Month: December 2019

The Year They Went To A Bowl Game

This time of the year, there are many Bowl Games to be seen.  It may surprise you to know of the West Virginia Wesleyan Bowl win on January 1, 1925.

The year started off with a loss in a historic game in Morgantown. The Methodists (aka Bob Cats) lost to WVU in the very first game ever played at Mountaineer Field.  Even that game had a uniquely WVWC connection as Wesleyan’s own Harry Stansbury was the Athletic Director at WVU, and was responsible for building that iconic stadium.

Only one other loss marred that incredible season. Coach Bob Higgins and his Cats racked up wins over Navy, Syracuse, and the University of Kentucky along the way. This brought national attention to the squad, and caused the great Knute Rockney to recommend the team for the Dixie Classic on New Years Day.

1926 Murmurmontis

Dixie Classic

This bowl game was played only three times, and is the forerunner of today’s Cotton Bowl.  Wesleyan played in the middle game.

January 2, 1922 saw Texas A&M defeated Centre College 22-14

January 1, 1925

Wikipedia

And on January 1, 1934  Arkansas and Centenary College tied with seven points each.

Pharos Pre-Game Coverage

As the exciting news was shared, the coverage in the Pharos was excellent. In the December 17, 1924 edition, there was a complete wrap-up of the season and interviews with the coaches on page 3. There was a story discussing travel plans and hopes to find a way to broadcast the game (on radio) so that the fans could hear the game. On page 4 was a photograph and write-up about each of the players.

Page 5 includes the following story: What Prominent Sports Writers Over the Country Have Said About Wesleyan.

I would recommend reading all of the coverage in that issue here.

And Coverage of the Big Victory

The January 14, 1925 issue was full of the adventure and glory of it all. There was an article written by William B. Ruggles of the Dallas Morning News, entitled Bob Cats Win From Texas Mustangs Nine to Seven. In the article he states:

The West Virginia line, however, deserves all of the praise that has been given it. The right side was weak at the start but when Collins was sent in end to end it succeeded in a large extent to holding its own through the shifting panorama of the offensive game it had to face. Schelb, Kemerer, Comstock, Collins, and Bullman are hard to beat and they succeeded in bringing into the limelight the well-balanced backfield that runs and plunges with ready abandon.

Two columns were written by the players themselves. Page three includes a travel diary written by All-American John Moore (A Bob Cat’s Diary During the Trip to Texas) and also one written by Gale Bullman, Captain Bullman Tells of Texas Trip.

Afterwards

The team members reunited on May 22-23, 1954 to celebrate their achievements thirty years later. In the July 1954 issue of the Sundial, is an article about that event. Nineteen of the twenty-four original playing squad were present, an several staff as well. They came from 12 states and represented 24 vocations.

They gathered again in 1974, but their numbers were fewer. There were eleven members there, and the widows of two others.

The Cotton Bowl Connection in 2019

When Bob Higgins left West Virginia Wesleyan, he coached for two years at Washington University in St. Louis before heading back to his Alma Mater — Pennsylvania State University, where he had been a three time All-American. There he was an assistant coach for Penn State from 1928-29 before becoming their head coach from 1930-48. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954 as a coach.

He returned to the Cotton Bowl with his Penn State team in 1948, only the second time that school had been to a bowl game. There, they played to a tie with none other than S.M.U. He was probably wishing he had his Bob Cats back that day!

This weekend, December 28, 2019, Pennsylvania State University won the Cotton Bowl, beating the Memphis Tigers 53-39. I’ll bet Bob Higgins was smiling.

Christmas Spirit — 1933

The year was 1933. 

 It was the height of the Great Depression, with unemployment peaking at 25.2%.

The 18th Amendment was repealed on December 5, effectively ending Prohibition.

The year began with Herbert Hoover as President of the United States until the inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 4.  Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany on January 30.

Christmas Eve, 1933 by Clifford Kennedy Berryman. Library of Congress.

The stockings represent some of the New Deal Programs wished for by F.D.R.

  • CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps)
  • TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
  • FCA (Farm Credit Administration)
  • CWA (Civil Works Administration)
  • FACA (Federal Advisory Committee Act)
  • AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Administration)
  • NRA (National Recovery Administration)
  • PWA (Public Works Administration)

Christmastime at WVWC in 1933

So, what was life like at West Virginia Wesleyan College in December of 1933? We get a wonderful view of that in the December 20, 1933 issue of the Pharos. It is only four pages long, but absolutely packed with information. I would encourage you to take a look at the entire issue!

Here are a few examples.

Page One alone has stories about academics, chapel, concerts, dinners, formals, fundraising, parties, and oratorical contests, and upcoming theater productions. According to this page, the following events occurred:

  • December 9     Sigma Delta Chi Formal
  • December 14   Christmas Dinner for Girls in Agnes Howard Hall
  • December 15    All-College Party
  • December 16   Sigma Delta Pi Formal
  • December 18   Special Chapel Service – Thuse
  • December 18   Ladies Hall Party
  • December 18   Oratorical Contest
  • December 19   Flute and Piano concert

It also included this article about Christmas Spirit

Notice the paragraph that begins with the word parties. Even though there was fun to be had, the spirit of Christmas included the opportunity to help others who lived in homes “where finances are very low.” During the Great Depression, this incuded many families.

Page 2

Page Two included Christmas greetings from the editors

Nineteen and thirty-four is not far off. It will give us our second childhood. May we profit by our past errors and use the coming year to advance our cause a little nearer to the goal we seek.

A Student Opinion Piece on Liberal Arts Education is there as well.

And an advertisement from the Colonial Theater on Main Street!

Page 3

Page 3 basically gives us sports highlights and advertisements.

  • Basketball season got off to a rough start in December 16 loss to WVU with a final score of (32-24)
  • The full basketball schedule is listed for the year
  • 3 Bobcats were named to All Conference in football, and 6 received honorable mention
  • Advertisements – both local and from further away.

Page 4

Page 4 includes an article named Idle Chatter, by Golly. It includes a fun take on the weather which may sound a bit familiar to us in the current day.

“How do you like this weather? Nice for Xmas, isn’t it? Or should I have said ducks? Or sleds? The fact of the matter is, you can’t tell a thing about weather. You are liable to have snow and sleet in the morning, finished by rain and spring weather in the afternoon with a beautiful harvest moon at night.”

All in all, this issue of the Pharos shows that life was going on more or less as “normal” at a very rough time. 

This strange little puzzle is actually a sign of the times. Maybe they were hesitant to make this too readable with Prohibition such a recent reality! It turns out that it is about Horse’s Neck (a drink that contained alcohol). Can you decipher it?  🙂

Feature Writer Asks Old Santa For New Ideas

Beginning on Page 1 and completed on Page 4, there is a poem which is a lot of fun. I will close with this, and wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I’ve added some illustrations and photographs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank You Note

It may be about 86 years late, but I consider this blog post as a Thank You to the fine folks at the Pharos in 1933. Their work has made it possible for us to know what life was like on campus in very different times — and that it all still looks pretty familiar!

Marking the Hours

The chimes in the steeple of Wesley Chapel have been a huge part of the college experience at West Virginia Wesleyan College.

January 2018

The October 24, 1973 issue of the Pharos includes a story written by Phil Loftis, For Whom the Bells Toll. In this article we learn that the original carillon of Schulmerich Chimes was given to the college by the Shannon family, and placed in Atkinson Chapel in 1961. When Wesley Chapel was built, the bells were transferred to the steeple, and an additional lower octave was added as a gift from the Phillips family. 

The music could be played automatically using similar technology to the old player piano rolls, or it could be played manually. Dr. Robert Shafer was the person to play them manually, and he did so at least once each week.

Westminster Chimes

At the top of each hour, the Westminster Chimes ring out. Many generations of students have run to class trying to beat that last chime!

The tune that is played is generally known as the Westminster Quarters. It originally was called the Cambridge Quarters, as it was composed for St. Mary the Great church in the center of that university in 1793. When the great clock (known as Big Ben) was installed in London in 1859, it became more widely known as the Westminster Quarters. Ringing small sections on the quarter hour, the full tune rings only at the top of each hour.

There are words!

The official words to this song are:

All through this hour

Lord be my guide

And by Thy power

No foot shall slide

Other variations, such as the one sung at the end of meetings of the Brownies in the U.K. and Canada, are similar.

Oh Lord our God

Thy children call

Grant us thy peace

And bless us all

Updated Variations

The bells were silent for a few years as the original equipment aged before a generous gift from former Board of Trustees members William, ’58, Hon. ’05 and Mara Linabarger Watson ’58 made it possible for the beautiful hourly chimes and the sounds of “Home Among the Hills” return to West Virginia Wesleyan College’s campus during the 2015 spring semester.

Thanks to the Watsons, the chimes have been upgraded to a digital version that will last for many generations more.

Today, the chimes are programmed and played by Neil Roth and Brett Miller. There is a different chime for Saturday just to keep things interesting.

When bad weather comes during times like Founders Day or Commencement, it is not unusual to hear them chiming Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head or Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

During the solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, the campus held a watch party. The chimes added to the festive atmosphere that day playing such things as I’m Being Followed by a Moon Shadow and Here Comes the Sun.

 

Finals 

As the Fall 2019 semester came to a close this week, and students were preparing for their final exams, I am almost sure that I heard a student singing:

It’s finals time

Why did I wait

To get to work

Now it’s too late

I am hoping that things will go well for that student, and that one day he may find himself graduating with his class.

The Bells of the Past, Present, and Future

The long tradition of hearing a reminder at the top of the hour that time is marching on reminds me of the song by Natalie Sleeth, Hymn of Promise. A few years ago I caught this beautiful song ringing out over the campus after commencement.

There are a lot of wonderful back stories to the chimes at WVWC. Another week I will focus on the generous people behind the bells that we so closely connect with the college experience there. But, for now…

Grades to turn in

What did they earn?

Finals are done

What did they learn?

Decisions, Decisions: Choose Your Own Adventures

Do you remember the old Choose Your Own Adventure books? They started in 1979, and for about twenty years they were very popular. In them, no two people were reading the same story. If you read it more than once, even your own experience would be different. You would read until you came to a point in the story where a decision needed to be made by the main character — and then YOU would make that decision.

I often think of these books in relation to our own stories. We do make some decisions that change everything – who we are, what we do, where we live.

Life’s decisions start way before this, but one of the first major ones that a person makes comes at the time when they graduate from high school. This is a decision that will have a major impact on how the adventure of your life will unfold.

Some choose to go to college. Some choose other paths to their adventures.

Many things go into this decision, but at the end of the day that is a yes or no question. The answer leads to new questions and decisions to be made.

Going to College

If your answer to the question of college was yes, you need to decide which college.

A lot of factors go into this.

  • Is it close to home? (If so, is this a good thing or a bad thing for you?)
  • Can you get scholarship assistance?
  • Does it offer the kinds of things you are interested in studying?
  • Does the school have a good reputation for high quality education?
Choosing A Major

  • Many students get to college knowing exactly what they want to do, and what major to choose.
  • Many others come with a vague idea of what they want to do – and find that their goals change once they get started. Yet others are interested in everything, and have to explore which direction they eventually want to focus.
  • At times, majors are chosen because of advice or pressure from others who are trying to help guide us.
  • Perhaps you get to college and discover that what you thought you loved is actually very different than you thought it was.
  • The bottom line at the end of all of these choices is for you to find what you love and where your strengths actually lie.
Choosing Your Classes

At registration time, there are a lot of options. Which classes should you choose?

  • If it is required for your major – Yes, but there may be flexibility in when to take it.
  • If it is required for general education – Maybe. There are many different things that can fulfill those requirements and there is a lot of flexibility as to when to take them.
  • Some classes are offered that are just things you want to know about! You have curiosity or a passion about that topic. This is a great opportunity to get started on your lifelong learning.
Attending Classes

The answer is yes.

  • The only exception is when you are really sick – you need to get well, and nobody else wants to catch what you have.
  • You are paying for these classes.
  • When you miss, you are cheating yourself.
  • You are also cheating others of your participation and insights.
  • If you are just unmotivated, or too lazy to go to class, you might want to look back at those earlier questions to remind yourself why you chose to be in college.
Doing the work

At the end of the semester, faculty know what is coming. 

  • Some students will have done the work all semester, and be fully prepared for the final exams.
  • Other students will have done just enough to get by, and they will be experiencing panic. Often these students start begging for extra credit points.
  • Some students will suddenly realize that they have put things off and left things undone, and will realize that they are about to be rewarded accordingly.
To Go Or Not To Go?

At WVWC in just the last week there have been hundreds of activities, concerts, plays, ball games and events. Decisions have to be made about how many and which ones to attend. 

It is also a busy time, in which people are buckling down to get ready for the end of the semester. Sometimes people really are too busy to go. Sometimes, they are just too tired. Sometimes, they just don’t know or just don’t go.

Here are just a few examples of things on the WVWC campus from last week:

A Luggage Drive will be hosted December 2nd through December 10th. The students in the WE LEAD Poverty Reduction Team are asking for donations of luggage (duffle bags, suitcases, totes, backpacks, etc.) and a variety of necessities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrushes, new small blankets, books, and new stuffed toys. You may drop off your items in the CCE (behind the Bobcat Den) on the second floor of the Campus Center. The opportunity to make a difference.

West Virginia Dance Company, in its 43rd season, presented the a new evening long work entitled “Love of Power vs. Power of Love”, which explored the choice between exerting power over others or acting out of love. The piece unmasks the divisiveness, isolation and intolerance that involves the misuse of power, and reveals the power of love to heal, unite and remind us of our shared humanity.

Art Opening in the Corner Art Gallery: Elizabeth Graham’s exhibit of photographs entitled “What Once Was” which is a visual display of abandoned coalfields in West Virginia. 

Restorative Practices Conversation: an ongoing community exploration of Restorative Practices. In our time together, we will grow from our previous conversations on cultivating community well-being and accountability to discuss what constitutes mutually cared for, flourishing relationships, where we see restorative relationships in our community, and how to continue growing relationships like these on campus. All are welcome! Attendance at previous circle discussions is not necessary. Pizza will be provided! 

The last general Student Senate Meeting of the semester. The opportunity to be involved and share your thoughts, opinions, and dreams.

Marching Band Concert and New Uniform Unveiling:  The band has not had uniforms in decades. This week they unveiled the new ones. Were you there?

L to R: John Harvey, Caitlin Ware, Alyssa Perry, Corey Jackson, Alex Jones

The Planetarium Show: Saturday’s show was a treat for the ears and the eyes.  This show is similar to a laser light show with spectacular visuals on the dome as Tchaikovsky’s music plays in surround sound. It is not the same as being there in person but you can preview the show on Youtube.  After the video, we will take a tour of the December sky.  If the weather is nice, we will pull out the big telescope after the show and look at the Moon. 

Hanging of the Greens: Each year at Wesleyan, members from across the campus community work together to cut, create, and hang wreaths and garlands that decorate campus throughout the holiday season. The newly created adornments were then hung in Wesley Chapel.

Lessons and Carols: The service feaured Christmas carols and musical selections performed by Wesleyan’s Concentus Vocum, Concert Chorale, Wesleyan Singers, and the Wesleyan Brass Quintet, under the direction of Dr. R. Daniel Hughes, associate professor of music and director of choral activities. Carols included arrangements by David Willcocks and Alice Parker.

To read more about the history of this event, please click here.

Here is a link to the service on Facebook Live. Credits to the WVWC Performing Arts folks!

Lighting of the Campus Christmas Tree

Decisons, Decisions: Choose Your Own Adventures.

Tradition…….and traditions

Tradition

Derived from the Latin word traditio (to hand over, or give for safekeeping)

Our Tradition (That which we value and believe is important enough to protect for safekeeping and to share with others in the future.)

  • Provides us with a source of identity
  • Reinforces our values
  • Creates connection with each other, including past and future members the community
  • Provides us with lasting memories
  • Provides comfort and security, especially during times when there is a lot of change happening

For the purpose of this writing, I am making a bit of a distinction between the overarching Tradition and the traditions (specific activities, items, or groups) which help with that transmission to new generations. They amplify and exemplify the Tradition that we value.

Some Examples:

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was this week. The overarching value of this holiday is Thankfulness.  Thankfulness is the tradition.

Traditions of Pilgrims and Indians, turkey and Indian Corn have a very different connotation in modern days. We still give them a nod, but are much more focused on the Thankfulness. That tends to be illustrated by fall leaves, pumpkins, turkeys, parades, football, food, feasts, and family.

Facebook was full of photos of families and friends celebrating this holiday. They were all very different, and yet all focused on the Tradition of Thankfulness.

  • Norman Rockwell-like tables and family gathered around
  • Groups of two or three all the way up to twenty or thirty gathered at buffets, tables at Grandma’s house, or restaurants at the beach.
  • Many families missing the members who were out hunting
  • Tables decorated with pilgrims, pumpkins, and turkeys
  • Some of those tables with full-on Christmas decorations in the background
Christmas

Christmas has an overarching Tradition of Giving.

A celebration of the gift given by God. His very own son. We give gifts to each other as a way of remembering that gift. Even though the holiday is based on the Christian celebration of God’s Gift, it turns out that society in general also wanted to celebrate the Tradition of Giving. Secular images now compete with the religious symbols of this holiday. We tend to mix and match them in our decorating.

Angels, Shepherds, Wise Men, Stars, Baby Jesus in a Manger, Mary and Joseph are joined by Santa Claus, Reindeer, Snowmen, Elves, Gingerbread Houses, Candy Canes, Snowflakes, Trees, Ornaments (even ornaments based on every possible popular culture icon).

And yet, Giving is at the core of it all.

Hmmmm…..Thankfulness leads to Giving. No wonder some families have a hard time separating the two!  🙂

West Virginia Wesleyan College Tradition

Thomas W. Haught wrote an article in the Sundial in 1936 entitled, Some Observations on College Traditions.  It is a good read!

West Virginia Wesleyan has a long heritage, based on tradition.

John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist Church. These are the things that he believed to be important. These are the things that he passed down to those who would become the founders of WVWC.

When the Methodist Church in West Virginia wanted to pass on Sound Learning and Christian Character to a new generation, they founded the West Virginia Conference Seminary. The Trustees at that time made it clear that they wanted the school to be non-sectarian (in other words welcoming to all students regardless of their faith) and they wanted both male and female students and faculty to be included.  [Welcoming]

Thomas W. Haught enrolled just months later, during the second term of the school’s existence. He learned much from the early faculty, and was educated in this school that valued Sound Learning and Christian Character. That character included many things, among them a dedication to both service and compassion as well as an expectation of personal integrity.  [Christian Character]

As the school was not yet a college level institution, he then went to WVU to earn his undergraduate degree and on to Harvard University. In 1904 the school did grow and adapt into a college level institution. In fact, as the needs of the students and the society have changed, the school has grown and adapted to meet those needs time and time again. [Growth and Adaptation] [Sound Learning]

Returning to WVWC to teach for over 45 years, and to be involved with administration in the offices of Dean and Registrar as well as serving three times as the acting president, Thomas W. Haught continued passing down the values and traditions of the college to new generations. 

Looking at the WVWC of today, we still see them.

Using the Thomas W. Haught list, and adding a few of my own, I have come up with the following categories of values making up WVWC Tradition:

  • Christian Character (Service, Compassion, Personal Integrity)
  • Community
  • Growth and Adaptation
  • Sound Learning
  • Welcoming

Some WVWC Examples

I had planned to choose a few as examples here, but there are just too many. Many of them fit into one of these categories. Many could be considered in multiple categories. Most have something to do with Community. Instead, I will list some (certainly not all!) and you can attempt to see where they fit in and why these represent the values that we want to hand down to future generations for safekeeping.

So many traditions. Some have evolved. Some have disappeared over time. That, in itself, shows the value of Growth and Adaptation.

They are listed in alphabetical order…….(Once A Librarian Always A Librarian)

  • A source of identity
  • Reinforcing our values
  • Creates connection with each other, including past and future members the community
  • Provides us with lasting memories
  • Provides comfort and security, especially during times when there is a lot of change happening

What Did I Miss?

Click here to let me know what I missed!