Blasts from the Past: April 12, 2018
Glatfelter Hall (Photo courtesy of Gettysburg College)
By Shannon Zeltmann, Staff Writer
This week in 1898, The Gettysburgian encouraged students to participate in “some branch of athletics” because of the balmy spring weather. Students could enjoy and develop themselves by taking part in tennis, baseball, or track. Students were excited for this year’s coming Inter-Class Meet, which was a class field day with a variety of games and the class with the most points at the end of the meet would get a banner. And if a student does not have any desire to play sports, their “college and class pride” should spark an interest in them!
This week in 1933, the college celebrated the 101st anniversary of the founding of Gettysburg College. A banquet was held by the local American Association of University Professors with the president of the association acting as the “toastmaster.” Approximately forty people were at the banquet. One of the history professors gave a speech about the early years of the college and Thaddeus Stevens. And, yes, they too called the celebration Founder’s Day.
This week in 1943, the brothers in fraternities on campus gave out pins to their girlfriends. Each fraternity had quite a few pins given out and that year there was a record breaking number in Gettysburg Greek history of 113 pins given out. The top two fraternities to give out these pins were Phi Sigma Kappa, with 21 pins given to girlfriends, and Phi Gamma Delta, with 20 pins. The Gettysburgian listed the 113 couples in the article.
This week in 1968, there was a fire truck next to Glatfelter Hall. An extension ladder from the truck was extended up to the roof. Students and staff did not know if there was a problem because they saw no fire or smoke. In reality, a new radio antenna was being put on the roof and the only way to get it up there was with a fire truck ladder. The business manager at the time stated that the antenna was going to have a greater range than the previous one on Glatfelter. At least there wasn’t a fire!
