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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940's Housing Anne Boykin - 1940s housing Page 1 From: "Bill Page" < To: "Regina Opersteny" < .. Date: 4/24/2007 6:47 am Subject: 1940s housing CC: "Ron Hambric" < At the meeting last night of the Brazos Heritage Society there was some discussion of homes building in this area in the 1940s and 1950s. Along that line, I thought folks might enjoy the following references. "A -M Directors Adopt Budget for New Year," Bryan Daily Eagle, 30 July 1945, p.1. Okayed conversion of Walton Hall and project houses to married student housing; "this work was placed ahead of all else on the general college construction program" "A -M Boys' School But Wives of GIs Going to Class," Bryan Daily Eagle, 25 October 1945, pp.1, 3. "These precedent breaking young women are members of the A. & M. ex- servicemen's Wives Club ... so called 'text -book widows' ... The girls classes are in the form of club sponsored lectures, demonstrations, and projects ..." The classes started out informally in the fall of 1945, and then became recognized by the College in the spring of 1946. This article also notes the wives "... are now working on a plan for cooperative buying of supplies and the management of a nursery school for their small children ..." "Three New Dorms Assigned to Vets at A &M College," Battalion, 21 December 1945, p.2. Three additional dorms which will house 240 couples will be opened; campus has already authorized conversion of 15 two -story project houses at the south end of campus to married student apartments; and, "a cafeteria will be operated in Sbisa dining hall for the convenience of veterans and their wives, starting February 1 ..." "Three Dorms Assigned to Couples; Married Veterans Get Temporary Housing," Battalion, 10 January 1946, p.1 "Scanties, Diapers Invade Aggieland, GI Back in School with his Family," Dallas Morning News, January 25, 1946, sect.1, p.12. About married student living conditions. "Bryan Field May Ease A &M House Crisis," Bryan Daily Eagle, 2 February 1946, p.1. "BAAF 'Bryan Village' Releases 32 Apartments for Veterans Families," Battalion, 6 February 1946, p.1. Bryan Army Air Field. "32 Apartments at Bryan Field Are Available to GIs," Bryan Daily Eagle, 7 February 1946, p.1. "Work Begins on 128 Low -Cost Apartments Here," Battalion, 3 April 1946, p.1. Pre -fab barracks type buildings are being shipped from federal government storage at Baton Rouge; will be erected east of Kyle Field. "Trailerville is Proud Not Apologetic," [letter] Battalion, 5 April Anne Boykin - 1940s housing Page 2 1946, p.2. Letter from Dorothy Abbey who says "Though even the largest trailer is small, it is efficient, compact and homey." "519 More Housing Units May East Apartment Problem," Battalion, 17 May 1946, p.1 "Juvenile King and Queen Rule at Aggieland, Following First Baby Show in History of A &M," Bryan Daily Eagle, 9 December 1946, p.1 "Last of Buildings from Victoria is Moved to Campus," Bryan Daily Eagle, 12 December 1946, p.1. These are nicer than most buildings used for married students' housing, because they had been officers' quarters; "the apartments are composed of a living room, two bedrooms, kitchen and bath." "Married Vets Turn Okies to Leave Dorms," Battalion, 7 January 1947, p.1. To vacate Hart & Walton Halls on 17 January to be replaced with single students. "216 Veterans and Families Move to New AM Quarters," Bryan Daily Eagle, 19 February 1947, p.1. Built on the old polo field. "216 College View Apartments Ready; 80 More by March 1," Battalion, 22 February 1947, p.1. Married students housing. "Collegeview New Addition for Vets in School at A &M," Bryan Daily Eagle, 28 February 1947, p.8. Married student housing was erected just northeast of the college on the old polo grounds. "Quarters at Annex Open for Couples," Battalion, 13 June 1947, p.1. 64 more apartments are open; couples may have hotplates only; can rent refrigerators for additional money. "Dolls, Diapers Parade Sunday," Battalion, 4 December 1947, p.1. A baby show to be held in Sbisa. "DeBona, Smith are Champs in Baby Parade," Battalion, 9 December 1947, p.1. Sponsored by Veterans' Wives Club "Women's Social Club Slate Tom Thumb Wedding," Battalion, 30 March 1948, p.1. The club would stage a mock wedding in which they would dress up small children like all the members of the wedding party; children aged 2 -4, held in Sbisa. "Tom Thumb Wedding Feature of College Social Club Season," Bryan Daily Eagle, 3 April 1948, p.8. "Miniature Nuptual Will be Repeated Saturday Evening," Battalion, 7 April 1948, p.1. The "Tom Thumb" wedding must have been a big hit, because they repeated it. "Wife of Student at AM Annex Dies at Local Clinic," Bryan Daily Eagle, 21 October 1948, p.1. Mrs. Loydiene Simpson, wife of a veterinary student, passed away; they lived at Bryan Air Force Base [married students' housing] Anne Boykin - 1940s housing Page 3 "Married Veterans Just Do Not Call Wives 'Old Lady'," Battalion, 5 January 1949, p.4. Article noting that while cadets call male roommates "Old Lady," married men do NOT use that term; refers to College View married student housing as "Hungry Heights" (I have not encountered that term before), and mentions the trailer village occupied by married students. "Apartments Now Available at Bryan Field," Battalion, 22 February 1949, p.1. Though they sound awful by today's standards — 20 x 24 feet, with toilets & showers in another building — married students were probably thrilled to get these, since many were living in considerably worse situations. Anne Boykin - More housing notes Page 1 From: "Bill Page" <BPAGE @Iib- gw.tamu.edu> To: "Regina Opersteny" <ROpersteny @aol.com >, "Julie... Date: 4/24/2007 7:19 am Subject: More housing notes FYI: The Reveille" was the official campus newspaper (as opposed to the student newspaper, the Battalion). This has not been microfilmed but is available in the Cushing Library in paper copy. At some point its name changed to "The Daily Bulletin." "Rooming House for Wives of Soldiers," Bryan Daily Eagle, 28 June 1918, p.4. The College turned the old hospital into a rooming house for wives of soldiers who were stationed at the training camp at A &M. "Arranging for Living Accommodations for Overflow Population from the College Camp," Bryan Daily Eagle, 5 September 1918, p.3. Overview of housing problems; notes that wives were recently forced to vacate the makeshift dormitory. "Mrs. Durkee Will Look Into Housing Conditions for Soldiers' Wives," Bryan Daily Eagle, 26 September 1918, p.4 "Care for Campus Women Discussed with Y.W.C.A. Worker at College," Bryan Daily Eagle, 30 September 1918, p.4 "Club Quarters Go to Young Women," Reveille, 20 December 1918, p.4. "When the new quarters, originally for the army officers stationed here, are completed early in the new year, they will be converted into a home for the young women employees on campus." "Home for Women to Be Ready Soon," Reveille, 7 February 1919, p.1 "Young College Women Enjoy Novel Dance," Reveille, 22 February 1919, p.3. "Young women employed by the College, but residing in Bryan" had a dance; "Half of them appeared in men's costumes and the other half in their usual evening dress." The article lists the names of those attending. I suppose this was the female equivalent of the all male "stag" dances held by cadets for over 50 years, where some of the cadets dressed as women. There is a photo of some of the cadets in female garb posted on the Cushing Library web site, though it's hard to find. "Many Campus Changes Scheduled for Summer," Battalion, 29 May 1919, pp.1, 12. "The stucco building facing the interurban line, built originally as an officers' quarters and transferred to a community home for many of the young ladies employed on the campus, has been finally decided upon as a dormitory for the girls and young women who will attend the summer school at college ..." Contained "34 splendid rooms." "Still Hunting Rooms," Bryan Daily Eagle, 15 September 1919, p.4. Two professors discover that "apartments for families with children are practically unobtainable." "Bachelors Move Out to Leave Rooms for Soldiers' Families," Bryan Daily Eagle, 17 September 1919, p.1. Unmarried campus employees voluntarily vacate the annex to the Shirley Hotel on campus where they have been living so that faculty members with families can move in. 1931: Dugan, Haynes W., The History of the Great Class of 1934. On pp. 15 -16, the author notes that in 1931, Charlie & Mae Boriskie ran a boarding house where the Ramada Inn is located, and that Mrs. Plasik's boarding house was located on what is now West Campus. He also mentions that there were other boarding houses in College and Bryan for students at that time, but doesn't name them. I suspect married students lived in one or more of these boarding houses, though it would be nice to find out something more about them. Anne Boykin - More housing notes 1 From: "Bill Page" <BPAGE @Iib- gw.tamu.edu> To: "Regina Opersteny" <ROpersteny @aol.com >, "Julie... Date: 4/24/2007 7:19 am Subject: More housing notes FYI: "The Reveille" was the official campus newspaper (as opposed to the student newspaper, the Battalion). This has not been microfilmed but is available in the Cushing Library in paper copy. At some point its name changed to "The Daily Bulletin." "Rooming House for Wives of Soldiers," Bryan Daily Eagle, 28 June 1918, p.4. The College turned the old hospital into a rooming house for wives of soldiers who were stationed at the training camp at A &M. "Arranging for Living Accommodations for Overflow Population from the College Camp," Bryan Daily Eagle, 5 September 1918, p.3. Overview of housing problems; notes that wives were recently forced to vacate the makeshift dormitory. "Mrs. Durkee Will Look Into Housing Conditions for Soldiers' Wives," Bryan Daily Eagle, 26 September 1918, p.4 "Care for Campus Women Discussed with Y.W.C.A. Worker at College," Bryan Daily Eagle, 30 September 1918, p.4 "Club Quarters Go to Young Women," Reveille, 20 December 1918, p.4. "When the new quarters, originally for the army officers stationed here, are completed early in the new year, they will be converted into a home for the young women employees on campus." "Home for Women to Be Ready Soon," Reveille, 7 February 1919, p.1 "Young College Women Enjoy Novel Dance," Reveille, 22 February 1919, p.3. "Young women employed by the College, but residing in Bryan" had a dance; "Half of them appeared in men's costumes and the other half in their usual evening dress." The article lists the names of those attending. I suppose this was the female equivalent of the all male "stag" dances held by cadets for over 50 years, where some of the cadets dressed as women. There is a photo of some of the cadets in female garb posted on the Cushing Library web site, though it's hard to find. "Many Campus Changes Scheduled for Summer," Battalion, 29 May 1919, pp.1, 12. "The stucco building facing the interurban line, built originally as an officers' quarters and transferred to a community home for many of the young ladies employed on the campus, has been finally decided upon as a dormitory for the girls and young women who will attend the summer school at college ..." Contained "34 splendid rooms." "Still Hunting Rooms," Bryan Daily Eagle, 15 September 1919, p.4. Two professors discover that "apartments for families with children are practically unobtainable." "Bachelors Move Out to Leave Rooms for Soldiers' Families," Bryan Daily Eagle, 17 September 1919, p.1. Unmarried campus employees voluntarily vacate the annex to the Shirley Hotel on campus where they have been living so that faculty members with families can move in. 1931: Dugan, Haynes W., The History of the Great Class of 1934. On pp. 15 -16, the author notes that in 1931, Charlie & Mae Boriskie ran a boarding house where the Ramada Inn is located, and that Mrs. Plasik's boarding house was located on what is now West Campus. He also mentions that there were other boarding houses in College and Bryan for students at that time, but doesn't name them. I suspect married students lived in one or more of these boarding houses, though it would be nice to find out something more about them.