Keene State Today

100 Great Things About Keene State College
Your fondest mememories, funniest stories, biggest heroes, and more

Last spring we asked for your ideas for this special issue of Keene State Today. What would you put on a list of 100 great things about Keene State?

We heard from you – students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends. You responded with lists, quotes, stories, and photos. You sent dozens of ideas – eloquent, funny, heartfelt, emphatic memories and thoughts.

You talked about the beauty of the campus. The richness of student life. The sense of community and how to find common ground. The certainty that Keene State is a living, growing organism, a campus on the move.

You wrote about your heroes – mostly the unsung variety – and great moments in KSC history. You noted the academic gems that make Keene State sparkle. You recalled a transformational conversation with a professor. You wrote about a single Johnny jump-up blooming on a green lawn.

We are 100 years old, and we are young.

Loving the Lilacs

They bloom for commencement, the fragrant lavender lilacs in front of Fiske, praised in song: "On lilac paths we've strolled, past halls in ivy twined. 'Neath Mount Monadnock rising bold, our college stands enshrined.…"

Daddy Mason

Daddy Mason photo Though his religious and moral expectations were pretty heavy handed by today's standards, President Wallace "Daddy" Mason boosted the school in its early years with his confident vision and enthusiasm and made students proud to be here. That spirit and pride flourish today.

Fiske Quad

Many people pointed to our beautiful campus as one of the greatest things about KSC, and it's likely that they are thinking of the Quad.

Credit for its current beauty goes to the College administration of the early 1990s. By then the Quad, the historic setting for commencement and other activities, had become overgrown and outgrown, crowded with tennis courts, parking spaces, and unruly hemlocks.

In the summer of 1993, the tennis courts were removed, the area was landscaped, and wider walkways were installed to define the formal quadrangle.

Counting Cupolas

The stately cupola that graces Huntress Hall is iconic, though there are three others that add fine accents to the historic buildings around the Quad: on Fiske, Morrison, and Rhodes halls.

Keeping History Alive

Three historic homes on Main Street anchor the campus to the community.

The first two buildings acquired by the city of Keene in 1909 to start Keene Normal School were the Catherine Fiske residence (1805), site of her Seminary for Young Ladies, and the Dinsmoor-Hale House (1861).

President's Residence

Catherine Fiske's home and school is now the President's residence, and Hale has offices for several of the top administrators of the College, including the president.

Elliot Center

Elliot Mansion (1811) on the corner of Main Street and Wyman Way, now the Elliot Center, also served as Keene's first community hospital. All three buildings, beautifully preserved, are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hale Building

EDITOR'S CHOICE:

Chris Justice
CDC Playground
Hollyhocks

Next


THE KEENE STATE COLLEGE MAGAZINE FALL 2009
FEATURES Time and Again 100 Great Things Reunion 2009 DEPARTMENTS Contents From the Desk of By the Way Owl Notebook Class Notes New Class Notes Spotlight Alumni Notebook Magazine Staff Magazine Search Back Issues KSC LINKS KEENE STATE HOME ALUMNI HOME CENTENNIAL NEWSLINE PHOTO GALLERY KEEP IN TOUCH GIVING TO KSC CAMPUS NEWS	100 Great Things About Keene State College Your fondest mememories, funniest stories, biggest heroes, and more Last spring we asked for your ideas for this special issue of Keene State Today. What would you put on a list of 100 great things about Keene State? We heard from you – students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends. You responded with lists, quotes, stories, and photos. You sent dozens of ideas – eloquent, funny, heartfelt, emphatic memories and thoughts. You talked about the beauty of the campus. The richness of student life. The sense of community and how to find common ground. The certainty that Keene State is a living, growing organism, a campus on the move. You wrote about your heroes – mostly the unsung variety – and great moments in KSC history. You noted the academic gems that make Keene State sparkle. You recalled a transformational conversation with a professor. You wrote about a single Johnny jump-up blooming on a green lawn. We are 100 years old, and we are young. Loving the Lilacs They bloom for commencement, the fragrant lavender lilacs in front of Fiske, praised in song: "On lilac paths we've strolled, past halls in ivy twined. 'Neath Mount Monadnock rising bold, our college stands enshrined.…" Daddy Mason Though his religious and moral expectations were pretty heavy handed by today's standards, President Wallace "Daddy" Mason boosted the school in its early years with his confident vision and enthusiasm and made students proud to be here. That spirit and pride flourish today. Fiske Quad Many people pointed to our beautiful campus as one of the greatest things about KSC, and it's likely that they are thinking of the Quad. Credit for its current beauty goes to the College administration of the early 1990s. By then the Quad, the historic setting for commencement and other activities, had become overgrown and outgrown, crowded with tennis courts, parking spaces, and unruly hemlocks. In the summer of 1993, the tennis courts were removed, the area was landscaped, and wider walkways were installed to define the formal quadrangle. Counting Cupolas The stately cupola that graces Huntress Hall is iconic, though there are three others that add fine accents to the historic buildings around the Quad: on Fiske, Morrison, and Rhodes halls. Keeping History Alive Three historic homes on Main Street anchor the campus to the community. The first two buildings acquired by the city of Keene in 1909 to start Keene Normal School were the Catherine Fiske residence (1805), site of her Seminary for Young Ladies, and the Dinsmoor-Hale House (1861). President's Residence Catherine Fiske's home and school is now the President's residence, and Hale has offices for several of the top administrators of the College, including the president. Elliot Center Elliot Mansion (1811) on the corner of Main Street and Wyman Way, now the Elliot Center, also served as Keene's first community hospital. All three buildings, beautifully preserved, are on the National Register of Historic Places. Hale Building Loving the Lilacs Daddy Mason Fiske Quad Counting Cupolas Keeping History Alive Three Certain Signs of Spring Commencement Clapping Through "Enter to learn…" 75th Jubilee The 1963 March to Concord World War II Symposium Playing for Peace Concert Harriet Huntress Pumpkin Lobotomy The Inaugurations… Hidden Beauty KSC 100 Relay and Fireworks 1909, 1939, 1963, 2009 Children's Literature Festival Festival Owls Speaking Out Biodiesel Collaborative Science Center… Student Center Opens "The safety and health…" Communicorps… Sizzlers Spring Weekend Concerts The Vegan Station… Social Activities Council Greek Life …Old Student Union and Pub? Night Owl Café Chalk Talk Great Track Team Appian Way The Cohen Center… Welcoming the Other… Golden Circle Society K-S-C. Knowledge-… Alternative Spring Break Habitat for Humanity Trips Academic Excellence… The Advising/Aspire Staff The Potato Diggers Keepers of Buildings and… Admissions staff Charlie Sheaff Jean Whitcomb Henry Freedman Norma Walker Don Carle Distinguished Athletes… Jay Kahn Pauline Dionne "…the orneriest faculty in …" Marathon Man Adam Skibek Jim Draper Melinda Treadwell Major: Film Major: Sociology Major: Mathematics Major: Environmental Studies Major: Education… Major: Education Major: Education Major: Chemistry Major: Theatre and Dance Major: Athletic Training Students on Stage:… KSC Film Society An Evening of Dance …Art show postcards WKNH Faculty Satisfaction Arboretum and Gardens Professors will… Whooo Is the Owl? Midnight Madness Consistent Winners The Three Bears and… Chicken Patties Old Mabel Brown Room… A New Tradition… Athletics Moves from… Men's Basketball "Elite 8"… Library Shafted Ron Butcher's 500th… Dean's List Predicting the Weather by… The CDC CDC and Early Sprouts Faulkner Murals Depict… …Brickyard Pond Story Science Center: High-Tech… Professors who want… Our Best Ambassadors "…a single Johnny Jump-up" Theory Meets Practice… EDITOR'S CHOICE: Chris Justice CDC Playground Hollyhocks Next