From the Archives

"North Hall broke loose again and South Hall woke up to find its front door barricaded shut with some twenty bags of cement filched form the new gym project. Not only that, but a string of automobiles and wheelbarrows had beaten a path to Metcalf for breakfast and was waiting patiently on the campus walk. And, it is a matter of wonder that no one heard the banging which must have resulted from the erection of a scaffold to a second story window…just some modern Romeos, roaming late at night." ~College World May 19, 1939

"During the time of the Civil War, Asa Mahan, Adrian’s current president, wrote to the War Department, Cabinet members and President Lincoln sending them his suggestions for military strategy in the North. He was ultimately invited to Washington to confer with all three about such tactics. Unfortunately, none of his suggestions were ever put in to action."
- A History of Adrian College by A. Douglas MacNaughton, published 1994

On June 1, 1859, the trustees voted to establish a Preparatory Department and ..."a Collegiate Department of four years leading to degrees of A.B. and B. Sc. and established four chairs: President and Professor of Intellectual and Moral Science, salary $1200; Professor and Vice-President, salary $1000; Professor of Chemistry and Natural History, salary $800; Professor of English Literature and Political Economy, no salary specified." On the same day, Asa Mahan, D.D. was made president of Adrian College.
- The Story of a Noble Devotion, 1945

“Upon entering Adrian, Dr. Harrison began at once to develop the student “self-help” plan, which has placed Adrian in a unique position among the nation’s schools. The program, which offers students 15 hours of work a week at the base rate of 65c an hour, has grown steadily. Since 1940, almost $500,000 has been paid out to student workers.”
- The Mound 1951 p 18

“On a warm September evening in 1921 one of the faculty members living on campus was sent to the old New York Central station to meet the new music teacher and his wife, who were arriving on the evening train. When the train arrived the only persons getting off were a fellow and girl looking much too young to be teachers, so the old instructor went back to the college leaving Dr. and Mrs. James Houston Spencer to get their first view of the community stranded on the New York Central Depot platform.”
- The Mound 1952 dedication page

“The SAE Tub Pull for the American Cancer Society drew . . . public interest. Starting on a Friday in downtown Toledo, the fraternity pulled their bathtub-on-wheels through Toledo and on to Adrian the next day, collecting contributions for cancer work in Lenawee County. On Saturday, the tired but happy Sigs counted $475 in contributions to the Cancer Society.”

- The Mound 1967 p 19

“The saga of Rudy Fremmel is already a classic among college pranks, an ever-present example of the active college mind. Rudy is the man who was imagined by his friends when he failed to show up for school. From letters, mussed desks, and a full closet, one would assume Rudy was alive and well, not just an excuse for a private room where a double was intended. But, alas, Rudy was ferreted out and lest trouble occur, ‘Rudy” was reported to be an auto accident victim. With proper ceremony, his Pellowe Hall friends laid him to rest."

- The Mound 1967 p 34

In the rear of South Hall a most fiendish crime was committed, rivaling in horror the awful deeds of the French Revolution. The whole deed was premeditated as shown by the way in which the deep laid plans were carried out. In a corner room in North Hall the innocent victim was decoyed to the trap set by the murderers. The fiends prepared a banquet and invited the victim who, unsuspectingly, gratefully accepted, only to find himself shut in iron bars, from which there was no escape. The victim was kept confined thus for many hours, and to add to his suffering was continuously told of his approaching death. Finally, as the shadows of night were falling, securely bound, the victim was carried to the rear of South Hall, where in his sight a large tank was filled with water, and soon the fiends plunged their helpless victim into its frigid depths. Here for an hour these brutal wretches watched and watched their victim in his vain attempts to escape. Bat at last his efforts grew weaker and at last he sank. And thus died one of the North Hall Rats.
- College World February 1, 1897

College Student Rides Bicycle from Fort Wayne: 100 Miles in Eight Hours
Not many of us can remember the past weekend and recall such an accomplishment as can Bob Treat, a sophomore transfer from a college in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He hitch-hiked to Fort Wayne, a distance of about 100 miles at the end of last week and preached a sermon in a Fort Wayne church on Sunday morning. At 2:30 P.M. Sunday, he mounted an old bicycle and started back to Adrian. Bob peddled hard for twenty miles and then rested for five minutes while he ate a candy bar to give him energy. When darkness came, he was still peddling hard in the direction of Adrian. Handicapped because he had no lights, he nevertheless made it to the dormitory by 11:00 P.M. Next morning Bob said perhaps his legs were a little stiff, but he was pepped up with a hot bath, and got up for a 7:40 class.
- College World September 30, 1938

Although there must have been a great deal of effort involved in making out a table seating list and duplicating it for the Dean’s list some time last Monday morning, the perpetrator of this subtle joke had his reward in the confusion which resulted in the dining hall at the lunch hour. Borders in Metcalf were confronted with the difficulty of having to sit at two tables at once, according to an official list posted in Metcalf, and according to the clever counterfeits posted in North and South Halls.
- College World October 14, 1938

The Health Center will be offering immunizations against measles because, “Outbreaks of measles and rubella on the College Campus are a relatively recent phenomenon . . .” the Michigan Department of Public Health Immunization said. . . students who received an immunization prior to 1967 or who have never had the ten day measles should consider getting the shot.
- College World October 11, 1978

Powell Hall to Close after Much Deliberation
At 10 P.M. last night, Dr. Janice Hoffer, Vice President for Student Affairs and Tony Archibald met with residence of Powell Hall to inform them that the dorm will be closed next fall. The decision to close a men’s dorm, Powell in particular, came after much deliberation by the Housing Committee. The committee made up of administrators, faculty and student representatives, studied total college enrollment figured, the number of men living in each dorm, facilities of each dorm and other area before reaching their final decision. “It’s never a happy thing to close a dorm,” Dr. Hoffer said, “It’s not the first time a dorm had to be closed, but we certainly hope it’s the last.
- College World April 5, 1978

Shipman Secures System
Adrian College students may be alarmed the next time they try escaping Shipman Library with a reference book in hand. Soon to join other MIAA Schools, Adrian College is updating its library with a security system . . . the librarian hope embarrassment will stifle a few light fingers.
- College World April 25, 1979

Chung Lin Wins Chess Tournament
Sophomore Chung Lin has captured the first annual intramural chess tournament on the Bulldog campus. In gaining his title, Chung won five out of six games. His only defeat was administered by Donald Walhout, who emerged victorious over him in a hotly-contested match. Second place honors were won by Ed Reed, with third place going to Donald Walhout.
- College World February 18, 1949

Adrian College History is Now on Sale
The Story of a Noble Devotion, the brief history of Adrian College written under the direction of Dr. Harlan l. Feeman, is not on sale. The history has been published by the Adrian College Press in connection with the Centennial Celebration . . .the books are on sale at the bookstore and can be purchased through Methodist Publishing House, Detroit, Michigan. They are $1 for paper covers and $1.50 for board covers.
- College World May 29, 1945

North Hall broke loose again and South Hall woke up to find its front door barricaded shut with some twenty bags of cement filched form the new gym project. Not only that, but a string of automobiles and wheelbarrows had beaten a path to Metcalf for breakfast and were waiting patiently on the campus walk. And it is a matter of wonder that no one heard the banging which must have resulted from the erection of a scaffold to a second story window. Just some modern Romeos, roaming late at night.
- College World May 19, 1939

Girls demand Men with $2000 Income
Twenty-two of the college girls, chosen at random, were asked the question “How much must a man earn in a year before you will marry him?” and an average of $2,047.73 resulted. The highest amount required was $10,000 and the least $1,000. The majority said $1,200 or $1,500. Others who would not state a definitive amount said, “I don’t care how much he earns just so he is blessed with ambition,” “Enough,” “If he is good looking he doesn’t have to earn anything,” and on “It all depends on who the man is,” was given several times. One very “pat” remark was, “It doesn’t matter so much how much he earns as how much he is worth to the world.”
- College World May 2, 1916

Compiled by Cambray Sampson.