May 2019 – DreamersAndGiants.com

A May to Remember

What a week that must have been!

Baccalaureate, Commencement, Dedications, Banquets, Receptions, Reunions, Trustee and Alumni Council Meetings and more. Kind of like Homecoming, Commencement, and Annual Conference all rolled together. But, then, all of these things were very interconnected. Many of the same people were involved, so it must have sounded like a great idea to do it in this way.

Each of these events had one or more Bishops in attendance, and each of these Bishops were world leaders.

May 26, 1953 was the 63rd Annual Commencement – with Bishop Corson as the main speaker.
May 27, 1953 was the dedication of the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library – which included Bishops Corson, Straughn, and Wicke.
May 27-31, 1953 the West Virginia Annual Conference of the Methodist Church met on campus. – Bishop Wicke presiding
May 28, 1953 was the dedication of the Methodist Union Plaque in the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library -Bishop Straughn speaking. Read more about this here.

Library Dedication

Since this event happened exactly 66 years today, and since it included all three of these bishops, I would like to highlight this great event out of all of the others that happened that weekend. And to top it off, there is a major remodeling of the building happening right now that will honor all of these things into our future. I think they would be pleased!

We have priceless recording (32:21) of this event. Click on the link below to listen to it. It is well worth downloading and listening. Dedication of Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library

It is worth the half an hour or so because not only will you hear the actual voices of these great men, you will even hear a very familiar train whistle making several appearances! It sounds just exactly the same…close your eyes and you can be transported to 1953.

I have transcribed the prayer from that recording, and have included a transcript of the Dedicatory Address by Bishop Corson. The litany and full program can be found here.

Bishop Straughn gave the opening prayer:

Let us unite in prayer.

In this moment, our Father, of dedication of brick and mortar – of stone and wood and iron and steel – we dedicate more than a structure or a building in which certain things may be learned and discovered.

We are building into ideas. We are searching after truth. We are trying to discover the ways of life for the world that is, the directions for the world to be.

And here we shall discover much. Much that godly men and women have put down in books and on paper telling us what they have discovered and what they have found. What they know about Thee. What Thou hast told them.

We are seeking after eternal truth leading unto eternal life.

Here, perhaps, we shall find the way from having discovered the way of life through the mind as well as through the heart. We shall pursue after the things which we may have discovered, and shall not lose the way in our pilgrimage through this world.

And yet, we know there is so much that has not yet been put down. Yet waiting to be told to us. Waiting for minds and hearts receptive under Thy leading and direction. Minds and wills and hearts that shall become obedient, and a new truth that Thou shalt speak unto them who are the youth of this day – and the rest of us who still want to know.

And, believing that there is so much yet to be known. So much yet to be found out, but each for himself. Remembering as we do what one of Thy blessed disciples put down in the good book, that there were so many other things that Jesus did which are NOT written in the book, but which if they had been recorded and told that not even the world itself should be able to hold the books in which those things might be written.

Help us, then, that on the basis of what we know, that we may face up to the things that we do not know and are yet to discover. Grateful for leading and for guidance.

So we bless the day when a dear woman looked this way and sent to this blessed institution something of the gains of life that could be put into structure and form, and to make these things possible. God bless her memory unto us this day, and may the fine sweet spirit of that dear woman be maintained alive and alert on this campus for the guidance and inspiration of the boys and girls who here may be seeking the way of truth and the light.

Bless us, then, this afternoon. We give Thee our praise and we give Thee our thanks. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Corson, Bishop Fred Pierce — Bishop Fred Pierce Corson

Click here for a full transcript of this wonderful Dedicatory Address.

The Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library is still actively fulfilling the purposes that he mentioned 66 years ago.

Those with inquiring, developing, responsible, and open minds still use the collections – although they are now in many formats not dreamed of in 1953. They still use the place to contemplate and discuss ideas, and learn to use those open minds to go out and create a better world.

Yes, May 1953 was certainly a May to remember.

Buckhannon Tapestry

Pioneers
Settlers and Farmers
Circuit Riders
Buckhannon – West Virginia – Upshur County
West Virginia Conference Seminary – West Virginia Wesleyan College
West Virginia Annual Conference
West Virginia Strawberry Festival

These things are all connected in a tapestry.

Pioneers crossed these mountains, settled the area, and began farming. Some stayed only awhile, but others still have descendants living in this part of what is now West Virginia. They forged out not only a new place to live, but they created an entirely new state during the American Civil War.

Circuit riding preachers moved among them sharing not only the Gospel, but promoting education in the wilderness. Along the way in that process, through the West Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a college was born – first called the West Virginia Conference Seminary and later West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Through the years, there have been descendants of those pioneers who have become teachers and leaders at the college. A few examples include Arthur Allen Schoolcraft, Nancy Jackson, Paula Lowther McGrew, and Eric Waggoner. There are likely others I have yet to discover.

A tapestry through time.

Strawberry Thread in the Buckhannon Tapestry

In 1936, West Virginia Wesleyan biology professor James E. Judson realized that the climate and soil in the area were very well suited to growing strawberries. He suggested to the Chamber of Commerce that it would be good to have a festival to help promote the growing, preserving, and marketing of the berries. The rest, as they say, is history. The Buckhannon Lions Club formed the Central Strawberry Festival Association and got to work. Amazingly, three weeks after Dr. Judson presented the idea to the Chamber of Commerce, the first Strawberry Queen (Laura Jean Watson) was crowned on the courthouse steps by H. Guy Kump, West Virginia’s 19th Governor. That first festival was held on June 3, 1936, and was a one day affair. Dr. Judson served as the program chairman.

Click here to read more about Dr. James E. Judson.

By the second year, the school newspaper – The Pharos – had an article on the front page (continued to page four): City is Ready for Strawberry Festival.

A true community event, the next few years saw many children marching in the parades. One example is near and dear to my heart — my own father marched in the 1940 parade as an elf.

Wartime Woes

From 1943 to 1948 the festival was not held. World War II was taking its toll with many area people serving in the military or working in support of the war effort. There was no time or resources to plan festivals of this sort.

1949

June 2 and 3, 1949 saw a rebirth of the Strawberry festival. Dr. Judson was still teaching at Wesleyan and, along with many college professors and their families, was still on the Central Strawberry Festival Committee helping to reestablish and reorganize the events. After all of the hard years of the war, people were very excited to be celebrating again.

1959

In 1959, the name of the festival was changed to the West Virginia Strawberry Festival, and it grew even larger – now running for three days. June 10, 11, and 12 were busy days in Buckhannon. A Fireman’s Parade had been added in 1956 and a carnival was now a major draw as well. There was a coronation, Grand Feature Parade, square dance, auctions, exhibits, and the annual queen’s ball.

1969

Many volunteers were needed in order to keep everything running smoothly. This aspect of the festival continues to this day as part of the community building aspect of it all. People working with their neighbors to create a great event.

The “community” was not just Upshur County by this time, as the King was Rev. Samuel McCain of Fairmont (who had grown 9,000 strawberry plants!) and the queen was Susan Alison of Taylor County.

1979

By 1979, the festival was up to 5 days long and ran from May 31 through June 3. This year marked the first Jr. Royalty Parade bringing the number of parades during the week to four: Jr. Royalty, Fireman’s, Antique Auto, and Grand Feature. The Grand Feature parade was now drawing bands from all over the United States — 60 of them in 1980!

1990s and Beyond

In 1990, the Grand Feature Parade was first televised on WBOY, and an estimated 340,000 viewers tuned in in 1991. Over 100,000 visitors to Buckhannon were coming to enjoy the festivities – and the strawberries. The festival had become something of a grand homecoming event for people who had grown up here.

A New Century of Strawberry Festival History

Groups have come from all over the country to perform. They have come from 42 U.S. States and Washington, D.C.

They have come from all over the world. They have come from Mexico, Canada, The Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Bahamas, Italy, Sweden, and France.

The festival now runs for nine days and includes four parades: The Horse and Carriage Parade, The Jr. Royalty Parade, The Fireman’s Parade, and the Grand Feature Parade. Thousands of participants and spectators are involved each year — as well as a community full of involved residents of the area.

Instead of one or two events to celebrate the strawberries and those who grow them, there is now something for everyone. From the Diaper Derby to the Strawberry 5-K, from the Strawberry Blonde Contest to the Antique Engine and Tractor Show. There are juried exhibits of photography, quilts, and art. There are Strawberry Pancakes, Strawberry Shortcake, and everything from strawberry salads to steak sandwiches. There is music everywhere and a carnival with rides for all ages.

Multifaceted Buckhannon

The West Virginia Strawberry Festival was held two weeks after West Virginia Wesleyan Commencement — the students were gone.

The West Virginia Strawberry Festival was held one month before the West Virginia Annual Conference meets in Buckhannon — the Students are gone, and the West Virginia Annual Conference has not yet arrived.

In August, the students will return for the fall semester — the West Virginia Strawberry Festival and the West Virginia Annual Conference will be gone.

All connected.

All resourceful, creative, independent-minded.

All inviting and welcoming others.

All richer for those who have come from around the country and around the world to join them.

Pioneers, Farmers, Scientists. People from near and far. Former and current students from West Virginia Wesleyan. Former and current faculty. City officials. They are all connected to the Buckhannon Tapestry. (Photos by Danny Green ’74)

Mountain Mamas

This weekend we celebrated Mother’s Day, and it got me to thinking about mothers past, present, and future. These women have been our supporters, encouragers, teachers, and protectors. They are those who have fed and nourished us.

Many think of birth mothers when they think of Mother’s Day. Or perhaps an adoptive mother, grandmother, or other primary person in our early life.

These are the people who walk the floor with us at night when we have an ear infection or are teething. They lose a lot of sleep over us.

They feed us and take care of all of our basic physical needs.

They read us stories and help us to learn how to interpret the world.

They go to a lot of concerts, plays, and sporting events to cheer us on.

They teach us how to do life. They do life with us.

These are the people who launch a child into the world.

When we go off to college these people are sometimes afraid. They wory that their child may not be safe. They worry that they will not be needed or will be forgotten. They often have tears in their eyes as they leave their child at college. They will miss them.

No need to worry, though. They are just beginning a new type of relationship. They will just be watching the progress from a new vantage point.

There will still be supporters, encouragers, protectors, teachers, and those who will nurture their child. A new set of mother-type figures enter the picture — not as replacements, but as reinforcements.

From the dorm to the classroom to the library to the cafeteria to the chapel, and even up and down the sidewalks of Wesleyan, they are there. They will teach and guide and encourage and sometimes chide. They will feed them.

After four years or so, these people will also feel the sting of tears as they launch the student out into the world beyond college. They will miss them.

Mother Figures During the Early Years at WVWC

In the early years, there were house mothers and dorm mothers. These were very strict people who had curfews. One such person was Rachel Ogden.

She taught Modern Languages from 1926-47, but also served as the Dean of Women from 1926-32. Any girl who was in need of guidance or discipline found herself having a serious conversation with Dean Ogden.

Another great example is Miss Nellie G. Wilson. Miss Wilson also held the title of Dean of Women, and taught Religious Education. She served as a house mother for many years – many of them in Agnes Howard Hall. Although a strict disciplinarian, she was beloved by many.

The 1964 Murmurmontis was dedicated in her honor, and the lounge in Benedum Hall is named for her as well. During the Spring 2019 semester, this space was used as a temporary library study space during the remodeling of the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library. Her portrait hung over the printer, and I had the feeling that she was keeping a watchful eye on the current students.

Mother Figures in Present and Recent Times

There are way too many to name. The Campus Life Office is full of them, the Library is full of them, the Student Success Center is full of them, the Learning Center is full of them. Classrooms all over campus are full of them.

People like Alisa Lively, Katie Loudin, Jessica Vincent, Julie Keehner, Shauna Jones, Lauren Weaver, Tamara Bailey, Cindy Roby, Devon McNamara, Jill Okes, and Carol Bowman.

They feed students and take care of all of their basic physical needs. (I once personally saw one of these people go out and help to find a specific color shirt because she knew that a student needed it for a choir performance).

They read stories (and assign them to be read) and help students learn how to interpret the world. They challenge the students and provide resources and support to help them succeed.

They go to a lot of concerts, plays, and sporting events to cheer “their” kids on.

They teach students how to do life. They do life with them.

They are good listeners, they have shoulders to cry on and huge smiles for celebrating.

These are also people who launch a student into the world. And, when they go, they will miss them. They find themselves watching progress and accomplishments from a new vantage point.

Funny thing….often the parents and the students and these WVWC mother figures find themselves celebrating together and staying in touch for years to come.

Alma Mater of the Mountains

We consider the school where we graduate to be our Alma Mater – we even sing about it at times like Founders Day or Commencement. Our Alma Mater was written more than 100 years ago by President Wallace B. Fleming. We generally sing only the first verse. My personal favorite is actually verse 2!!

The term Alma Mater is Latin for Nourishing Mother. So, it turns out that it is also a Mother’s Day song! Try substituting “Nourishing Mother” for the words “Alma Mater” — it works great for a Mother’s Day tribute.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Mothers and the Mother-Figures. Those early in life and those who help nourish students while they are at WVWC.

Brains and Heart and Courage – Oh My!

Fall 2015: You’re Not In Kansas Anymore

Many of these students graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College this past Saturday (May 4, 2019). They were in my First Year Seminar in the Fall of 2015, and I first met them in the oval during Orientation Weekend. They were tired, a bit frazzled from moving into the dorm, a bit curious as to things on the schedule for the weekend. They were wondering what Freshman Convocation was all about. They had many questions about testing and placement, where they needed to be, and how to get there.

Sarah Smith (in full witch makeup) came to cackle at the class and remind them to turn in all of their work on time). Student leader, Jessica Nelson, is on the front row.

Coming from as far away as Spain and Argentina, and as close as Upshur County, (and one actually from Kansas!) they had been plucked from their familiar surroundings and as a result of what I am sure seemed like a Kansas-worthy tornado they found themselves in Buckhannon. No longer among family and friends from back home, no longer the strong and impressive seniors that had been in charge of things at their high schools, they were calling upon all of their courage to make a new start. Our course was designed to address all of those things.

Getting Started

First things first. Once these had been accomplished, there was no stopping them!

Find your classes.
Realize that college is different from high school.
Utilize curiosity to think beyond the surface.
What in the world does Liberal Arts mean?

Finding Oz – Using Our Brains

Everything in L. Frank Baum’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was influenced by something in the life of the author. It is actually quite amazing! We took a deep dive into American History in the late 1890s…….which just happened to coincide with the time that WVWC was founded.

Using our Hearts

The class collected over a hundred pairs of socks to dontate to the Upshur Parish House. We also went there on a field trip to deliver them and to learn about the work that goes on there. Several offered to go back and volunteer — and they did. This class also asked if we could continue collecting things for the Parish House and created their own event…..Snowvember…to help collect hats, scarves, and gloves.

Finding and Using Courage

I told the class (as I do every year) that this four years would go fast. That before they knew it, another storm like the one that had landed them in Buckhannon would be coming. That, in fact, there would be many storms in their lives. As happens each year, they thought I was crazy. They believed that college would drag on and on, and that they would be here forever. As also happens every year, I have recently had several tell me that I was absolutely right.

There are new worlds to discover. Graduate school, jobs, fellowships, and maybe even uncertainty about which direction to go next. They will go “home”, or move to places that are once again completely new to them. They will establish homes and families of their own.

Home? Where is home? (There’s No Place Like Home!)

That first semester, we had an assignment where I asked them to describe home. Some were very literal and detailed every room in their house. Some were more general, saying that home was where their family lived or talking about being from a town, or a county, or the beach or from a big city. Some who lived close enough, went home just about every weekend.

After Thanksgiving break, they started to tell me that while they were back in those places, they were missing their friends and their WVWC surroundings and began to look forward to coming home to campus.

Now, they tear up every time they hear or sing My Home Among the Hills.

We will always welcome them home when they stop by to tell us about all of the great things they are doing, or to show their children around campus.

I am especially sentimental about this particular group this week as they set forth on their next journey. And, to make matters worse (?) I just finished reading a new best selling book which brought the whole course rushing back to me. It is much of what we talked about together that fall – but this one is written from the perspective of L. Frank Baum’s wife, Maud. I recommend it to them and to anyone who might find this topic interesting! (Not required reading this time, but I know they would love it!)

Timeless

I have been teaching First Year Seminar courses since 2005, and this is a story that is timeless. The students come from everywhere. One year I had students from Australia, British Columbia, Miami, New York, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and small towns in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. We did a lot of culture shock therapy that year!

Some have become the things that they dreamed of, while others have found new dreams and passions. There are doctors and lawyers and ministers and politicians. There are nurses, dentists, accountants, missionaries, artists, teachers, business leaders, and psychologists.

So although I focused this writing on this year’s group, I tip my hat to all who have used their brains, their hearts, and their courage to follow their dreams.

Robbie Skinner Rainbow over Chapel 2019 — Photo by Robbie Skinner, Class of 2011

******

An hour after I posted this, I found out that today is the 100th anniversary of L. Frank Baum’s death. He was always a big fan of signs and coincidences – I think he would love that. Here is a link to the information I saw….

Month: May 2019