Monthly Archives: April 2007

The Fernhopper’s Ball for Forest Week

Fernhopper's BallA Paul Bunyon sign advertises the Forester’s Ball, or Fernhopper’s Ball, in the 1960s. The banquets, which started in 1928, brought together past graduates of the School of Forestry.

Yes, there is still a Fernhopper Day.

The College of Forestry commemorated its 100th year in 2007, which makes this the 75th year of the Fernhopper! On May 12th, the College will host the 75th Annual Fernhopper, where they will award scholarships and fellowships to students, thank donors, and visit with friends and former classmates.

Have a Laugh on International Moment of Laughter Day

Dumb Duck.jpgIn 1954, this University of Oregon student was photographed wearing the sign “I’m a dumb duck beat Oregon” during the Civil War. Random and funny …

Due to some further investigating by my trusty student assistant, who was utterly dissatisfied by my cursory explanation of this photo, we now know a little more about why this poor young man is wearing such a sign. Apparently, it was all part of the pre-game shenanigans. The civil war rivalry flared during the week before the big game, when Beavers captured Ducks and made them wear these silly signs. They also painted their faces, presumably Beaver orange when they attempted to crash the Rook bonfire festivities!

Appreciate Jazz Month with the Band on 2nd Street

Band on Second St.jpgI don’t know if they will be available to play your next event, but this band from the late 19th century is concert-ready in this photograph. On back of the photograph shown above, we found this handwritten note:

“Hunt’s Brewery, north on 2nd street at the corner where the U.S. Post Office now stands. The Blacksmith … next on the right was Manual … restaurant, the small white building at left stood where Montgomery Wards Building now stands. Opposite the Brewery stood Corvallis first grocery store, where the Huston Building (now being remodeled) has stood for many years.”

They last played at the dedication of Corvallis Brewery building in 1887.

For National Licorice Day, OAC Salutes the Sweet Stuff!

women cooking.jpg

Although OSU is not known for its licorice production, in honor of National Licorice Day, we’d like to point you to some theses written by Oregon Agricultural College students in the Domestic Science program– all studies on the sweet side.

From 1910, by Bertha Herse and Grace Elizabeth Connell’s Candies and candy making. Cleva Peery wrote her 1909 thesis on Desserts, while Sadie Bell chose to focus on Cereal breakfast foods.

And finally, while not a thesis, don’t miss “Dame Curtsey’s” book of candy making, by Ellye Howell Glover. Also look for the 1938 The romance of candy, by Alma H. Austin and the 1958 All about candy and chocolate: a comprehensive study of the candy and chocolate industries, by Philip P. Gott and L. F. Van Houten.

The Rain Falls on National Garden Week

Miss Jackson in her gardenThe image above shows Miss Jackson in her garden. As you walk around campus today, amidst the blooming rhododendrons, you can almost imagine coming across a spot where a student or professor would plant beans, and study their growth.

In addition to the wonder of this garden and the hay piles in the middle of campus, this image also allows me to tell an interesting tale about a campus building.

The “stem” of the “T” on Alpha Hall can be seen on the right; this section was separated from its location on 23rd Street and later moved to Orchard Street. Alpha Hall, the first residence hall on campus, was constructed in 1889. It was later used by the School of Pharmacy, and moved off campus in 1922. Mechanical Hall built.

In our MC collection, I found a pamphlet for this “Young Ladies’ Dormitory;” included was some great information about what young ladies could expect from their time at Alpha Hall.

“Surrounded with grounds tastefully arranged and ornamented with choice vines and flowers, the Hall is a typical home for young ladies from abroad who desire to live with the family of one of the Professors while attending College. Tennis courts and other means of amusement furnished by the student and the faculty afford ample opportunity for recreation and wholesome exercise on the grounds near the Hall where young people may mingle with the Faculty and their families and share with them in their games and pleasures during hours of recreation. Furthermore the Hall has reception room, piano and many other conveniences calculated to contribute to the comfort and home life of young ladies while in College.”

All of this for only $3.00 per week — which includes rent, board, heat, electric light, hot and cold water, and a bathroom.

National Library Week

Valley Rotunda Construction.jpgIn 1880, the Adelphian Literary Society acquired the Corvallis Library Association’s Library; ten years later, that 605-volume library was transferred to Oregon Agricultural College. By 1899, when the first full-time, nonstudent librarian, Arthur Stimpson, was appointed, the collection had grown to 3000 volumes and 500 pamphlets & bulletins. The first professional librarian, Ida A. Kidder, was appointed in 1908.

Initially housed in the Administration Building (now Benton Hall), a new building for the library was constructed in 1918 with funds from the Oregon Legislative Assembly. The library was named Kidder Hall, in honor of Ida Kidder; in 1954, the library was re-named for William Jasper Kerr, president of OSU from 1907-1932 and first chancellor of the State System of Higher Education.

Although an additional west wing was added to the library building in 1941, as the collection and library staff expanded, space was tight. In the late 1950s, once again the university began planning for a new library building. It was completed in 1963, and expanded in 1971.

Predictably, the demand for space increased again the late 1980s. In 1993, the Legislative Assembly approved funds for further expansion and renovation of the library building. Owing to the success of a fundraising campaign to raise private money to match state funds, expansion efforts began in 1996 and were completed in 1999. The Kerr Library was renamed the Valley Library in 1995 in honor of the Wayne and Gladys Valley Family, whose foundation donated $10 million to library expansion efforts.

To find out more about the Library, check out the collection guide for RG 009.

It’s National Bake Week!

Corvallis Bakery.jpgTo celebrate, we thought it would be good to go back in time, to 1870, with a great picture of the Corvallis Bakery, A. Hodes and Co.

This is an albumen print from the John H. Gallagher Sr. Collection (P 32). The Gallagher collection consists of nearly 450 photographic prints and negative collected by Gallagher and his son, also named John. Primarily, you’ll find aerial views of the Willamette River landscape in southern Corvallis; many document the facilities and operations of the Corvallis Sand & Gravel Company, a family business established by Gallagher and located on the south Corvallis bank of the river. Included are images of river dredging and street paving, taken from both ground level and the air, and wonderful panoramic ground views of the Sand & Gravel Company– joined together by tape! Also found in this collection aerial views of the general Corvallis region during the 1964 flood. Visit the Rising Flood Waters: 1964 Corvallis for more images from the Gallagher collection on the flood.