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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUncomplicated Living PreservedOf great importance in the sernnd decade of this century was campus housing, which, while not ideal in all cases, was adequate in most. Homes were provided far the college president, the three or four military men in residence and most department heads. The state legislature, for a number of years, provided funds for building two additional houses annually with seniority and rank the requirements for occupancy. Prior to the middle of the decade bachelor staff members living on campus resided in the Bachelor Hall. Later an annex was built to The Shirley Hotel which could room 50 bachelors. Meals were served in the hotel. But for young married staff members, housing was more difficult. By 1917 Bachelor Hall had been remodeled into four apartments, the first on campus, to be rented to young married faculty members. THE MAJORITY, however, either lived in Bryan or had rooms upstairs in The Shirley with meals served downstairs. Most were waiting their turn for campus cottages. Eventually the legislature went out of the real estate business and the college built additional homes For staff members to ease the housing situation. At one time - in 1910 - student housing was so critical k• -. due to a quick enrollment in~ crease that "Camp Milner," a complex of floored tents housing 300 students, was hastily put into use until 1913 when adequate dormitory facilities were completed. For visitors to the campus The Shirley Hotel was the only ac• commodation other than private houses. From the hotel's opening in 1906 until completion of the YMCA in 1914, The Shirley was the center for the limited social and recreation activities for faculty members. initiated for cadets and faculty children. Because many cadets were unable to return home for Christmas, faculty families invited them to shaze a large decorated tree and elaborate party with them at the "Y " IN ORDER to have funds for the occasion, each faculty member was assessed 50 cents used for refreshments, decorations and gifts. Later the assessment rose to $1. When enrollment increased heavily and the event became too un- wieldy, it was discontinued, WITH THE ADVENT of the YMCA came a more active social scene for faculty mem- bers. Until then there were no organized social activities for faculty or wives. Unmarried faculty members had frequent dances at The Shirley and occasionally played tennis. Other than visiting each other wives likewise had few organized activities. They gathered mainly to play bridge. For extra curricular activities, there was at least one classical theatre group called the "Illyrians" that staged a production of Shakespeare's "Twelth Night" locally and even traveled to Houston fora per- formance at the Grand Theatre in March 1911. Amazingly, the cast included a few women. The Christmas season was the catalyst far the first campus- wide social event which was ~rsllil' `THE SHIRLEY' -FIRST CAMPUS HOTEI, Accommodated Faculty Members, Housed Campus Visitors But the yearly occasion, coupled with wives meeting as members of the Red Cross during World War I, marked the beginning of the Campus Women's Social Club which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year as the TAMU Women's Social Club. Staff homes played an im- portantrole inthe social lives of students. Prime social funMions for students were many formal dances held throughout the year. Girls came from over the state to attend the "hops" as well as athletic events. THE MAJORITY of the young ladies stayed in homes on the campus. Some stayed in Bryan. However, since campus homes were the most convenient, it was not unusual for cadets to request space for a date a year ahead of the event. Every home was available to them including that of the president. It was not uncommon for one family to house as many as 10 girls for big weekends. In addition, faculty couples took turns chaperoning dances. As for daily living, domestic help that "lived in" was available to the faculty wife, Working hours for domestics were generally all-day, every- day, with only Saturday night off. The going wage was $5 weekly. Chores included cooking three meals per day, washing, ironing and cleaning. For most wives shopping was non-existent since there were no stores in College Station. Until about 1920 when the first grocery opened in the city, housewives telephoned food orders into Bryan in the morning and got home delivery by wagon in the afternoon. A privileged few with horses and buggies made the trip to Bryan for personal shopping. Of course, mare items could be purchased personally after the "rapid transportation system" was in operation SOME FACULTY housewives banded together and ordered fresh foods which weren't overly perishable, such as apples and potatoes, in large quantities from Henke's food store in Houston. Delivered by train, the `pods were then divided. Since excellent train service was available, many women journeyed to Houston to shop for aothing and household items. Leaving College Station on the 3 3.m. G•ahi, they arrived m Houston around 6 a.m., shopped sll day and then returned on the l p•m. train arriving home by dark. As Mrs. Cofer termed it, "It was marvelous and there were so few complications." During this period, also, there were no churches in College nation - but religion 'lourished. Ministers of all ienominations from all parts of f eras came throughout the year ;o hold services for cadets and :ampus residents in the old Union Hall. Faculty members ;aught campus children in iunday school classes each iunday. EDUCATIONAL instruction 'or faculty children came into ooing when the Houston and Central Texas Railroad sold a iepot building in order to build a Wore modern one. The old ouilding was purchased by the ^nlleae and moved to where Guion Hall was later can- structed. The one-teacher facility was the beginning of the A&M Consolidated school system. Later, .a,..building was con- structed for the school from funds that had been designated for a new home for the president of the college, The president at that time reasoned that the children were in greater need for a school than the president was in home. The house fund built a school instead. And that's the way it was. Future times maychange and improve. But it will never be the same x', ~ ~ ~ ~~' LARGER HOMES GIVEN BY SENIORITY, RANK Occupied By Deans, Dept. Heads, Football Coach ~~ ~. : ~ :: v ~` N ~ `~ e." ~s CAMPUS FACULTY HOUSING AROUND 1918-20 Rent Included Utilities, All Maintenance