'Bloomsburg University
Sesquicentennial

1839

— 1989

T

he year nineteen
JLhe

hundred eighty-

nine marks the one hundred and

fiftieth

anniversary of the founding of Bloomsburg
University.

We

invite

you

the university

to join

with members of

community

as

we

during special events planned
heritage

and herald

to

celebrate

honor our

the future of one of

Pennsylvania's finest institutions of
higher learning.

"A Legacy

of Learning," the theme

chosen for our celebration,

is

intended to

acknowledge both the legacy entrusted
preceded us and our responsibility

to

us by those

to those

who

men and women who

will follow.

The variety of special events planned to highlight the sesquicentennial
during October will be truly memorable. The Bloomsburg Players will
present a production of Ladyhouse Blues; Yehudi Menuhin and the Warsaw
Sinfonia will perform; the university will host a special sesquicentennial

symposium on the environment; the Celebrity Artist Series will sponsor My
Fair Lady; and a Juried Art Exhibition will begin this month. In addition,
there will be a variety of sporting, musical, and alumni everits throughout the
month.

As we join

and our hearts will look back
of things past and appreciate what was, but we

together in celebration, our eyes

and remember. We

will

tell

also will keep our vision fixed firmly

on the future

—

a future that holds

promise beyond our most optimistic imaginings.

as

Come join with us in our celebration and enjoy this commemorative
we observe our one hundred and fiftieth anniversary.

Harry Ausprich

booklet

Bloomshurg -

''A

Legacy of Learning

//

Providing theyouth of the conwuimtif with an opfjortu-

mtytoseairethefumiamattalsofadassicBleduailkmbecBme
a reBlity mth tiie establisltmait of the Academy, the fcfravnner of Btoomsburg UnitXTsity, in 1839. The Academy was
first

housed in a butUing heated at the comer of Third and
When the first teachers proved incompetent,

fefftiison streets.

a group ofdtizens persuaded Charles P. WaBer, to head the
.Academy. Waller remained at the sduol far two years. When
he 1^, the institution was men estaUi^ied. In iie years diat
followed, the

Academy

experienced periods of fortune and

famine.

The growth of the school was such that in 1^6, the Rev.
WaBer Sr. prepared a charter, and a corporation was
legally formed to sdl stock aikl to open and manage an Kodemy to be known as the Bloomsburg Literary Institute. The
D.J.

w.....

Institute struggled along throu^tiie critical years of the Cioil

War.buttheendoftheconflictwasauvmpuniedby expansion
and increased enroliments. InMayl866,thediarterofl^6
was remoed, a search was initiated for an educator of establidud reputation to head tiie Institute, and tiie sale of one
thousand shares of stock at S20 per ^laie was authorized.
Henry Carver, a native of Binghamton, N.Y., loas visiting Bloomdrurg on a pleasure trip. He was introduced to the
Rev. D.J. WaBer and olhei s who persuaded him to remain and
Ttopentheold Academy. Iateinjunel866,thetrusteespassed
2 resolution to ertd a building to accommodate 300 ^udents.
Five sites were discussed including three acres of land owned
by WiBiam and Alice Snyder above tiK Forks Hold. Thehotd
stood stpiarely across Main Stred between the Town HaB and
Housenick's Garage. The owners of Ote Forks Hold agreed to
move the building within a reasonable lime to allow for the
opening of Main Street up the UB to where Carver HoB

now

The ^ockholders voted overwhdmingly in favor (^ the
Snyder property at a meeting in dK Court House on JurK 16,
1866. The new building was dedicated April 4, 1867.
WhUe passing throu^ Bloomdnirg on a train in the

stands.

autumn

of 1867, /J>. Wickersham, state superintendent of

public itt^ruction,sawthenewschoolonthehiB'ablazewith
light.'

District

The location of a new Normal Sdiool in the StitA
was pending, and Dr. Wickersham returned to

Bloomdrurg.

On

February 19. 1869, a committee appointed
of the Literary Institute as a StiOe

to consider the diartering

Normal

School, gave a favorable report

— which

is

the

birthdateoftheStateNormalSdiooloftheSixthDistrict.

lnl870,adifferauxofoimaondeDdopedbetweenProfessor Carver aiul the trustees reffttding duties assigiud to
theprituipal. Apparently, the ^sagreement could not be
resohred.arul Mr. Carver 1^ the institution.

OnDecem-

ber 19, 1871, at the suggation of Dr. Wickersham, the
tru^ees elected Charles G. BarUey as principal . Dr.

Barkley agreed to serve only untU

it

wouU be possible to

find a successor. Althougfi the trustees would

havelikeihimtoremain,hettskedtoberdieved
of his duties on

March

Bartley's resignation

77ur Odrd
was dected when

27, 1972.

principal. Rev. John Hesmtt,

was

accepted.

He

also

accepted the appoirttmertt on an mtervn basts

and served

urtHl June, 1873.

Dr. T. L. Griswold was dected principal

June 14.1873. When the term began in 1875,
tite school had the largest enrollment in its
history. On Sttturday afternoon, Sept. 4. a fire

From left Early draw-ing of
the campus - 1S75; Ariel
photo of the campus - 1987;

A

gift

from the Bakeless

family, the "Bakeless

Gates" led from the Long
Porch of old Waller Hall to
the court yard.

No lives were lost.
The following Monday arrangements were made to place
students in boarding houses and begin a campaign to raise
destroyed the dormitory in about tivo hours.

money to supplement the $30,000 paid by the insurance
company. The neiv dormitory zvas the first section of several
wings that would constitute old Waller Hall. The dormitory
was dedicated on April 26, 1876.
In June 1877, a committee appointed by the trustees
began an investigation of the report that certain objectionable
teachings, comments upon the Scripture, and apparent ap-

proval of clairvoyant and spiritualism tenets prevailed.

It

was

charged that the teachings of Dr. Griswold, in class, were such
as to unsettle former convictions and to confuse the minds of
students.

A motion urns adopted by the trustees July 39, 1877,

to notify the

Bloomsburg Banking Company

that Dr. T. L.

Griswold was no longer principal of the Bloomsburg State
Normal School. The following month. Dr. Griswold was requested

to

vacate the rooms that he and his family occupied in

the dormitory.

Dr. David ]. Waller fr., an ordained Presbyterian Minister,

had been installed as the

when

fifth

principal of the institution

the Fall term began in 1877. In October 1885, bids ivere

received to erect a building between Canter Hall

dormitory. This building,

known

as Noetling Hall,

nected to Carver Hall by an enclosed bridge. In a

July 1889, Dr. Waller noted that the

number

and the
was con-

letter,

dated

of students

had

grown to larger than ever. To meet the crowded conditions, a
new wing for the dormitory ivas started in 1889, extending
toward the
the

end of

river.

this

A long piazza

wing

(Long Porch)

ivas built across

to the front of the building.

In 1890, Dr. judson P. Welsh

became the sixth principal

when Dr. Waller left for Harrisburg to begin his duties as the
new superintendent of public instruction. Described as one
who had the vision and zeal of a promoter, the new principal
helped plan for several neiv buildings and the renovation of
The last addition to the dormitory, connecting Waller
and Noetling Halls, zvas dedicated on Feb. 22, 1894. At the
same time, a neiv gymnasium was built with a running gallery
and provisions for a fidl-sizc bowling alley.
others.

Dr. Welsh resigned, effective Sept.

1,

1906, to accept the

position of vice president of Pennsylvania State College.

Waller, then principal at the Indiania State

Normal

Dr.

School,

accepted an ini'itation to return to Bloomsburg where he had

served as principal from 1877-1890.

He headed the institution

for another 14 years until his retirement in 1920.

Negotiations began in 1913 for the sale of the school to the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The final transaction occurred in May, 1916. Early in 1920, Dr. Waller notified the
trustees that he planned to retire. He was 74, and was principal
at

Bloomsburg for a

total of

27 years during two

different

Dr. Charles H. Fisher, a staff member of the
Department of Public Instruction, was elected the eighth
tenures in

office.

principal in July, 1920.

The present conception of professional education has been
This became evident in 1920 ivhen the

a process of evolution.

——

Presiden ts ^^^^—^^—^^^—

Henry Carver
1886-1871

Charles G. Barkley
1871-1872

John Hewitt
1872-1873

Griswold
1873-1877

T.L.

From

left: The class of 1892 in front of Institute
Hall (Carver Hall) - 1892; the domitory building

(after

1927 would be

known

as Waller Hall) with

original piazza or porch, later called the

Long

Porch - 1911; Side entrance to Noetling Hall;
North wing entrance to old Waller Hall before the
addition of the tiffany windows - prior to 1920;

Coeds of the Bloomsburg Literary Institute and
Normal School - 1898; Portrait of a Bloomsburg
student - circa 1880; Members of the faculty 1887; Old Science Hall - circa 1930s.

David

J.

Waller,

1877-1890

Jr.

Ju(dson P.

Welsh

1890-1906

David

J.

Waller,

1906-1920

Jr.

Charles H. Fisher
1920-1923

Normal School curriculum was

differentiated form that of the

secondary school. Admission requirements were increased

graduation from a four-year secondary school or

The preparatory course was abolished

in

its

to

equivalent.

1920 what

the super-

intendent of public instruction decreed that the Normal Schools
were to be used solely for the preparation of teachers for the
public schools of Pennsylvania.

In late June 1923, Dr. Fisher resigned,

and Dr. C.C.L.

who was

serving in the Department of Public Instruction, luas elected principal. In November 1925, Dr. Riemer

Riemer,

reported that student enrollment

was 751, with 54 members of

and 16 cooperating teachers. A change in the
name was announced rather dramatically one evening
1927. A party xvas in progress in the old gym. Dr.

the faculty
school's
in

May

Riemer,

who had been

silence.

to a

meeting in Harrisburg, suddetUy

doorway, clapped his hands, and called for
Hemadethis request, "I want everybody to sing the old

appeared

in the

school song, but put the

word

'College'

wherever 'Normal' has

been sung. " The change of name to Bloomsburg State Teachers
College ivas accompanied by approval to grant the bachelor of
science degree.

On

April 11, 1927, the trustees elected Dr. Francis B.

The man who was to
and the first president of Bloomsburg
was known as an able administrator and a leading educator
long before he came to campus. VJhen Dr. Haas helped plan and
execute changes that made the institution a college in fact as
well as in name. A nezv era of scholastic and material development and expansion began.
The curriculum was revised again to give more attention
to methods and the professional aspects of teaching. This trend
indicated the early attempts to make teaching a profession. It
ivas during this period of growth that Harvey A. Aruiruss

Haas

as principal to succeed Dr. Riemer.

serve as the last principal

joined the faculty and developed a curriculum in business

education to begin with the college year 1930-31.

major curriculum revision took place

in

The next

1937 when

Dr. Attdruss succeeded Professor
Sutliff as

dean of instruction

follotving the /offer's retirement.

The number of methods courses
was reduced, and professionalized^
subject matter courses were

introduced.

From

that time on,

there lias been a continuing

study and

rei'ision of the

curriculum, a cooperative

endeavor involving both
faculty

and administrative

officers.

Two new
the

buildings,

Benjamin Franklin

Eletnentary Laboratory

School and the laundry,

were completed for use in
1930. The Depression, which began

G.C.L. Riemer

1923-1927

in 1929,

shrouded the

Francis B.

Haas

1927-1939

Harvey A. Andruss
1939-1969

Robert J. Nossen
1969-1972

'^m
left: Carver Hall - circa 1910: College
dinning room - Christmas 1946; Dorm room -

From

late 1970s/early 1980s; Sufliff Hall

room
be

- 1964; Girls

in the dormitory building (after 1927

known

would

as Waller Hall) - 1907; Secretarial

Office Practice class - circa 1955; Portrait of

Margaret "Maggie" Elliott (Mis. Edward Y.
Seidel) - class of 1885.

Charles H. Carlson

1972-1973

H. McCormick
1973-1983

Jaii\es

Larry Jones
1983-1985

Harry Ausprich
1985-present

M.

entire nation by 1931

and had a considerable effect on activities

Wlien the national government took steps to

at the college.

mobilize the nation's resources and rei'italize the economy, aid

was made available to state and local governments for construcToward the end of Dr. Haas' tenure, three
tion purposes.
buildings and an addition to the heating
plant had been completed.

Thousands of alumni,
former faculty returned

May

1939

to participate in the

Celebration.

A

little

and
campus in

friends,

to the

Centennial

more than two months

after the centennial activities. Dr.

Haas

resigned to assume, for the second time,
the duties of superintendent of public
instruction.

Dr. Harvey A. Andruss.

dean of instruction, was appointed
acting president on Aug. 29, 1939.

One

of the most pressing problems, calling for decisive action

on the part of President Andruss and the trustees in late 1939,
was to find a way to get adequate funds to equip, open, and
operate the three

new buildings

— Centennial Gym, the Junior

High School (now Nairy Hall), and the maintenance building.
The approach to many problems had to be modified as the world
faced the grim realities of another world war.
The forward-looking policies of the Board of Trustees and
college administration at Bloomsburg have been summed up in
these words. "During the four-year period of War Programs,
the college taught 1,000 people to fly, liad 500 Naiy Officer
Candidates, housed 2,000 students for engineering, science,

and management war trainees, and offered courses to nurses
from the Bloomsburg Hospital. This enabled the college to offer
employment to the faculty, maintain the college plant m times
when material was available only on priority, make a substantial contribution to the war effort, and dei>elop the Aviation
Program.
In September 1941, one of the six Naval Flight Instructor

Programs was located

at

Bloomsburg.

Others were inaugu-

Purdue University, Texas
Christian University, Northwestern University, and the
University of Arizona. The first contingent of Navy Aviation
Cadets (V-5's) began to arrive at the college in August 1942.
Bloomsburg was one of 140 institutions approved for the Navy
Officer Candidate Program (V-12). Of the 11 programs in
Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg was the only State Teachers Colrated at the Unii'ersity of Georgia,

lege selected.

The student population began

to increase

with the wave

of ex-G.I. students from the Korean Conflict, the population
explosion,

and

the tremendous expansion of

the Russians launched the first Sputnik. Dr.
trustees planned

knowledge after
Andruss and the

an annual enrollment increase of 10

to

25

percent, a gradual growth to meet the increased pressures for

admissions without sacrificing the quality of instruction.
The Division of Special Education ivas created by Dr.

Andruss

in 1957.

In January 1960, Bloomsburg

and

its

13

were designated State Colleges by act of the
General Assembly. In the same year, Bloomsburg ivas given

sister institutions

approval to inaugurate a program of graduate studies leading
to the master of education. The scope of curriculum offerings

May

was broadened again

in

granted permission

award

to

1962,

when Bloomsburg was

the bachelor of arts degree in the

humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. In 1967, the

From left: Centennial Gym - 1987; Dr. Andruss and
Dean John A. Hoch remove "Teachers" from the name
of the school - 1960; "Socialized Recitation,"

Normal School - circa 1920; RecreaArbutus Park - circa 1912; College
Library - 1938; North Hall men - circa 1933; Twentyfifth reunion of the 1885 class - 1910; Navy Hall - circa
Bloomsburg

State

tional boating at

1950s; Training school classroom - 1921; Dr. H. Keffer

Hartline,

Medicine

Nobel Prize Laureate

in Physiology

and

for Vision Research. Hartline Science

named

in honor of him, his father Daniel S.
and his mother Harriet Franklin Keffer
Hartline; Haas Center for the Arts - 1987; Ariel photo
of upper campus - 1975.

Center

is

Hartline,

J

division of business education received state approval to insti-

nac curriculum

tute a

business world. In June

to train
1

managerial personnel for the

967, the

last sessions at the

laboratory

school were held on campus. Bloomshurg ivas given permission
to

grant the master of arts degree in 1968, the master of science
and the master of business administration in 1976.

in 1970,

On January 22, 1969, Dr Andruss announced that he
would be retiring. Dr. Robert f. Nossen was selected as the next
president. Nossen served three years and then amid conflict and
confusion, resigned on Sept. 1, 1972. Charles H. Carlson ivas
named acting president and began his one-year tenure while a
search committee screened applicants for the permanent posiCarlson, as acting president, ivas credited for bringing

tion.

some sense of order back to the campus.
The 1960s and early 1970s would be characterized by a
large number of building projects that would greatly clmnge
and expmnd the campus' physical appearance. Seventeen new
buildings were constructed during this decade and a half.
SutliffHall and New North Residence Hall were buUt in 1 960.
Montour and Schuylkill Halls, simply known as Dormitory East Hall ami Dormitory - West Hall at the time, were built in
1 964. The campus' desperate need for additional library space
was solved in 1966 with the completion of the Harvey A.
Andruss Library. In 1966, Old North Hall zvas torn down and
in 1967 South Hall, later called Luzerne Hall, ivas built on the
site. The Francis B. Haas Auditorium was also completed in
1967. In 1968, Elwell Residence Hall was built on a site
opposite Noetling and Waller Halls on the south side of East
Second

Hartline Science Center, also completed in

Street.

1968, provided a neiv home for the departments of Chemistry,
Physics, Biology, Earth and Space sciences, and Mathematics,

Commons was budt on the
The Bakeless Center for the
Humanities, Columbia Residence Hall, and the Campus Maintenance Center were also completed in 1970. Construction of
the Waller Administration Building was completed in 1972,
along with the Marguerite W. Kehr Union, the E. H. Nelson
Fieldhouse, and a multi-level parking garage. In 1976, construction of Lycoming Residence Hall was completed on the
in 1970, the William W. Scranton

former

former

site of

Noetling Hall.

site of old

Waller Hall.

On Aug. 30, 1973, James H. McCormick became the 14th
president of Bloomshurg State College.

Two additional gradu-

programs were added in 1 982, the Master of Science in
Nursing and a cooperative doctoral program in elementary

ate level

McConnick would head

education.

the institution until July

1983, when he would be granted administrative leave to serve
as interim chancellor of the newly formed State System of

SSHE would encomOn July 1, 1983, Larry
fones was asked to assume the position of acting president. On
Higher Education. Created by

state law,

pass the 13 state colleges and I.U.P.

that

same

date, the school's

name was changed again when, by

decree from the chancellor

and

the Board of Governors, the

became Bloomshurg Umversity of Pennsylvania.
The Fall of 1984 saw the completion of the McCormick Human
institution

Services Center.

Harry Ausprich became the 16th
same year, the university
purchased a home on Lightstreet Road to be used as an Alumni
House. The Magee Center, former residence of the late industrialist Harry L. Magee, was donated to the university in
September of 1988, and the most recent construction on campus
was completed this fall with the opening of the Montgomery
Apartments on the upper campus.
In September 1985, Dr.

pnesident of the institution. In that

Looking back over Bloomsburg's 150 years, the objective
signs of growth give
hold.

some indication of what the future may
The student body has increased from 378 to over 6,900

number of faculty has grown from less than lOto
more than 345; three acres of campus have expanded to an
upper and lower campus with a total of 173 acres; a physical
plant that began with a two story brick building now includes
46 structures; a program of instruction to prepare students for
college has changed to programs that now lead to the bachelor's,
master's, and cooperative doctoral degrees.
Providing our
students; the

youth with opportunities

to

gain an education was the goal of
Our responsibilly is to build on

the founders of our institution.
their efforts

and continue our "Legacy

of Learning."

left: Lobby in old Waller Hall; The Long Porch - 1956; Ariel
photo of Elwell Hall's construction with Waller Hall and the
Commons - 1968; Benjamin Franklin Elementary Laboratory
School - circa 1958; Carver Hall Auditorium - prior to 1926; New
faculty members - 1969; Tennis courts - 1921; Homecoming float
building - late 1960s/early 1970s; Studying at Kehr Union - circa

From

1970's;

Husky Lounge

-1965;

Columbia Residence Hall -

1987.

Sesquicentennial Sp
DATE AND TIME

cial

October Events

DATE AND TIME
1:30 p.m. -4:30 p.m.

LOCATION

EVENT
Panel Discussion

— "Waste Management and

Mitrani Hall, Haas Center

Water Quality Problems and Solutions in
Pennsylvania"
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion
to

— "What Can Education Do

Help?"
Topics include: environr^wntal issues from

an Earth systems science perspective, education's response to the need to educate

students of all ages about environmental
responsibility, and is society ready to do what
is

October 21

necessary to save the environment?

Mitrani Hall, Haas Center

How

^hout them Huskies

The start of a formalized athletic program, particularly in
and football, dates back to 1895
when A.K. Aldinger joined the Normal School faculty Aldinger organized athletics on a permanent basis and made the
the sports of basketball, baseball,

.

physical activities program part of the teacher training.
An athletic field was created on the site of the current

before the

Old

umild be the first site of several fields on campus
development of facilities on the upper campus that

Science Hall.

It

home for most of the athletic teams.
The early teams enjoyed moderate success with limited
schedules but, more importantly, established a solid base for

now

serves as

future teams to build upon. In the decade immediately prior to
World War II, the school's athletic teams began reaching neiv
heights.

Coach George Buckheit's track and

field

squads

won

four consecutive state championships, and his basketball units
in the late 3 930s were among the top clubs in the State Teachers
College circuit.

Dr. E.H. Nelson, for

whom

the current fieldhouse

on the

named, had some outstanding baseball teams
including an undefeated team in 1935. It was also during this
time period when athletic teams at Bloomsburg would start
upper campus

being

is

known as

the Huskies.

On

Oct. 9,

1

933, the student body

voted unanimously to adopt the nickname, influenced byProfessor George Keller, who raised the animals and characterized

them as "the most stubborn fighter in the canine family."
Most athletic activities were ivartime casualties, but some
sports, manned by Navy personnel, were scheduled on a limited

The end of the war saw the resumption of the programs,
and baseball teams provided immediate success. From 1946-55, the Husky football team was 6116-2 including the school's lone unbeaten seasons in 1948 and
basis.

and

the football, basketball,

1952. The 1948 team had the distinction of being the lone undefeated, untied team in the state of Pennsylvania that season.

The basketball team was 95-71 during that time period and won
the conference title in 1953 under coach Harold Shelly, while
the baseball team won 70 of its 103 outings and was undefeated
in 1949.

Wrestling was revived as a sport in 1955 after an 18-year
absence. Coach Russ

Houk

built a

powerhouse and eventually

became one of the top teams in the nation winning three
national crowns in addition to five PSAC titles.
added as swimMore programs were

^^^

ming and diving and

^^^^^

golf gained

var-

sity status, while

^^^^A

''^""'* ""'^

"°^^

country were
early 1960s.

^^^M

reinstated in the

From

left:

The "B Club," an

extra-curricular activity for

women

students interested in

and physical education One of two undefeated Bloomsburg football teams
- 1948; Bloomsburg State Normal
School men's basketball team 1908; baseball team - 1899;
Tennis team captains: Milton
Van Winkle, Coach Bob Norton,
Charles Wilson - 1966; Womens
basketball team - 1897.
athletics

circa 1930;

13

The basketball program started a streak of winning
seasons which continues presently at 23 years in
a roiv, the last 18 under coach Charlie

Chronister. Coach Burt Reese's tennis

team

is

winning

in the midst of a

streak that stands at 18 seasons,

making those programs

two

the

longest running success storie:
in

Bloomshurg

The most

athletics.

significant change

since the beginning of athletics on

campus took place in the 1970-71
when basketball became the
first varsity sport for women. Prior
the

season

to that time,

women wishing

in intercollegiate athletics

to

compete

were limited

to

"extramurals," an organized activity held

with several schools competing at a

site for

competition, but no records
of statistics were kept.

The women's basketball
team proved

good things
first

to be the sign of
to

come as the
saw the

(

four seasons

club win 30 contests while losing

only

six.

More teams followed

in

gaining varsity status with tennis, field hockey, and sivimming

and diving, giving women more opportunities to compete at the
conference and national levels. Softball, track and field, and
lacrosse wereaddedin the late 1970s along with soccer for men,
and finally cross country in 1980 brought the uvmen's pro-

gram

to a total of eight teams.

Not

to be

outshone by an already established and highly

successful men's program, several of the Huskies'

women's

squads made fast impacts on the conference and national scene.
Tenyiis captured three PSAC championships and crowned

numerous individual champions.

Field hockey

one of the nation's dominant teams
national

titles in

several national

squads for

the 1980s,

was to become
winning four

in the sport

and swimming and diving has had

champions and has been one of the PSAC's top

many

seasons.

The

two teams started under

latter

the direction of Mary Gardner,

who now

serves as the univer-

sity's athletic director.

Softball also

won

a national

title,

that

coming

in 1981,

giving coach fan Hutchinson the unique distinction of coaching two national titlists in the same year as her field hockey

team also claimed the nation's top honor.

The stability of the program

evidenced by the fact that

is

many coaches over the years have spent long tenures

in

charge

of the various teams, and currently there are just three head

coaches at Bloomsburg with less than five years in their
respective positions.

The Bloomsburg University athletic program has an

all-

time overall winning percentage of better than 59 percent, fust
1 8 sports have overall winning percentages of under
50 percent, and nine of the teams have won more than 60
percent of all the head-to-head events in which they have
competed since the sport was introduced at Bloomsburg. The
men's basketball program heads the victory list with more than
880 wins, while field hockey has the top winning percentage at

four of the

just over 82 percent.

—

No matter the surroundings from the first athletic area
Old Science Hall to the gymnasium in Noetling Hall to the
slopes ofMt. Olympus, or Centennial Gymnasium or Athletic
park in downtown Bloomsburg or even the newest facilities on
the upper campus such as the Nelson Fieldhouse, Redman
Bloomsburg's athletic program
Stadium or Litwhiler Field

at

—

has always been successful.

- by fim

Hollister

Sports Inforrrmtion Director

14

^-ffll

*^
i^l

^"

.1

o -K

From left: Football team - 1896;
Men's basketball team - 1900; Junior
hockey team - 1929; Tennis
team - 1935; Football team - 1923;
Track and Field team - 1931; Baseball
team member, Arron Killmer - 1902;
Wrestling team - 1931.
field

15

Culture and the Arts at
In the winter of 1866, Henry Carver pointed out to
students the values that could be derived from a literary society.

The group formed

H Midoummrr

Nigl't'B

BU

Drtam

that winter called itself the Philologian

Literary Society. Debates, declamations, the reading of essays

or poetry, and sometimes plays were presented. In 1874, six

members resigned and organized a new society
These two literary
called the CalUepian Literary Society.
societies were the origins of culture and the arts at Bloomsburg.
During the early part of the 20th century, the school
orchestra was quite likely started by Mrs. Ella Stump Sutliff,an
accomplished piano teacher on campus. She and Mrs. Daniel
Hartline were very active in the musical life of the Normal
School and for many seasons were the only two women members of the orchestra, Mrs. Sutliff playing and conducting.
Artists and lecture series were started at this time and brought
music and popular speakers to the campus on a regular basis.
Through the efforts of Howard Fenstemaker, a band was
organized during the 1930-31 school year. At first, it was

Mcmdtr. Kkj

i«Ct>. ..

Philologian

TtacKW. Ookc

Dt Atkcam.

Witmt

nMcatoMia

mmtrr^ rtirinuB

known simply as "The Band," but within a very short time, it
had been dubbed "The Maroon and Gold Band." In addition to
the orchestra and The Maroon and Gold Band, Bloomsburg has
had many fine muscial groups, some of which are still active
today.

Theater has had a proud tradition at Bloomsburg. Initially,

the literary societies presented plays.

Eventually pro-

ductions were sponsored by individual classes, the Art Club,

Omega National Dramatic Fraternity, and
The Bloomsburg Players.
The many years of concerts, recitals, art exhibits, and

the Alpha Psi
finally

drama performances have

laid the

foundation for additional

cultural offerings at the university.

the presi-

the community has grown considerably.
Marco and Louise Mitrani had a great love

and

versity

The

Under

of Harry Ausprich the impact of the arts on the uni-

dency
late

Besides establishing funds for academic

for the arts.

scholarships,

the Mitranis have provided substan-

\
\

funds for
Haas Center for fft^
tial

versity Foundation

improvements
v

to the

Arts and

to the

for

Arts

\

its

auditorium of

Bloomsburg Uni-

EVITA

Endowment Fund.
The

rich artistic

tradition maintained

by

the university's music

and

\^

art departments, the theater

productions, and the expanding
iing
cultural opportunities of the

Celebrity Artist

and Provostt

\.\

Lecture series, have established

Bloomsburg University as a
cultural center for Northeastern

Pennsylvania.

From

left:

Graduate

art

student and her work - 1988;
Majorettes - late 1960s/early
1970s;

in

Bloomsburg Players

production of "The

Swan" -

1927;

Bloomsburg Players production
"The Late Christopher Bean" 1935; Maroon and Gold Band,
Homcoming Day - 1939; The
Bloomsburg State Normal School
Orchestra - 1900; Paul Duke,

of

Provost's Lecture Series

speaker - 1988; A Capella
Choir -1939; The Canadian
Brass, Celebrity Artist Series

- 1987; University/

Commu-

nity Orchestra - 1988.

16

A Rich History
During our 150 year history events,
have emerged

Bhomshurg

that, repeated

ideals,

and activities

through the years, have become

Some remain steadfast, other tradiaway with the passage of time, still others are

traditions.

tions have fallen

yet to be made.

The Ivy Day celebration started around 1909. In the
Ivy Day ceremonies, the lengthy programs combined
class poem, prophecy, song
the features of a class night

earliest
all

and

—

class will with a serious oration

class,

a speech by the principal or a

by a chosen member of the
member of the faculty, and

the planting of the ivy at the walls of one of the buildings.

For

"gowned in class colors."
members of the class wore white

a time, about 1912, the seniors were

Then followed a time when the
and suits. Somewhere through the years, the seniors
began wearing the commencement caps and gowns, the custom
continuing through the 1950s. Until the pergola was built in
dresses

1917, the exercises, which took place in the grove, used either
a tetnporarily built platform or a carpet of evergreen boughs. In

1925, the "class night" activities and the faculty speeches were
eliminated from the Ivy

Day program and

in their places

dramatizations, poetry reading, and folk dancing.

were

1934 saw

the simplification of the tradition to include only the senior

oration, school songs,

From 1 945

and

the planting of the ivy.

until 1951, the Ivy

Day ceremony followed the

baccalaureate service.

For a few years in the 1960s,

became the symbol of the

by Day.

The cliange

trees

in tradition still

contained the idea of the graduating class leaving a living,

growing remembrance on campus.
The tradition of May Day festivities started in 1910. The
students, faculty, and patrons of the school gathered on the
front taivn of the campus before Institute Hall (Carver Hall) for
theceremony. A senior girl, LylaAnwyl of Edwardsville, was

May Queen. The model school children perMay Day songs. Tlie members of
the literary societies read May Day poetry, and girls from the
physical culture classes wound May poles, three of them.
crowned the first

formed folk dances and sang

Following the ceremony, the faculty and students strolled to the
grove where they played games until suppertime. Afterapicnic
under the trees. May Day ended as the students returned to

study in their rooms.

The traditions of May Day grew and spanned many
Music and dancing were always part of the celebration.
Sometimes skits or dramas were presented, especially after the
pergola was built. Many times during the afternoon and early
evening of May Day, the literary societies held an ice cream
festival on campus. Occasionally, the residents of the town
joined the school in staging a town parade. After the ceremony
of the crowning of the queen, the town battd would march up the
hill to the campus where the student body would fall in line and
march back down into town. Sometimes from front campus to
years.

18

of Traditions

From

left:

May Queen, Joan

Livziey - 1962; Ivy
circa 1930s;

Day -

May Day - 1916;

Homecoming

- 1964;

float

Josephine Duy
(Mrs. Franklin S. Hutchison)
- 1915; Dance Marathon -

May Queen,

circa 1979; Eagles atop senior

walk -

circa 1915;

ton trip - 1910;

Washing-

Commence-

ment - 1988; Mock
convention - 1960;

Customs

Day walk

political

Freshmen

-circa 1965;

May

1938; Saluting senior

lion - circa 1955;

Tiffany

window - circa

1970s.

IVY DAY
PROGRAM

19

North Hall, the graceful terraces were one huge mass of whirling, iveaving May poles wound by freshmen girls in pastel

Many

bouffant skirts.

years, the elaborate plans for the exer-

brought so many visitors

cises

stretched from

and

social

Canvr Hall

to the

May Day and

Ivy

became pari of our history.
Nov. 17, 1928, saw the

The

pus.

football

back campus that bleachers

Science Hall. Unfortunately, the

unrest of the ISSOs took their

political

traditions.

to

game

Day were

first

on

toll

both abandoned and

Homecoming Day on camwas with Wyoming

in the afternoon

(old) Mt. Olympus. Following the game, there
was an informal reception in the gymnasium for graduates, and
in the ei'ening, a dance ended the festivities. Homecoming had
been a great success and was on its way to becoming a tradition.
On Oct. 9, 1933, the students met in an assembly, and by
an almost unanimous vote, selected the husky as the school's
mascot. The first husky to serve the college in this capacity ivas
one of Professor Keller's team. Roongo, a contraction of
Maroon and Gold, was the first mascot's name. It was said he
was one of the huskies of Professor Keller's which had gone to
the South Pole with Admiral Byrd. Roongo was succeeded by
Roongo II, Roongo III, and various other huskies.
Throughout the years, dances have been held at
Bloomsburg. The Freshman Hop, Sophomore Cotillion, funior
Prom, and Senior Ball, all were program dances evenly spaced
throughout the year and each brought out the colorful and
graceful ei'ening gowns of the era. Faculty and students alike
danced away the evening. Wien the band started playing

Seminary on

"Goodnight, Sweetheart ," the dancers drifted

to the hall to

MAY DAY

say

goodbye, the girls going up library stairs to the dormitory, the
boys leaving campus by Senior Walk, or heading past the post

Old North

office for

Hall.

For a Imlf century, the memorial of the Class of 1912 ivas
known as Senior Walk. Originally when planned, the walk was
said to lead from "front

campus"

to the

"upper campus." The

path from Institute Hall (Carver Hall) had a definite and
it ran past the clump of hemlocks that grew
Model School and went on to the front door of
main dormitory. At the point of steepest rise, the class's

decided elevation as

NORMAL SCHOOL GROVE

SATURDAY MAY

29

AT ONE O CLOCK

at the side of the

the

plans called for steps to be constructed, flanked by low pedestals
that

would hold large bronze

lions at the top

and

large bronze

eagles at the bottom.

Wlien the steps were completed, a complaint was received
at

the Principal's Office concerning the positioning of the

The British

eagles.

member pointed

lion,

some

patriotic student or faculty

out, should never rest above the

American

Immediately, the bronze castings were reversed.

eagle.

Somehow through

the years, this

unofficially as "Senior Walk."

quite likely

it

gained

its

walkway became known

No one knows when or why, but

name because of its

use each year by the

graduating classes in robed procession from the lobby of the
dormitory to the auditorium for commencement exercises.
In time, as the zvings

and

the beaks of the eagles

were

broken by wear and the weather, the birds were removed from
their pedestals
places.

The

and

lions,

electric lanterns

were installed

in their

through the years, continued the stationary

stance at the foot of the steps until, with the construction of
Scranton Commons, the area they guarded was taken for building purposes and the lions were stored various places on

campus.
For

many years

marathon was held

m
to

m the late 1970s and early

1

980s, a dance

money for a deserving organization
the community. In Centennial Gym, the 50 hours of dancing
the music of local bands was anchored by the campus station,

WBSC, and
The

by

to raise

WHIM of Bloomsburg.

traditions at

Bloomsburg are many. Some have been

discontinued, others have remained intact
as the years have past.
celebrations, to the ideas
tions

— although

altered

From the Ivy Day and May Day
of Homecoming and the husky, tradi-

have always been an important facet of life at Bloomsburg.

- taken from Profile of the Past,
A Living Legacy by Eda Bessie Edwards
left: May Day - 1917; Mock political convention - 1976; Carver Hall - 1975.

From

i

1915

Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Robert

P.

Casey

Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education
F.

Chairman, Lafayette Hill
Chainnan, California
James L. Larson, Vice Chairman, Devon
Muriel M. Berman, Allentown
Jeffrey W. Coy, Harrisburg
Jennifer Crissman, Millersville
Carl S. Dellmuth, Harrisburg
Rebecca F. Gross, Lock Haven
James A. Hughes, Philadelphia

Eugene Dixon,

Jr.,

Julia B. Ansill, Vice

Kelly A. Konick, California

Joseph Loeper, Harrisburg
Floyd M. Mains, Shippensburg
Joseph M. Nespoli, Berwick
F.

Charles
Philip D.
Jere

W.

Patrick

John

J.

T.

J.

Potter, Indiana

Rowe,

Wyomissing

Jr.,

Schuler, Harrisburg
Stapleton, Harrisburg

Tighe

Harrisburg

111,

Julius Uehlein,

Camp Hill

Chancellor of the State System of Higher Education
James H. McCormick

Bloomsburg University Council of Trustees
Stanley G. Rakowsky, Chairman, Clearfield

Kevin M. O'Connor, Vice Chairman, Plains
Gail A. Zurick, Secretary, Sunbury
Elbern H. Alkire,

Jr.,

Emmaus

Ramona H. Alley, Berwick
Robert W. Buehner, Jr., Danville
LaRoy G. Davis,

Howard

B.

Feasterville

Johnson, Exton

Gerald E. Malinowski, Mount Carmel
Sheraton L. Smith, Bloomsburg
Richard F. Wesner, Danville

Bloomsburg University Administration
Harry Ausprich, President
Betty D.

Robert

AUamong, Provost and Vice

President for Academic Affairs

Parrish, Vice President for Administration

J.

and Treasurer

Jerrold A. Griffis, Vice President for Student Life

John

This Sesquicentennial

L.

Walker, Vice President for Institutional Advancement

the Publications Ehvision, Office of University Relations and
Director of University Relations and Communication, Jo DeMarco is
Sports Information Director, Kevin Engler is News and Media Relations Director, Joan Heifer

Commemorative Booklet was published by

Communication, Bloomsburg University. Sheryl Bryson
Publications Director, Jim HoUister

is

University Photographer, and Winnie
•
•

•

Ney and

is

Chris Gaudreau are the support

is

staff.

Design, layout, editing, and production by Paul W. Nichols, Publication Specialist.
Photographs courtesy of Bloomsburg University Archives, Roger Fromm, Director; Joan Heifer, Keith Vanderlin, Harold Richter,
and Bruce C. "Nick" Dietterick for the Office of University Relations and Communication.
Copy courtesy of Profile of the Past, A Living Legacy and Sesquicentennial Supplement by Eda Bessie Edwards, Jim Hollister,

Paul

W.

Nichols, and the Bloomsburg State College 125th anniversary booklet.

The Sesquicentennial Committee and the Office of University Relations and Communication would
Archivist Roger Fromm for his cooperation and support of this project.

like to specially thaiJc University

is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons
without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, life style, affectional or sexual preference, handicap, Vietnam
era status as veterai«, or union membership. The university is additionally committed to affirmative action and will take positive steps
to provide such educational and employment opportunities.
Inquiries may be directed to: Director rf Affirmative Action, Waller Administration Building, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg,
PA. 17815,(717)389-4528.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

BI.C30IVISBURC3

A

UNIVERSITY

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education University