Winter 1997
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Winter 1997 |
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Looking Back, by John Robson, Librarian and Archivist
Tours of the Rose campus in 1997, especially for prospective students and their families, always include the new Sports and Recreation Center. So at this moment of great pride in the new complex, please recall that in the fall of 1895 Rose had yet to build even a simple gymnasium at the college's original site in north central Terre Haute. The lack of a modern athletic facility was sorely felt by the student body in the spring of 1895.. Athletics — varsity, intramural, and just-for-fun — were strictly run by a self-sustaining club called the Athletic Association. The Association drew its membership from virtually the entire student body, each paying $3 to use equipment, participate on teams, and use the football and baseball fields, bike racks, and tennis courts. In addition to these expenses, the dues paid for the wages of a student-manager who tended to the gear, field maintenance, and also would see to such things as the train fares for team members playing away games at Indiana University, Purdue University or Notre Dame. The students were rightly proud of the success of Rose athletes in intercollegiate activities. Trophies and ribbons told the story of victories won against much larger schools with far better athletic facilities. At Rose, the only indoor place for exercise and athletic conditioning was a dark room in the basement of the main building with a rather sad provision for shower baths adjoining. Few students would even use the equipment, which was often covered with red dust from the brick flooring and walls. Most shelled out the cost of an annual membership in the Terre Haute Y.M.C.A., a far from satisfactory answer to the lack of campus facilities, particularly to give students recreational choices during winter months. In the era before computer and video games, personal cars, and movies, Rose students chiefly turned to sporting events and games of strength and athletic talent to fill the non-study hours. As early as 1892, students had thought of building a gymnasium. The class of 1893 wanted to build one as their class memorial, and an offer by the Board of Trustees in the fall of 1894 to improve the basement recreational room was rejected by the students as a waste of money. A more successful challenge was issued in February of 1895. A Rose Technic editorial stated the case succinctly: "Is there a student in this Institute who has not felt a little mortified at our apartments in the basement when hearing men from other schools speak of their gymnasiums? Is there a student in this Institute who is not willing to contribute a small amount in order that in later years he can speak with pride of the R.P.I. gymnasium and her athletic team?" Hope grew brighter when President Mees agreed that the time had come if the student body would lead the way. The Association's plan was for each student to pledge $2-5 for a total contribution from students of $300. The 130 alums would hopefully pledge $6-10 for a total of $800-1,000. Institute friends were marked down for $500 for a grand total of $1,600. The estimated cost for building and equipping the facility was $2,000. Pledges and cash contributions were due in by January 1896. Only then would the Association proceed with construction. So pleased were the members of the faculty, President Mees, and the Board of Trustees with the successful initiative of the students, that Mees informed the Association that if they raised $1,500, the Board would advance the construction costs. Estimates were that the completed building would range between $2,000—2,500. Students were encouraged to pay their pledges as soon as possible as evidence of good faith. Alums, initially slow in responding to a mail solicitation, joined in during the summer in sending a number of cash contributions, making it feasible that the gym could be built in late fall, rather than waiting for the spring of 1896. If $1,500 were pledged or on hand by September 1, the gym would be a reality by winter, or so the Association expected. The September issue of the Technic was most encouraging. Students alone had contributed $1,200. The Civil Department was drawing up plans to present for contractor bids by September 18. The building was to be north and west of the academic building and to the west of the chemical laboratory. The exterior dimensions were 51x80 feet, with the gymnasium floor measuring 50x60 feet. As conceived, there would be a running track and a handball court. Visitors would observe from a gallery. Access to the gymnasium floor was made from the locker room. To save money, the first contract was for the shell and enough of the interior to make the facility useable. Students, under the supervision of William Smith, instructor of Wood Working Shop, were to provide the finish work. By October, the Board of Trustees was so pleased with the fund-raising efforts and the economy of the plan, that they wished to build a brick facility rather than wood and to give it a slate roof. The announcement of this totally unexpected and extremely liberal action of the already liberal board was received with general rejoicing among the students. The Technic editors, true to all excited builders, were quick to thank all contributors and to expand the project by noting that more money would be needed to buy all the proper equipment — ropes, rings, pummel horses, mats, etc. Fortunately for the history of this amazing student-led project, it did not take form until late fall. On the night of November 9, the chemical laboratory caught fire. By morning, only the brick walls were left standing. A student noted that judging from the reported method adopted in fighting the fire it is highly probable we would have been minus our gymnasium as well as our laboratory. The December issue of the Technic reported that the gym walls were up and that the roof timbers were soon to be positioned. A contractor from Indianapolis was the lowest bidder, and he was working quickly to get the structure under roof so that the heating system could be installed. The work on the gym was slowed by the November fire. All available resources were diverted to restoring the laboratory, so important to the curriculum. By May of 1896, the new brick gymnasium was substantially complete, ready for occupancy, and free of debt. The Association had pulled off an amazing feat. Then, as now, the faculty, staff, Board of Trustees, and Institute friends were always willing to support student initiative. — by John Robson Librarian and Archivist
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