Newspaper Page Text
Page Four
THE MERCER CLUSTER
Oct 5,1966
Shown here Ik the construction work being (toil* 1 on the new Human
ities building. The actual building work begun thin summer and the
Ktrurlure Ik expected to bo completed bj winter (inarter.
Activities Budget
For 1956 - 57
Ad Building Came Close
To Not Ever Getting Built
K. O. T. U.
R.O.T.C. Hand
R.O.T.C. Rifle Team
CLUSTER:
Printing
Cuts
Miscellaneous
Typewriter
DEBATING:
To be spent to defray the expenses of
several tournatments
PLAYS:
Royalties, costumes, make-up. scenery, sound effects,
books, properties, advertising and printing.
GLEE CLUB:
Sheet Music, materials
Supplies, tape, etc
Dry Cleaning
Robe Replacement, repair
Props, settings for Informal perform.
Raster program
Christmas performance —
Spring show-
Total
ARTIST SERIES:
Alexander Schreiner
Roger Wagner Chorale
Third artist to be named at a later dHte
$ till.UO
125.00
$ 2.9S5.00
330.00
225.00
3,540.00
40.00
$ 3,680.00
f 2,140.00
. i 425.00
100.00
136.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
1,500.00
750.00
$ 3,210.00
f. 350.00
2,000.00
1,000.00
Printing, advertising
Total
FACULTY STUDENT HOME SOCIALS
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION :
Rear Day
Barbecue
Float
Trophies
Ballots
Stamps, Stationary, mlsc.
May Day
Honor Council
3,025.00
150.00
* 3,250.00
$ 360.00
Total
(ERCElt FILM CLUB:
Three Films Gi' 160.On
Five Films (a $36.00
FUTURE SERIES:
Fall
Winter
Spring
$ 180.00
175.00
$ 450.00
200.00
360.00
By Nancy Yates
The moat familiar landmark on
the Mercer University campus al
most never got built
The Administration Building
with its beautiful white-columned
tower and its almost quaint, but
beloved, architectural features
seemed doomed to non-existence
back in the 1870’s.
At least it would appear that
way, according to the historical
records of Dr. Spright Dowell,
Presldent-Kmerllus of the univers
ity.
Dr. Dowell has collected a wealth
of authentic material on the history
of Mercer which he plans to incor
porate into a book he is writing.
“Difficulties began early,” Dr.
Dowell says, in sharing with a
Cluster reporter the story of how
the first building on the present
Mercer campus was erected.
A series of events including even
the cataclysmic Chicago fire delay
ed the construction of what we now
know as “the Ad Building.”
It happened this way:
Fall session, 1870, marked the
close of the old college at Penfield.
The Trustees had ordered the sus
pension of all regular work until
litigation begun by Penfield citizens
could be cleared satisfactorily.
Members of the Mercer faculty
then began a semi-private schoo.
ir. Macon for the spring term, Dr.
Dowell says. Rooms were rented in
the second story of what was then
the Johnson Jewelry Store on the
corner of Second and Mulberry
across from the courthouse.
In 1871 the building committee
of the Board of Trustees announced
that G. P. Randall of Chicago, then
one of the best-known architects in
the nation, had been secured to de
sign a building that would, in their
words, “serve the institution for
centuries to come.” This, then was
the beginning.
Dr. Dowell quotes the trustees
as saying: "Permanence, beauty,
and convenience are aimed at in the
structure of this grand edifice and
when finished, it will not be sur
passed by a similar building in the
country.”
They also termed the four-story
structure a “model of architectural
beauty.”
The prospects seemed bright, but
there was trouble ahead.
In October, 1871, the Great Fire
which destroyed most of Chicago
also destroyed the drawings and
plans for the College in Macon.
With a twinkle in his eye, Dr.
Dowell said, ‘The legendary cow
that kicked over the lantern in
Patrick O’Leary’s bam kfeked
farther than she knewl”
In fact, he continued, “We may
well think of her as a rival to
Mother Goose's cow that jumped
over the moon.” Effects of the
Great Fire had thus reached as far
south as Macon.
But more was to come. In 1872
progress in construction was delay
ed by unusually wet weather. Then
came the Panic of 1873, a financial
depression which hit the entire
country—and hit it hard.
In that same year, 1873, Mercer
and Macon alike were the victims
of a wide-spread epidemic of men
ingitis. Fourteen Mercer boys died
during the epidemic, and the school
closed for about six or eight weeks.
At last, however, in 1874, the
three towers of Ihe building had
climbed their way to their present
height overlooking western Macon.
The old Administration Building
has contained at various times an
apartment for Presidents, rooms
for Greek-letter fraternities, halls
for two literary societies, a museum
and library facilities, and the pres
ent classrooms and offices for pro
fessors.
The present Alumni office and
second-floor, right-wing offices
formed the abode of 11 former
Presidents of the University. Dr.
Rufus Weaver wus the last Presi
dent to live in the Ad Building
apartment.
And it is only in comparatively
recent times that the fraternities
have evacuated their rooms ill the
building for modern suites in the
boys' dormitories. In fact, the room
now used by education classes used
to bo a fraternity room.
Through it all—difficulties of
construction and changes through
the years — the Administration
Building has continued to stand.
And now Dr. Dowell has begun to
delve into its hidden secrets from
years and years ago.
The Ad Building is indeed only
one of the treasurehouses of his
torical interest on the Mercer camp
us. In succeeding issues, the Cluster
will—with Dr. Dowell’s help—tell
its readers more about Mercer’s
past. '
Lewis Selected
Discourse Topic
An Informal discussion, open to
all student* on the Mercer campus,
v 111 be held at the home of Dr. Wil
lis (Hover, professor of History,
im Monday night the 8th of October.
Hr Glover has succeeded Dr. Mac
Hi \ .in as the Danforth Associate oil
the Mercer campus.
The discussion during the early
pi i toils of the group will center
around C. 8. Is-win and phtlosophy
from Ills many books. The group
will not be limited to this field and
In the future they will direct the
area of discussion. Several copies
of the book* of C. 8. Lewi* will be
available to the group fo rthe first
discussions.
Dr. Glover stressed than any lu
te rested student is invited and his
home is located at 2249 Napier Ave
nue.
Total
$ 1,000.00
TO BUSINESS OFFICE FOR
A DM IN STRATI VE EXPEN SES
MOOT COURT TEAM:
For Regional Meeting in Atlanta
CAULDRON ..._
$ 200.00
$ 213.96
$ 7,900.00
Qflj9 ffltxttx Cluster
I UICR UNIVERSITY. MACON. GEORGIA
SEPTEMBER U. 1944 VOLUME St. NUMBER 1
3S.48
16.46
6.70
40.00
97.81
81.00
80.00
50.00
60.00
126.00
300.00
50.00
76.00
100.00
LAW DAVt
Hob SteW
EdlCo i-1s-Chief