree t tlking in early spring and that she must have handed him the mitten. If you have a roommate who is interested in journalism it might be well to suggest that the two of you start a print shop on a small scale. That was done once before at Wittenberg, and the tiny shop grew into one of our largest publishing houses. It is the Funk Wagnalls Co.. which publishes The Literary Digest. When Funk and Wagnalls were but lads in college they roomed together at Myers Hall. They started a little print shop of their own just for experiment’s sake and it grew into a large firm. Wittenberg didn't always have a newspaper. The newspaper used to be a tiny tabloid arrangement, and it was called the Wittcnbergcr. Then K. G. Lind got the idea to found a real newspaper on the campus which would meet the requirements of mod rn journalism, so today we have The Torch. Speaking of journalism and good copy, brings to mind a story about our own “K. G. He was grad- uating. The last issue of the Torch for the year had appeared, and lie was justly proud of it. when some one discovered .some plain cuss” words on the back page. K. G” ran hurriedly through his Porch. Sure enough, there they were. The linotype operator became so tired reading poor copy that lie Net up what he was thinking. Men at Myers Hall used to have hoarding clubs the same as now. But instead of one, there were two. They were dubbed the Saints and Sinners. These clubs were conducted by students who took turns in acting as steward. Cooks were hired from the outside. The fare was simple, but nourishing. Meat was served once a day. butter not at all (at least not by the Saints). Board for the Sinners sometimes cost two dollars and fifty cents a week. The LAYING THE CORNERSTONE Saints paid from one dollar At the New Chemistry Building and seventv-five cents to two f commencement time lest , ,, . . , . , , June. Dr. Rees Edgar I u I loss dollars, varying with the food hoIding the docum,.nt. nnd , ro. and the good management. fessor E. A. Jensen, kneeling. 1927 WITTENBERCER 1 I Page Twelve J

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charge of the mathematics and science; Prof. Diehl taught ancient languages; Prof. Isaac Sprecher was principal of the Academy, and Mr. George Sprecher gave Dr. Prince his first Latin lessons. The college grounds extended south to the cliffs which arc now Cliff Park. A few houses were built north of the creek, and the campus was fenced in because the people of Springfield who pastured their cattle along the creek, were always alert to the possibility of cows making themselves at home on Wittenberg campus. Once an actor at- MYERS HALL tended Wittenberg The oldest building on the cam- College. Me was pus. where Dr. Keller held his r-,]l...l lmrtn t(, an- first classes. They were in the called upon to ap far eastern wing. pear before Presi- dent Meckert for some deviation from college rules. Dr. Meckert meted out the punishment which he deserved. The actor took his punishment humbly and promised to observe all the rules of the college thereafter. Not long afterwards Dr. Meckert was invited to attend a Dorm party. The actor put on one of his stunts. The scene was Dr. Heckert's office. A student was on the carpet for breaking the same rule the actor had been arraigned for. The actor, himself, took the part of Dr. Meckert, who had the pleasure of seeing himself as others saw him, and of hearing dic- tated every word said at the meeting where lie had acted as judge. At least one man enjoyed the show, and that was Dr. Meckert. Today Springfield and Wittenberg College may be practically identified. Wittenberg since days of mud roads has been an active force in the city. Dr. Ezra Keller chose the wooded hill for a sanctuary of Lutheran education at the time of the Mexican War. believing at the time that he had placed the col- lege well away from the business of the Cumberland road. Hut since then the city and the college have become adjacent. While many other colleges have been disbanded, or have been merged, or taken away, or have lost their spiritual and cultural identity, Wittenberg has been here since 1845. never closing its doors or concluding a year with a financial deficit. This past sound financial policy has budded a founda- tion for the work of the present period of expansion, and. in spite of this, the college has sent away her sons to the Mexican, Civil and World Wars. In the early 90’s quite a stir was made at Wittenberg by the arrival of the son of a distinguished artist at Mvers Mall. It was rumored that he not only inherited his father’s gift as a painter, but was also an expert performer upon the flute. As time went on. and curiosity and expectation had reached their height, this talented young man was announced as flute soloist at a concert to be given at the First Lutheran church. The church was packed for the occasion, and the audience sat breathless when the artist, in faultless evening dress, not then so common in Springfield, came forward to make his bow and professionally toyed with the keys of his instrument while the prelude to his solo was being played upon the piano. The silence of the audience became more and more intense as the introduction neared its end. and and ail expected to be held by the spell of the first liquid, bird-like tone of the flute. But in the awful stillness only a breath—Pf—pff—was heard. The artist glared at his fine accompanist as it she had been at fault. Silence, it possible, grew more silent as the prelude was repeated. Again only—Pf—pff—came forth. Then, blushing crim- son, the artist addressed the audience as follows: “Ladies and gentlemen, you will really have to excuse me this evening. My mouth is entirely devoid of spit.” Probably no audience ever enjoyed a flute solo so much. The artist HAMMA HALL has since made good as a painter, and is at the present time On the far hill to the north. Seat of the classes of Hamma Divinity School. [ 1927 WITTENBERCER | I Page Fourteen J