From Our Photo Files
We asked for it, and we got it!
The photo of the campus topiary around Anderson Hall apparently predated most alumni, but we did hear from one alumna, Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Hunt Berlin ’32, who had an explanation and fondly remembers taking classes in Anderson 75 years ago! Below, we’ve reprinted the email she sent the College back in September:
“I’m a 1932 graduate of MC, and ‘in my time’ there, those shrubs were laughingly referred to as the college ‘graveyard’ because they spelled out ‘Founded 1819’ (translated ‘found dead!’ Humor was simpler then.).
“I had philosophy in Anderson Hall in Dr. Orr’s class. I also remember Dr. Hunter and Professor Queener, who knew how to make American history come alive,” she wrote.
After seeing the photo in the magazine, Andy McCall, director of the College’s physical plant, called the Communications Office to let staff members know that he had an old landscape design of “Founded 1819” stored in his records (See photo). The drawing indicates that the topiary was located on the side of Anderson Hall that now faces Sutton Science Center. McCall guesses that, given the time period, the topiary was probably a privet hedge, as hybrids and more exotic shrubbery didn’t exist. He also suspects that the shrub design was short-lived on the campus.
“Topiaries are very hard to maintain,” he explained. “They have to be worked almost daily and because the College didn’t have a grounds department, as such, they probably grew up quickly.”
Following the Summer 2006 issue of FOCUS, the College received several more Anderson Hall memories from former students. These have been added to the web site. Be sure to visit “Celebrating Our Icon”. Alumni memories are posted in the “I Remember” section.
What does this car– a 1995 Pontiac Bonneville – have to do with Maryville College’s Bonner Scholar Program?
If you know, email us at alumni@maryvillecollege.edu or send us a letter – FOCUS, Maryville College, 502 E. Lamar Alexander Pky., Maryville, TN 37804
If you have any stories associated with this car, we’d love to have those, too!
