Scientist Emil O. Deere
(Deere & Lydia's Bethany -- Lydia's Photography, 1906 - 1925)
(Deere & Lydia's Bethany -- Lydia's Photography, 1906 - 1925)
- a most lasting contribution and memorial of "their time" for succeeding generations of Bethany College students and alumni to enjoy -
Bethany College "The Gateway," 1917 and "Bethany Campus Association," 1912
As it was in Lydia’s day and is today, the Gateway to Bethany is located at First/College* and Olsson Streets. The Class of 1917 under the direction of Lydia's Bethany Campus Association provided the funds for the building of this columned gateway composed of sandstone that had been quarried from Coronado Heights.
In the 1919 Daisy yearbook on "The Bethany Campus Association," page 140, second paragraph, we read:
"In the spring of 1917, a fine, imposing, entrance was erected on College Street at the south entrance to the campus. It is built from the hard, rough, concretionary, native sandstone, found in considerable quantity in the hills just to the west and north of the city of Lindsborg. The funds for this fine piece of work were provided by the graduating class of 1917."
In the 1919 Daisy yearbook on "The Bethany Campus Association," page 140, second paragraph, we read:
"In the spring of 1917, a fine, imposing, entrance was erected on College Street at the south entrance to the campus. It is built from the hard, rough, concretionary, native sandstone, found in considerable quantity in the hills just to the west and north of the city of Lindsborg. The funds for this fine piece of work were provided by the graduating class of 1917."
- The Gateway -
Photograph by Lydia when the project was completed through the funds of the Class of 1917.
Photograph by Lydia when the project was completed through the funds of the Class of 1917.
This project, a most lasting contribution and memorial symbol "of the time" and "for all time," was one of many projects initiated by the Bethany Campus Association founded by Lydia in 1912. From pages 202 and 203, first 4 paragraphs of Swedish American Bethany College professor Dr. Leon Lungstrom's 1990 book, History of Natural Science and Mathematics at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas is written the following.
- Bethany Campus Association -
- Mrs. Lydia Deere, Founder -
- Mrs. Lydia Deere, Founder -
"In the fall of 1912 a movement toward beautifying the Bethany College campus was initiated by the ladies of the faculty including wives of faculty members about the middle of November and an association was formally organized to be known as the Bethany Campus Improvement Association. However it was listed as the Bethany Campus Association. The membership included the entire faculty, wives of faculty and others officially associated with the college. Mrs. Deere was the founder and first president of the organization. Professor Deere became vice-president and professor Welin served as a member of the executive committee.
"The purpose of the Association was first, to improve and beautify the college campus, and second, to develop the social side of the members. An annual meeting was held the last week of September each year. The Association found it necessary to devote much of its energy during its first year of existence towards pioneer work such as making surveys, plans, maps, grading, establishing new drives and walks, removing diseased trees, building new tennis courts, etc. Besides this, they planted a number of ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers. Arbors were established and a considerable portion of the campus was planted to bluegrass.
"While this organization existed, much time and energy was devoted to the grounds, and an effort was made to raise funds through entertainment. The students and faculty extended willing and valuable service. An arbor and cleanup day was observed each year before the Messiah Festival and a grand May Day celebration was held on the first of May. These activities were successful in accomplishing work and getting necessary funds.
"The sandstone gate ["The Gateway" to Bethany] at the south end of the campus across from the Messiah Lutheran Church was made possible through the efforts of the Association. One such gate existed at the east entrance on Swennson Street, but it had to be removed as a requirement for the U.S. 81 Highway which passed through on that street years ago."
"The purpose of the Association was first, to improve and beautify the college campus, and second, to develop the social side of the members. An annual meeting was held the last week of September each year. The Association found it necessary to devote much of its energy during its first year of existence towards pioneer work such as making surveys, plans, maps, grading, establishing new drives and walks, removing diseased trees, building new tennis courts, etc. Besides this, they planted a number of ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers. Arbors were established and a considerable portion of the campus was planted to bluegrass.
"While this organization existed, much time and energy was devoted to the grounds, and an effort was made to raise funds through entertainment. The students and faculty extended willing and valuable service. An arbor and cleanup day was observed each year before the Messiah Festival and a grand May Day celebration was held on the first of May. These activities were successful in accomplishing work and getting necessary funds.
"The sandstone gate ["The Gateway" to Bethany] at the south end of the campus across from the Messiah Lutheran Church was made possible through the efforts of the Association. One such gate existed at the east entrance on Swennson Street, but it had to be removed as a requirement for the U.S. 81 Highway which passed through on that street years ago."
Included in the history of the 1915 Daisy yearbook on the "Bethany Campus Association" on page 109, the officers for the Association were:
President . . . . . . . . . . . . Miss Lydia Sohlberg
Vice-President . . . . . . . . E. O. Deere
Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . .Prof. A. A. Abercrombie
Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. E. F. Pihlblad
On the executive committee were Mrs. E. A. Haesener, Professor J.E. Welin, and President E. F. Pihlblad.
President . . . . . . . . . . . . Miss Lydia Sohlberg
Vice-President . . . . . . . . E. O. Deere
Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . .Prof. A. A. Abercrombie
Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. E. F. Pihlblad
On the executive committee were Mrs. E. A. Haesener, Professor J.E. Welin, and President E. F. Pihlblad.
- Lydia's photograph for the 1919 Daisy yearbook -
Source: "Bethany in Kansas" page 74
- "The Gateway" to Bethany with the "Commerce Society" for their 1919 Daisy yearbook photograph -
- note glimpses of the Swedish Pavilion and Lane Hart Hall on the right -
- The Bethany Campus Association as reported in the 1919 Daisy Yearbook -
Crediting the Class of 1917
- The Bethany Campus Association -
before
"The Gateway" to Bethany
- Seth Sohlberg coming home to Sohlberg House on College Street -
Before "The Gateway" to Bethany
(Messiah Lutheran Church and Lane Hart Hall in background)
Before "The Gateway" to Bethany
(Messiah Lutheran Church and Lane Hart Hall in background)
- "The Gateway" to Bethany College -
as of
2011
as of
2011
* * *
"Let Us Celebrate Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
