50 Years Ago

From Israel to Turkey to India to Turtle Island, NMH students are always experiencing the world beyond our valley. Here is how some students experienced that world a half century ago.

from The Hermonite, vol. LXXXV; p. 1  (May 19, 1962).

“Freedom Riders” Head South; Join Route 40 Sit-In Movement

“I am sick and tired of merely speaking out against segregation in the pulpit and in my classrooms, and now I want to do something about it myself.” With these words the Reverend James R. Kelley expressed the common feeling of the six Hermonites who are now participating in their second day of sit-in demonstrations in eating establishments located along Route 40 in Maryland.

The Hermon group, consisting of Warren Brodhead, Edward Allen, David Stocking, John Swift, John Robinson, and Mr. Kelley, is only a small part of a vast program of weekend demonstrations planned by the Congress of Racial Equality to protest segregation in the Baltimore area.

The Hermon group left by car yesterday afternoon and made a rendezvous with another group of students from Wesleyan University with whom they will work this weekend. While in Maryland they will be housed by the Reverend John Trainer in Baltimore.

Non-Violent Protest

During the weekend all the groups must comply with C.O.R.E.’s strict policy of non-violence since any trouble could possibly cause national and even international repercussions. The group will test the area’s restaurants, diners, and snack bars. If, during the course of their circuit, any of the racially mixed groups are refused service, they “sit-in” until they are lawfully ejected, an act which can be made only if the proprietor reads the lengthy state trespass law in the presence of an officer. Other groups then enter to continue the protest. If a group is refused entrance to an eating establishment, they picket until they are allowed in or until the owner closes.

Route 40, ironically the highway which connects the capitol of the United States with the capitol of the United Nations, has been the site of many incidents, particularly with Afro-Asian diplomats. Other C.O.R.E. sit-ins have succeeded in integrating two-thirds of the area’s restaurants; the goal is now complete integration.

Self-Support

With the exception of an anonymous ten-dollar contribution, the project is being paid for by the students themselves. However the Hermon team does have the full support of the administration.

Although this is the first group of Hermonites to participate in such an activity, they are well-briefed in the current problems that the question of civil rights presents. William Brodhead, who originated the idea, first became interested when his brother frank, ’60, began to participate in similar demonstrations. Swift’s father, Professor of Religion at Wesleyan, was among the Freedom Riders who traveled to Montgomery, Alabama.

In addition, the boys have held discussion seminars and have written letters to Southern congressmen who have hampered the passage of important civil rights legislation.

65 Years Ago

Now and then, this space breaks from the ordinary and reveals an author’s identity, this week it strays even further, abrogating its responsibility to describe events; instead it celebrates a personality. But what a personality! For parts of six decades Mr. Peter Skibniowski was a campus institution. He was both archetypical barber and purveyor of lessons in political economy, he also cut your editor’s hair more times than he can count. Over the course of his tonsorial career, he must have cut 10 billion hairs (give or take a few million) from the heads of students and faculty. For these reasons, allow me to introduce you to “Pete Skib.”

from The Hermonite, vol. LXX; p. 2  (May 14, 1947).

Pete, The Barber

Have you ever gone into a barber shop for a hair cut and ended up talking on communism? In all probability you never have until you came to Mount Hermon. The shop referred to is that of Mr. Peter Skibniowski, who is the barber and friend to all Hermon faculty and students; but he is better known as “Pete” to his many friends who are constantly going in and out of the little barber shop in the basement of well-known Holbrook Hall.

“Pete” will always be glad to carry on a conversation from the time you receive his friendly greeting until you hear those famous words, “Wet or dry?” If you care to argue on communism, he will be only too eager to oblige; or if you care to choose your own subject, he will make your little visit as pleasant and interesting as possible. He never seems to hold any grudge against anybody, and is always polite and courteous in every way. But don’t underestimate his power while in that big white chair. There may be many a boy who will grieve over his favorite lock of hair just because his idea on Joseph Stalin was stated at the wrong time – and place, for that matter. He needn’t worry though; nobody will ever notice that little two-inch ridge down the back of his head when a couple of weeks have passed by.

“Pete” lived the early part of his life in the Ukraine, which we all know as the famous producing section of Russia. He left the Ukraine for the United States in 1913. On his arrival in this country he started work as a barber in Taunton, Mass., where he stayed for the next three years. Then he came to Mount Hermon and has been here ever since. His residence is in Vernon, Vt., and he travels back and forth, every day except Sunday, to his job as barber here at Hermon. He also has a little barber shop at Northfield which is open every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon. So, sometime, when you have a couple of minutes between classes, go down and have an excellent hair cut with a good talk on communism to go with it.

90 Years Ago

            Let’s be clear, our Spade represents more than hard work or the work program. It was always about tree planting at Northfield. This year we re-visit Tree Day: the occasion on which the Seniors passed the school spade to the Juniors. Anyone in student congress willing to try to bring back the tradition?

from The Star, vol. 6, no. 8; p. 2  (June, 1922).

Tree Day

            May Day in Northfield, 1922, or May Day in England, 1622, which was it? Father Time might have thought he was looking backward as he watched the festivities on the green on this particular May Day, for wasn’t that little Shadow-of-a-Leaf himself calling forth from sleep the flower folk and the butterfly and the robin and the bluebird? Truly those were English villagers coming at the summons of the trumpet call; and sure enough, there was Robin Hood with all his merrie men in Lincoln green. No doubt about it! It must be merrie England in the merrie month o’ May, for there were milkmaids and shepherdesses to dance around the maypole and weave it for their Queen. But all too soon the song and dance were done and the long procession wound its way off, returning to Northfield in ’22 to look for the Junior tree. After the class orations, with all due ceremony the spade was handed by ’22 to ’23 to be guarded and cherished. Then for the class will on the Seniors own chapel steps, and the Senior songs before the Juniors hastened to lead the Seniors off for their own picnic supper in Marquand glen. How the “eats” disappeared and how the comedy presented by the faculty was enjoyed! And oh, that delightful “tired-but-happy” feeling when songs were sung and thank-yous said.

For some glimpses of Tree Days past, check out this video or this one, on the Northfield Mount Hermon Archives facebook page. –ed.

45 Years Ago 

from The Echo, vol. VII, no. 9; p. 1  (April 19, 1967).

Arts Festival Held at Hermon 

The Visual Arts Festival for secondary schools was held April 15^th at Mount Hermon. Thirty-five schools exhibited works in six major fields – drawings, graphics, photography, watercolor, painting, and sculpture. The all-day festival began in the morning with the hanging of the works in the gymnasium. This was followed by a lecture by Mr. Robert Breusser, of the Department of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Later in the day, an awards banquet was held and certificates were presented to the winning entries. Among the judges were men from the art departments of Smith, Amherst, and Dartmouth Colleges. There was also an exhibit in the library from the Rhode Island School of Design, entitled “Student Solutions to Design Problems.” The festival was again considered a success.

If you are in the area, go check out the exhibit of student art in the gallery at the RAC. -editor

80 Years Ago 

This week, two stories illustrate a single event.

from The Northfield Star, vol. XVI, no. 10; p. 1.  (April 6, 1932)

NEW TYPE OF PARTY WITH HERMON

_______________

EVENTS ON 11^TH FOR BROTHER-SISTER TEAMS AND ESTEY

__________________

 Five separate parties have been arranged for Monday April 11^th.

An attempt has been made by some of the members of the faculty to plan a different kind of Hermon – Northfield party.

The purpose has been to bring together members of the two schools having common interests regardless of classification. Entertainment appropriate to each of these interests is now being planned by a student-faculty committee for the groups from both Hermon and Northfield. The five groups are as follows: — The Brother and Sister Group. All Northfield girls who have brothers at Hermon are inviting them. Members of the two orchestras are meeting. The twenty Northfield students born in foreign countries, having lived for some time in a foreign country or of foreign nationality together with twenty Hermon students fulfilling the same requirements comprise the Cosmopolitan Group. The girls of the Estey Chorus are entertaining boys from the Hermon choir. Twenty-four members of each of the two schools holding all-campus letters are meeting. All parties begin at 3.30 p.m., and supper will be served at 6.00.

AND from The Northfield Star, vol. XVI, no. 11; pp. 1 & 4.  (April 20, 1932)

Introduction of New Parties a Success

__________

Orchestra

__________

Strains of “The Omnipotence” mingled with such well-known pieces as “When We’re Alone” of “I Say It’s Spinach,” might have been heard issuing from Gould on Monday for it was here that the combined orchestras of Northfield and Hermon got together. The party from musical chairs with the boys as chairs to the delightful buffet supper was a complete success.

__________

Cosmopolitan

__________

Monday, April 11^th the Cosmopolitan group met at Marquand. Tagged in the usual Northfield manner to distinguish one foreign celebrity from the other. Following the introductions, the participants indulged in various feats of strength, such as Tiddley-winks and checkers. Conversation was not lacking for among these who have been in foreign countries there is plenty in common. Miss. Berry was hostess and was the one responsible for the success of the party.

__________ 

All-Campus

__________

The group which gathered at the gymnasium Monday for their party appeared to be a bit strained. Those present were the All-Campus teams of both schools, Miss Fields, Miss Schlotterbeck, and the honorable Mr. Forslund. The strain wore off after a few periods of rough competition for making acquaintances in this way breaks the ice. Enthusiasm continued to grow and reached its peak in the basketball game. In spite of the fact that the boys won 36-26 the girls are still optimistic about out-doing them someday. If the game lacked beauty it can be said that it had an over abundance of pep.

At five thirty supper was served and “en masse” they devoured every morsel.

__________

Brother-Sister

__________ 

Parties seemed to be quite the thing on Monday, April 11^th. Not among the least of these was the “Brother-Sister” Party at Moore Cottage. Much hilarity was caused by the”Coo-Coo” game which proved to be the best game of the afternoon. Miss Lyon and Mr. And Mrs. Morrow were most interesting and adept chaperones.

__________

Glee Club

__________

 The joint stations, Mount Hermon Glee Club and Estey Chorus broadcast a musical party on Monday, April 11 at Music Hall. The program started off with a specialty dance by Mildred Dolliver and Janet Platt, and then some songs including The Bees, Swing Along, Old Man Noah, The Sleigh, Luxembourg Gardens, Sylvia, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Eight Bells, and several others were sung by the two glee clubs and their quartets. Evelyn Austin, Mr. L’Hommedieu and Mr. Lawrence favored the audience with vocal and piano solos.

20 Years Ago

A modest proposal…

from The Fridge, vol. XXIII, no. 10; p. 1  (April 3, 1992).

Changes in Visiting Hours Policy Proposed for Next Year

After much negotiation, the administration has decided to amend the current visiting hours policy for the 1992-1993 school year. The new policy will require the door closed, lights off, and visiting hours will begin right after classes. Guests will also be encouraged to remain after the official visiting hours are over and “cruise.”

Mount Hermon Campus Dean Rave Rocket said he believes the new policy will make visiting hours more closely suited to the wants and needs of the students. Rocket also mentioned that the policy will be changed because so many students claimed the current policy implied the administration didn’t trust them. “After much thought and deliberation, we realized that the students who spoke to us were right. Now, we are giving the students the freedom to do what they want without us breathing down their necks.”

However, many students are threatening to protest, claiming that the new policy gives them too much freedom, which many can’t handle.

One student said, “It was nice before to know that people were always checking up on you. We should keep the policy the way it is.”

The new Visiting Hours policy will be more fully explained in the 1992-1993 School Handbook.

And in case you didn’t notice, this week in history features April 1^st. –ed.

85 Years Ago

Four-year seniors or others who have been diligent readers of “This Week in NMH History” may remember this column from the spring of 2009:

One of the features no longer present at our school are its literary societies. Tau Pi was the principal club at Northfield, and survived successfully until the school merger as a drama society, though it bore no resemblance to its ancestor, which had been a bastion of “the few” in an otherwise egalitarian environment. At Mount Hermon, the situation was somewhat different. By the mid-1930s the clubs had become increasingly like their counterparts on the college scene, fraternities – not so much as places for rowdyism or antisocial behavior, but certainly as exclusive cliques. In 1939 the clubs were “under the microscope” of the powers that be, and even the student body was sharply divided about the usefulness of the societies. The faculty were not so divided: in a one-sided vote, activities of the Mount Hermon literary societies were severely curtailed in the fall of 1941, and over the summer of 1942 quietly disappeared from the school.[1]

This week we recall a moment from the heyday of these same societies.

from The Hermonite, vol. XL, no. 13;  p. 1  (April 2, 1927).

PIERIAN, PHILOMATHEAN CLUBS MAKE MERRY

 WITH THEIR ANNUAL BANQUETS

____________

Former Society Goes to Greenfield While Latter Gathers in Northfield – Speakers on Both Programs, Which are Reported as Highly Successful Affairs

____________

Two more clubs on the Hill are looking forward to next Winter Term with jubilant hopes mixed with fond remembrances. These are the Philomathean and Pierian Literary Societies, whose annual banquets were held on March 19 and 26, respectively.

            The Philomathean Banquet was held at Northfield this year, and from reports, all members in attendance experienced an excellent evening. The sumptuous repast served consisted of everything from fried chicken to after-dinner mints.

            Dr. Harrison, honorary member of Philomathea, presided as toastmaster and called on the alumni, honoraries, and various students present. Professor Stark and Mr. McMillan spoke briefly and were followed by the chief address of the evening given by Frank Dunn. His topic was The Cost of Worth-While Achievement. Following Mr. Dunn, Jack Kynor read several telegrams from friends of the club. Bill Harvey then spoke on Thirty Years of Philomathea. Merrill Munyan and Wesley Dorr, both of the class of ’26, were present and gave short talks.

            The Pierian members invaded the Weldon at Greenfield for their annual get-together. Here also a bountiful dinner was served. “Bob” Stumpf, president of the club acted as toastmaster. Lou Butler was the first speaker, his topic being Pieria. He had chosen a fitting word for [each of] the letters of the name, “Prof.” F.J. Johnson followed,  and he spoke on Habits, bringing home many facts concerning them. B.L. Smith then gave an interesting talk on Parrotism, using the expression, “Polly wants a cracker,” in a most satisfactory manner. Some impromptu speeches followed, and the Al Tippins led in the Pierian song and cheer, which brought the evening to a close.

25 Years Ago

from The Bridge, vol. XVIII, no. 13; p. 1  (February 26, 1987).

Mandela to Teach 

Maki Mandela, daughter of the imprisoned South African leader Nelson Mandela, will be teaching the African Nationalism course at NMH this spring. Ms. Mandela is a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts. She says, “I got an invitation to teach here and I jumped at the opportunity.”

Ms. Mandela plans to bring her first-hand information to her teaching of Black Nationalism but she wants to teach “mostly about the political concepts and social conditions.” The main focus of her course will be South Africa “in relation to the people of South Africa.”

Ms. Mandela is currently working towards a Master’s degree in Sociology. She came to the United States from South Africa in June 1985 to study and further her education in Women’s Studies. In December of that year, her family joined her. She hopes to finish her degree this year. She said in an interview with The Bridge that she would return to South Africa except that her husband, Isaac Amuah, is working for his Ph.D. in Education. She added, “and as I do not want to be a housewife, I shall apply for the Ph.D. program.” If accepted, she will study Anthropology.

In South Africa, Ms. Mandela was a social worker. She was the only social worker in over fifty rural areas, each with 200 to 300 inhabitants. Many of her clients were women who are often the heads of the family because their husbands must live away from home to work. Ms. Mandela worked with the families of mentally retarded children, those interested in adoption, and with the unemployed.

Ms. Mandela and her family were living in the Transkei, a Black homeland, or independent state in South Africa. In the homelands, the local government is headed by a Black Prime Minister and “White government agents who check and balance” the government and serve as advisors. Apartheid is supposedly absent from the Transkei, but, as Ms. Mandela says, “Segregation is not legal, but it is still practiced.”

Although Ms. Mandela had not planned on becoming a teacher, she has learned first-hand about education in South Africa. She says that in the Transkei, black education is “definitely inferior” to white education. In 1976, the year of independence for the South African homelands, students were “learning songs for independence.” Even though they failed in school, the students were nonetheless promoted to the next grade and as a result, “the higher classes now have inferior students.” The poor quality of black education is “blamed on the teachers but it is also the quality of the students” and other factors.

The education system has changed from the originally black Bantu program to the Cape program, modeled after white education. This exacerbates the problem as teachers are untrained in the new system. The goal of black education has always been “to educate the Blacks enough to work for white bosses but not to be competitive citizens,” says Ms. Mandela.

Maki Mandela plans to return to South Africa in the near future. She will continue her work in the rural black community, either “in social work, rural development projects, or community projects.” Ms. Mandela lives in Amherst with her husband and their three children, aged twelve, ten, and two.

Editor’s note: Ms. Mandela was admitted to the doctoral program in anthropology, and completed her degree at the University of Massachusetts in 1993. She ultimately returned to South Africa where she has chaired corporations aimed at economic development.

40 Years Ago

Hurrah for NMH’s very own Dining Services! The food here truly is wonderful, creative and plentiful.  Yet more than that, everyone in Dining Services is a vital member of our school community. It was not ever thus. For a period of time, dining services were outsourced to ARA (American Restaurant Associates), a for-profit corporation, with unhappy results. Witness the outcry in the following piece from a short-lived alternative newspaper, then find your favorite folks in Alumni [West] Hall and thank them.

from The Moody Messenger, vol. II, no. 5, p. 2-3. [February 1972] 

Dwight’s Delights: Dump ARA

We can change this school to our heart’s delights (but not to Dwight’s), but what of that old and justly revered institution will remain when the fine old clocks shine neon, and our stoic tastefulness is replaced by the ostentatious, semi-mod, psychedelic, pseudo-freaked-out splash dash colors. There is no advantage to such gaudy displays for they impress no one, and as for atmosphere, we have left barracks behind, but do we now turn to a circus?

ARA is a part of the revolution that is sucking education from NMH, and is instead instilling an inescapable commercialism. Comfortable little conveniences are provided by this company, but our inconveniences of the past made us stronger and more appreciative of the natural and simple aspects of this school. There is being taken from us daily the love of rustic scenery we once felt. Few take walks in the snow, or visit the town; everything is right here for buying. Coca-Cola; it’s the real thing! There seems little point in coming to a school in beautiful New England, far from civilization, only to find ourselves caught in a most insidious and unfortunate “Tourist Trap.”

…Education, our existence here, is not a quantity to be bartered by ad-men from New York, for if the school cannot sell itself, but must continually cater to fads and trends, then of what value is it at all? We are not PeptoBismol or Pepsi trying to appeal to public opinion with slogans and gimmicks. For if we are, $3,750 is too high a price to pay. For if we are, NMH is cheap and second rate, no matter how high or low our tuition, or how large the freshman class.

It would seem we owe…ARA [nothing], so let them finish out the year, and then dump…them. For all their efficiency and sanitary modes of operation, they are not part of this school and they could leave without being missed. [For now] [w]e snicker at the obvious appeals used in mass advertising but allow ourselves to be sucked into the same trap. There is no integrity left at NMH, the basest is the best, the best is forsaken.

These seeds were sown far in the past, but their blighted crop is only now being harvested. It is all perhaps irrevocable, and perhaps the barbarians will invade and let us fall. Let us not, at least, forget the principles which Dwight L. Moody loved, which we should not have the temerity to negate. The work program is fundamental to this place, but it is always work that is not Paid. It should not be paid for our democratic sense forbids it. Therefore, in all good conscience, the administration must firmly demand that ARA cease hiring NMH students to work for them. This is not an inconsequential, but a vital imperative; we cannot and must not allow our students to serve in a money earning capacity while in attendance at Northfield Mount Hermon School. Such a state of affairs within the community neglects the equalizing value of the work program, and makes our long maintained system of generous scholarships worth no more than nothing. Who so needs spending money that they must resort to working at the Snack Bar during free hours? If the destitution which some must endure is so great, the solution is more scholarship aid, not a “work your way through school” system of indentured labor…Has ARA looked into anything other than solely lucrative exploits? They are making their buck, they have no need (or desire) to contribute anything but poor taste to this institution.

There must be no more paid student labor under the sponsorship of ARA. But beyond this, if at all humanly possible, we must rid ourselves of this barnacle which we have affixed to ourselves. The leech is now demanding our heart’s blood, we see it is no cure. Let us seek a new solution to fiscal insolvency…times are getting economically better, let us remove the short-range solution, the interloper, from our community post-haste and above our hallowed gates: Northfield Mount Hermon School – those not subscribing to the above are advised – KEEP OUT!

Founder’s Day Extra

127 Years Ago

            Another Founder’s Day bit: Dedications of new school buildings were often held to coincide with Founder’s Day. The ceremonies for Marquand Hall at Northfield were held on Betsy Moody’s 80^th birthday and on this same date the Northfield Benediction was sung for the first time. Though the words are of course, ancient they were put to the new tune specifically for the occasion.

1805               1885

Mr. & Mrs. D.L. Moody

Would like the pleasure of your company

At the Eightieth birthday Anniversary of

Their mother Mrs. Betsey H. Moody

Who will receive her friends at the

New Marquand Hall

Northfield Seminary in Northfield Mass.

Between the hours of three and eight o’clock P.M.

Thursday February 5, 1885.

“Her children arise up and call her blessed”

.