Message from the President

Greetings from the Maryville College campus!

Anyone driving down Washington Street headed toward the Smoky Mountains sees it rising against the sky, the American flag fluttering in the breeze – the Anderson Hall tower. Many alumni see it, wherever they are, in their mind’s eye, the persistent memory of a place and time that changed their lives forever. Anderson Hall, the first building on the present campus of Maryville College. Anderson Hall, the icon of a venerable institution.

I spent eight years in Anderson Hall, my first eight years at Maryville College. It was the last eight years of a 131-year history of service as the location of the president’s office. I’m glad I had that opportunity before the office moved to Fayerweather Hall. I am confident that I understand better what this College is all about – and what it stands for – because of those eight years in Anderson.

My first tour of the building was in the spring of 1993, when I wandered up and down staircases and through the hallways, puzzled by the massive vault door on the first floor, peering into classrooms on the second and third floors, speaking to Martha Hess in the Registrar’s office and other faculty and staff members along the way. I lived for almost two decades in Charleston, S.C., and I like old buildings. Indeed, a great portion of my career has been spent in aging academic buildings, and I felt right at home in Anderson. I liked the wavy, antique window glass. I liked the woodwork coated thickly with layer upon layer of paint. I liked the sense of history that permeated the place.

At the end of eight years the romance of historic Anderson Hall was, I confess, mitigated by the realities of living there. The floors creaked. The vault door kept the carpet raveled. One learned to be philosophical about working in an environment that was almost always too hot or too cold. The electrical system was unreliable and cause for uneasiness. There were occasional leaks and a certain mustiness. Now and then a stray bat flew down out of the attic.

This spring I went with a small group on another tour of Anderson Hall, this time with Dr. Arthur Bushing ’43 as a guide. He took us through the building floor by floor, identifying the classrooms that belonged to Dr. Orr and Mrs. Cummings and other Maryville College legends. We heard stories of pranks from the past, saw where walls had gone up and come down as needs changed and where doors had been converted to windows and windows to doors. “Art,” I said to our guide, “I wish I had asked you to give me this tour when I first arrived in 1993.”

Some of Anderson Hall’s rich and long history is chronicled in this issue of FOCUS. The following pages display numerous old photos of the building and relate fond memories shared by alumni. You can read also about the Anderson Hall of today and what is necessary to preserve it for the future.

Anderson Hall is the oldest building on campus. It has served faithfully for 136 years. It is our proud symbol, but in poor condition. With all those who care about it, I look forward to the renovation.