Volume 7 , Issue 15

1937 Dedication - Jesse Dunn & Horace Mann Hall...

It was two years after the burning of the Castle on the Hill that the small, rural community in Northwest Oklahoma gathered, organized for the Dedication of Jesse Dunn Hall that replaced the old Castle on the Hill, at Northwestern State Teachers' College, in Alva, Oklahoma. That was not the only building they were dedicating on Northwestern's campus. Across campus to the west was Horace Mann Hall

Reading through the program you could see the important citizens in the community that had a hand in setting up this two-day dedication, Thursday, March 11 & Friday, March 12, 1937. Even the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, made an appearance on this special dedication ceremony, 12 March 1937.

It began Thursday evening, March 11, 8:00p.m., in Herod Hall Auditorium with Professor A. G. Vinson presiding. There was old time singing led by Mr. J. P. Battenberg -- Short Reminiscences of the Forty years of Northwestern by President Ernest E. Brown, Prof. Guy M. Lisk, Mrs. Maude Drake Bingham, Merritt C. Mason, Prof. T. C. Carter, J. B. Doolin, Miss Minnie Shockley, Dean Sabin C. Percefull, Alumni President Phil Noah -- Judge A. G. C. Bierer talked on "Memories of Jesse Dunn" for whom the new building was named -- There was a vocal solo by Mr. J. P. Battenberg -- A report on the "Early Days in Northwest Oklahoma" by Mrs. Walter Ferguson -- The Male Quartet of former students sang a few selections.

In connection with the program, moving pictures of the burning of the Castle on the Hill building was shown in room 7, of Herod Hall, at 7 p.m. and again immediately after the program in the auditorium under the supervision of Brette Tanner and Marion Monfort.

On Friday morning, March 12 (1937) an "Open Air Concert" was performed at 9:30 a.m. at the entrance to Wyatt Gymnasium by the Alva High School Band. A College Assembly in the Wyatt Gymnasium continued at 9:55 a.m., with Student President Ralph Clifford presiding. There were college announcements by President Ralph Clifford -- Announcements, Dedication by General Chairman Phil Noah with an Address, entitled "Problems of Youth" by the First Lady, Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt.

At 11:30 a.m., everyone moved over to the entrance of Jesse Dunn Hall for another open air concert by the Enid High School Band. At the luncheon meeting at 12:00 p.m., in Jesse Dunn Library, Senator Chas. Albright presided with Eleanor Roosevelt giving the Greetings and an Introduction of guests.

Friday afternoon, March 12 found the citizens gathering for a 32 minute band concert by the Northwestern College Band, at 1:00 p.m., at the entrance of Jesse Dunn Hall. Following the concert president Ernest E. Brown presided over the Dedication program at 1:30 p.m., at the entrance of Jesse Dunn Hall. There was an assembly of guests of honor; introduction of guests; dedication address (The New Northwestern by A. L. Crable); three to five-minute talks by representatives of groups and individuals responsible for providing funds, planning and building Jesse Dunn Hall and Horace Mann Hall; a pageant (Creation of Northwestern - re-enactment of signing the law creating the school).

Then came the introduction of Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt by Lt. Gov. James C. Berry and the Greetings by the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. At 3:15 p.m., in Herod hall, Dean Sabin C. Percefull presided in a High School Assembly with a concert by the Northwestern College Band and Address by Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A Typical Day at the White House."

At 3:30 p.m. there was an Open House and Tours of Inspection of Campus and Buildings. Immediately at the conclusion of the formal dedication program guests made themselves at home on the campus by looking over the plant in detail. The ladies of the Northwestern College Faculty and ladies of the Clubs in Alva and neighboring cities were hostesses in the library, where tea was served to groups of visitors on the inspection tours.

It ended Friday night, March 12 (1937), 8:00 p.m., in Herod Hall with the Hon. John B. Doolin presiding. There was another vocal solo by Mrs. E. B. L. Hardy; a piano solo by Miss Margery Smith; a violin solo by Mr. Wm F. Deusinger; Acknowledgments by Phill Noah and Address (Peace) by Eleanor Roosevelt.

You can view the Dedication Program of Jesse Dunn & Horace Mann Hall in the PDF file in the Mailbag Corner below.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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