Volume 9 , Issue 37

September Celebrations In Northwest Oklahoma

The Campus... "A Silent message thru the ages - Is delivered to the races passing by, - And the wisdom of the sages - Flashes futily from the sturdy eye, - Watching Life's laughter, song and tears - Thru the eager march of onward years; - With quiet, unperturbed, mobile face - Inspires us to live with equal grace.' -- [Taken from The Ranger 1926 yearbook.]

We read in the local paper that Northwestern Oklahoma State University (Northwestern Normal School; NWOSU) will be celebrating 110 years (Sept. 20, 1897 - 2007) as the second Oklahoma Territorial Normal School to open its doors -- began teaching its first classes in the Congregational Church. Edmond had the first territorial normal school.

It was September 20, 1897 when the Congregational church was rented for $150 for the school year. There were 48 applicants for the office of president that year when a school administrator from Illinois, James E. Ament, was finally chosen.

From reading the newspaper article it sounds like they started with an initial enrollment of approximately 58 students and the number grew to 70 by the end of September. By early November, it had expanded to 100. AND... by the end of the first year the enrollment was 166. AND... it sounds as though Northwestern had the biggest enrollment of all the territorial schools, agricultural school at Stillwater and the school at Norman at that time.

We all know that the first building (Castle on the Hill) was erected on the 40 acre tract of land donated by J. T. Fryer and was first occupied by 413 students and 10 faculty on September 11, 1899.

BUT... Did you know that back in 1907 there was a copper time capsule buried behind the 1907 cornerstone dedication at the northeast corner of the Fine Arts (formerly Science Hall) building?

What all will they find when they pull out the capsule and re-dedicate the cornerstone that was originally dedicated by the Oklahoma Masonic Grand Lodge, March 1907? Will it be preserved? OR... will it contain dusty remnants of the past?

The local newspaper stated, "According to newspaper accounts of the day, those items include a list of officers of the masonic Lodge; names of students in a choir assisting in the program; the roster of the Alva post of the Grand Army of the Republic; a document from the Odd Fellows Lodge; military letters of S. T. Carrico; a jewel from the Cherokee Lodge; Northwestern bulletins; copies of Alva newspapers; photographs of state and university officials, a bogus dollar, and a Master's Journal from the Ingersoll Masonic Lodge."

We understand that Dr. Aaron Mason, assistant professor of political science, is collecting items for the new capsule to take the place of the old capsule. They are/were taking suggestions from the public, but this Friday was the deadline to submit business cards, photos, etc...

For those of you interested in this re-dedication celebration, ceremony, it will begin at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, September 20, 2007, at the northeast corner of the Fine Arts building. If the weather doesn't cooperate, the ceremony will be held in Piercefull fieldhouse. If I am correct, the old Fine Arts building (Old Science Hall) is the red brick, castle looking structure that faces North towards Seventh Street -- just east of the President's home.

Also happening on September 20, 2007, at Northwestern Oklahoma State University for their 110/100 celebration, "First Day of Class celebration," is the ringing of the bell on the north Herod Hall lawn at 10:45 a.m. Starting at 11 a.m. to noon -- again at 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. there will be short tours of the one-room schoolhouse located north of the education center. We understand that there will be a short re-enacment of a 1937 campus visit from Eleanor Roosevelt at 11:30 a.m. in Herod Hall Auditorium.

If you are a student or employee of Northwestern and feeling on the hungry side around noon, September 20, 2007, lunch will be served to Northwestern students and employees in the NEW Greenspace parking lot, northwest corner of the campus.

If you would like additional information, you may contact the 110/100 Northwestern-Oklahoma Centennial committee co-chairmen, Dr. Mike Knedler (580-327-8590) or Kathy Earnest (580-327-8472.

Click here for more history of Northwestern Normal School on our OkieLegacy website.

Congratulations to Northwestern on its 110/100 and first day of class celebration.
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