Greetings Comet Faithful!
While on duty for Comet Territory, I sometimes make my way into the Larson Leadership Center on campus, home of the Mayville State University Foundation, and a host of historical resources. What better place is there to go for some material to share for a “Throwback Thursday”?
I found the 50th Anniversary edition of Mayville State’s yearbook, which had an interesting recap on the history of the Physical Education department here. PE and Athletics grew hand-in-hand here, and the connection continues today, as showcased in yesterday’s blog post on the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse renovations. It’s not just an expansion of athletics, but also a big expansion for the ever-growing fitness, wellness, and sports management majors who are entering those fields.
The recap is worthy of sharing in its full form: taken from the 50th anniversary edition of “The Mill”, below.
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“Physical Education has throughout the years had a prominent place in the curricula of the Teachers College at Mayville. In the fifty years of the life of this school, there have been several different programs of physical education for the young men & women. Each program has aimed to give students that type of training which would prove beneficial to them personally and which would serve them later as teachers.
In the records of 1892 is found the statement, “Systematic training in light gymnastics is given to all students. The advantages of such training to their health and bodily carriage is unquestioned.” This program is quite different from the one offered today, yet in it is found the beginning of our present-day curricula. Today the health of the young men and women is cared for not only by giving ‘light gymnastics’ but by giving a well-rounded and carefully-planned scientific program which takes into consideration every bodily function and makes for the coordination of the whole individual.
A first the entire physical education plant was housed in Main Building (note: Old Main on campus today, in the basement by the mailroom is what I’ve been told) and it consisted of rooms now used for the science laboratory and social gatherings (this is now classroom space for the Nursing program). The south room which was the men’s unit was used for an apparatus gymnasium. The north room was an open floor space where the women practiced drills and physical education exercises. Some of the instructors in the college acted as part time supervisors, but no one person was responsible for the entire physical education program.
(A photo of the first gymnasium, inside today’s current Old Main building)
In the early years, physical education at MSTC was confined mostly to inter-class competition. The men played only a few games with other schools. In 1906, the State Teachers College joined the North Dakota Inter-collegiate Athletic Conference. A regular schedule of games for the members was set up, and this plan is still followed. At this time it was found necessary to construct an athletic field, to build two tennis courts, and to increase the seating capacity of the gymnasium by adding bleachers along the south wall. M.N. Pope became instructor in geography and supervisor of the improved program of physical education. He continued in this position until 1913.
From 1913 to 1924 the men in charge of the physical education program also taught in other departments of the college. Some of these instructors were Conrad E. Tharaldson, M.B. Stone, Emory Z. Gregory, Olaf Christiansen, M.G. Sateren, A.M. West, and Sylfest Orwell.
The physical education program for women was also carried on for many years by a part-time instructor. The last one of these was Wilma Gline, who directed physical education and taught ‘expression’.
In 1924 Harrison Kaiser came to the college as the first full-time director of men’s physical education. In the same year Frances Horak was employed as the first full-time director of the women’s physical education department.
During the years which followed, interest in athletics increased. The facilities afforded by the gymnasium in Main Building became inadequate and in the spring of 1930 a new gymnasium was constructed (this actually began in 1929). The equipment of the new gymnasium and the athletic field, the tennis courts, the swimming pool, and the May-Port golf course offer excellent opportunities for participation in physical activities to both men and women.
In the fall of 1930 two new physical education directors came to the college – Lewy Lee for the men, and Helen Westfall for the women. In 1934 Anna Uglum followed Miss Wesftall as director for women’s physical education, and in 1937 she was succeeded by Miss Dorothy Safford.
(Lewy Lee, who the Fieldhouse is named after)
During the last years intra-mural contests have become an important part of the physical education program. In the fall of 1938, a minor in physical education was included in the curricula. In this 50th anniversary year plans have been made and the first spade of ground has been turned for the construction of an amphitheater (Note: Currently this is Jerome Berg Field on our campus). This will add greatly to the facilities for athletic events.”
– End of PE history perspective from 50th anniversary annual
I hoped you enjoyed this retrospect from the early years of Mayville State’s Physical Education & Athletics. It’s legacy is deep rooted in our campus and continues on today.
Until next time, tell everyone that it’s a “Great Day To Be A Comet!”
#GDTBAC
– Captain Comet
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