{"id":2781,"date":"2021-10-29T13:54:49","date_gmt":"2021-10-29T13:54:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wabash.edu\/dearoldwabash\/?p=2781"},"modified":"2021-10-29T13:54:49","modified_gmt":"2021-10-29T13:54:49","slug":"dames-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wabash.edu\/dearoldwabash\/2021\/10\/29\/dames-club\/","title":{"rendered":"Dames Club"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a>
This is a picture of the Dames Club formed at Wabash by the wives of GI students.
This material was given to the Archives at Wabash
by Carole (Mrs. Maurice [W1952] ) Stribling.
The gift included these materials about the Dames Club as gathered
by Marilyn (Mrs. Walter [W19549] ) Van Scoyoc.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The story of Wabash is populated with the stories of students, professors and alumni who have done interesting things in their life. This is, after all, a school for men. And for most of our history, the faculty was composed primarily of men. It wasn\u2019t until personnel shortages caused by WWI that the first female taught classes here. However, there was one point in time where there were a LOT of women on campus. The end of WWII and the advent of the GI Bill led many veterans to attend college. These weren\u2019t your average students, they were battle hardened veterans and many had young families. The government, in support of these men sent GI huts to campuses across America. These huts were small two-unit buildings, tiny, but with everything the young couples needed. A kitchen area, a very small living room and a bedroom and bath. Not luxurious accommodations, but for a generation trained in sacrifice and a make do attitude, they were sufficient. Here at Wabash, the GI housing area was known as \u201cMud Hollow\u201d and, as we\u2019ll see, it was a name well earned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As listed in their constitution, \u201cThe purpose of the Club was to provide a meeting time and place for the members to meet for social purpose; and to foster affiliated interest groups.\u201d Membership was, \u201c\u2026open to all wives of Wabash College and graduates.\u201d The group as a whole met once a month. They formed various interest groups, some of these were: beginner\u2019s bridge, contract bridge, mother\u2019s group, study group, and the events planning group. Interesting to me is their meeting time \u2013 8pm. A little late for a meeting to start, but late enough that the dinner dishes were done and the children put to bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Wally Wabash in Mud Hollow<\/strong>
drawn by Don Cole for the 1956 yearbook<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Dames Club lived on as long as the veteran\u2019s village did. Eventually it morphed into Wabash Women, a group still going strong today. There are still various interest groups, although I don\u2019t believe anyone is learning beginner\u2019s\u00a0 bridge. We inhabit a very different world; most women today work outside the home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While day to day life was hard with no luxuries, few amenities and a constant struggle to make ends meet, the occupants all struggled together. In speaking with some who lived in these places, they seem to recall their time there with a fondness. Perhaps it was that there they all were, in the same boat. There is something about a shared struggle that brings us closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the file for the Club, I found a delightful poem penned by one of the dames. I like it because it tells us a good bit about life in Mud Hollow more than half a century ago. I hope you enjoy it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In eighteen hundred and thirty-two<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine Godly men had a plan in view<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To form a college for men alone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And through these portals no women to roam<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their plans went through and Wabash was founded<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And on Sugar Creek\u2019s banks the college bell sounded<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first interruption the college had<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was the Civil War and the cadets they clad<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wabash went social at the turn of the century<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contests, Athletics, and frat\u2019s made entry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In nineteen-four the Little Giants made fame<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thro\u2019 the East and the West they were known by name<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With scarlet their color \u2013 and football their game<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They played such schools as old Notre Dame<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1917 \u2013 the Spring vacation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was marred by news of the war declaration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student activities gave way to drill<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To win the war became their will<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The war was won and back they came<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To take up their books and study again<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An interesting change in the college feature<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was Mrs. Leavenworth, the first woman teacher<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The enrollment increased with a leap and a bound<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for the college \u2013 a dean was found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now let\u2019s skip to \u201841<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To see what President Sparks has done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He made his money early and later his degree<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life begins at forty, I\u2019m sure you will agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He proved that business and college can mix<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scholarships for students is just one of his tricks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy program came with World War Two<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which gave the professors much more to do<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

School continued right on to the fall<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To win the War there was no rest at all<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year as we know, there returned to this college<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some men home from wat who were seeking more knowledge<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They joined the armed forces, these bachelors wild,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And many returned with a wife and a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem indeed was to get them all here<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the students all wanted their families near<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The solution appeared with the Government aid<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And these G.I. huts into apartments were made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Into these huts thirty families came<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And our village is known as Mud Hollow by name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To some its well known as Diaper Row<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the three-legged pants on our clothes line must go<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To converse with our neighbors no trouble at all<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since all that we do is just knock on the wall<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On sunny days learning to ride on their trike<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is MiMi, Buzz, David and Bobby and Mike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when the rain comes and the Hollow\u2019s a flood<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They wander, they sit, and sit in the mud<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We wash hard on wash day and hang out our clothes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With mud from our ankles on up to our nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you should need a nice iron for y our blouse<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just run over and borrow from Davisson\u2019s house<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or is it a sweeper you need for your rug<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just borrow from Bakers and use your own plug<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We work hard all day then we dress up so neat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For tonight is the night that the Dames Club must meet<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fate of old Wabash forever will pend<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as for our story, friends, this is THE END<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beth Swift<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Archivist<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wabash College<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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