Tag: Campus

Quiet Beauty

It’s very quiet on campus this summer.

Generally, after the students leave to go home in May, we are immediately full of Strawberry Festival traffic. Bands and Arts & Crafts and Quilt Shows and Queens and Princesses

Not in 2020.

In June, we generally have a couple thousand United Methodists arriving for Annual Conference. Meetings and greetings. Wesley Chapel full. 

Not in 2020.

In July we generally have a few weeks where the Gifted Camp and the Summer Research students are seemingly everywhere for a few weeks.

Not in 2020.

But, this year, with all of the deafening quiet going on, something strange and wonderful happened.

Jim Watson was the first to notice. As he was doing his daily walk around campus, he saw a female deer, obviously about to become a mother. He continued his walk, and when he came back around to that side of campus he noticed

As if that wasn’t enough, there was another surprise…

The next day they were bedded down between the library and the English Annex.

The following morning, my husband and I were walking along, and the orange flowers beside the sundial started to move…there was no wind. If you look closely, you can see the fawn hiding in the bushes.

While I was quietly tiptoeing in to get this photo, Gary whispered that I should turn to my right and take a look…

Yes, it is quiet on campus in the summer of 2020, but there is still life.

It shows the beauty of nature.

Or, as Jim said in his Facebook post when he first told about the fawns, “sometimes nature is too pure and beautiful to believe, and life offers miracles every day if you choose to open your eyes.”

Since January 8, 2018, the DreamersAndGiants blog has been published weekly, each Monday.  Beginning July 1, 2020, this Blog will now be published occasionally.   To all the fans of this blog:  Stay Safe and See You Soon.

I’ll continue to put an announcement on social media when a new post comes out, but if you want to be sure to be notified be sure to subscribe so that you will get an email.

Paula McGrew

Caring for Campus

This 1915 photograph from the Library of Congress is not "Old Bob" but is representative of him

This 1915 photograph from the Library of Congress is not “Old Bob” but is representative of him

The May 1947 issue of the Sundial (alumni news publication) has a great little story about the retirement of an important member of the college community.

“Old Bob” Retires

“Old Bob,” the faithful horse-of-all-trades on the Wesleyan campus, has been replaced by two new pieces of equipment — a shiny red truck and an efficient gray tractor. To many Wesleyan alumni, “Old Bob” was a campus institution during his long years of service, and we are sure you will be happy to know that his new owner has promised to give him a good home. “Old Bob” was born on the Wesleyan campus 19 years ago, and it was a familiar sight to see him diligently mowing the lawns in summer or clearing snow from the walks in winter. Although the new machines will probably be more efficient than “Bob,” the Wesleyan horse will be missed by his many friends.

These photo post cards, published in the 1926 Murmurmontis show the campus as it appeared just two years before “Bob” was born on the campus. These were the only buildings until 1953.

Our campus has been a source of pride since the very beginning. The beautiful setting and the buildings are an important part of the Wesleyan experience. The 1926 Murmurmontis also included this message to past, current, and future students concerning the campus:

In case you find this difficult to read, here is the text:

TO YOU to whom Wesleyan lingers in a dear remembered past, to you for whom Wesleyan looms in a not far distant yesterday; to you for whom Wesleyan is yet in the promise of tomorrow, we dedicate these views. Perhaps they may bring back a recollection dimmed with years; mayhap provoke a smile of recent memories, or even bring a wistful dream into some quiet young eyes. And if some one or two of you, in gazing at these pages, slowly-turned, shall pause betimes and smile and then sigh, remembering dim, cool halls; sun-flecked walks; and the mellow peal of the old bell — then it is not in vain these memories have been given you.

The Giants who have kept these buildings maintained, the leaves raked in the fall, and those sun-flecked walks shoveled in winter have played a huge role in the history of the school. Their heroics too often go unsung.

Their tools are much different now.

So, on this 61st anniversary of his retirement, I would like to say: Well done, “Old Bob” and those who have come after. Your hard work has done much to create and care for the beautiful campus we enjoy today.

To find out more about the history of West Virginia Wesleyan College, be sure to explore DreamersAndGiants.com