t wa the

Rrewori<~ top, signal the ligh~ng of J.... dome. Dressed in bIadl and gold, EitanorFrosier, presicitntoftheAIvrM Association, ond her fumily join the walk down EighthStnet toward Francis Quod""'9~ .

"ltH EI I'" ... boruses of "Shennendoah" wafted into the formed ISO years ago when Boone County settlers The 102·1001_- Hal... Cbrisk autumn nigbtas the dome was gave more than they couJd afford 10 see a university dome is it witt. a donn lit for the first time in its 92~year history Oct. I. built in Columbia. Presenting resolutions were l,O()I)._mtIoIhaIide Pure white beams signaled the beginning of events Democratic leglsiators from Columbia: Rep. Ken liohn. The lights tum gaIcI marking the l50th anniversary of the University's Jacob, OS Ed 71 , M Ed 76, MPA '86, and Sen. alterMinaufootbaii founding. Roger Wilson, M Ed '86. Others on the pxlium and basketball victaries Boone County residents, friends.students, faculty downtown were Columbia Mayor Rodney Smith; ancIathorCampus and alumni gathered at the foot of the Columns on presiding commissioner of the Boone County Com­ achievements, for the ceremony. mission, Frank Graham, BS Agr '42, MS '54; Rep. "If rhere is a single spot for higher education in Chris Kelly, D-CoIumbia; and master of ceremonies , surely you and I are standing on that David Rogers, BS Ed '63, JD '68. spot," said Chancellor Haskell Monroe to a crowd armore than 2,500. '1'he is u1ieJamesOswald, BS Ed '8 1,ofNew Franklin, destined to take its place, not only as the fine Mo., is the great-great-greatgranddaughter of an institution it is today, but as one of the finest Joriginal subscriber. Montgomery Lientz, who universities in the world." d four children and lived on the family farm four The ceremony, which began under the Boone miles southeast of , gave $125. Oswa1d, County Courthouse columns on Eighth Street. who teaches gifted students, is the first Lientz caUed Avenue of the ColumM;- demonstrated ties descendant to graduate from Mizzou. Because ortler

I'IInEi ' U' 11 55 0VII HlINlIS forefather's interest in education, "I'm much more old friends and schoolmates. White lights strung on apt to become part of the Alumni As.<;QCial ion and to trees illuminated the path, adding to the festive give donations. It's created a 101 of pride." mood. Under the Columns the crowd listened to greet­ he crowd followed and the ings from Monroe; Universit y President C. Peter TROTC Flag Corps on a walk from the Magrath; Dr. Arvarh Strickland, professor of his­ courthouse to Francis Quadrangle. Bedecked tory; and Eleanor Frasier, AS Ed '61, M Ed '65, of in black and gold, people talked and laughed with Florissant, Mo., president of the Alumni Associa­ tion. They stood behind a lectern believed to have been used by Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) during his 1902 speech at the University when he Boone Countians dug deep for 01' Mizzou received an honorary doctorate. In 1987 dollars, Boone Countians scribers mortgaged their farms and Strickland gave a briefhistory urthe buildings on gave $121 million to found the homes to meet their pledges, and Ihe Quadrangle, including SwilZler Hall, the oldest University of Missouri in Columbia. morc than one mortgage was building on Campus. And to the audience's delight, "My calculations are quick and foreclosed. A rail-splitter working the bell in Switzler's belfry that once rang for classes dirty," says Dr. Walter Johnson, for $1 per 100 rails pledged $100. tolled for the special occasion. associate professor of economics, One saddler who came to Columbia "The University's sesquicentennial is a lime to "but [ bet you I'm right, plus or the year before with S 1 to his name look back and to honor the public-spirited men and minus 10 percent." In 1839, pledged $100. A county clerk, women of coura ge who had a vision that continues with a population of 13,36 1, Warren Woodson, who made to live and grow today," Magrath said. "The theme the county raised SI,200 annually, pledg­ for the next 150 years will be 'Cross the wide $117,921.75 in a sub­ University' ed his entire annual sal­ Missouri' on behalf of learning, liberty and light." scription contest and ary for the University. "I saw some tears and 1 felt the same feeling in my began building Mizzou. of Missouri And a widow, Ann Gen­ heart, too," Monroe said as W.H. "Bert" Bates, AU Columbia and Boone try, gave $100, using '49, of Kansas City, president of the Board of County were thriving. money she made by tak­ Curators, dabbed his eycs. As the chancellor signal­ New businesses were ing in boarders and as ed for the Jesse Hall dome lights, a frenzy of bursting onto the scene by ~ postmaster. fireworks began. After the smoke cleared, the the late I 830s. Columbia 1839-1989 The subscription com- number 150 sparkled over the Jesse doors and the had two wagon makers, mittee members rode to 102-foot dome began to shine. three tailors and a resident portrait every rann and cabin in the area. "It's almost as bright as the White House," said painter. The county provided half When the contest ended, more than Dr. Oscar H. Calvert, professor of plant pathology. the state's tobacco crop and ranked 900 Boone County residents had His wife, Frankie Calvert, agreed. " It will be fun to first in maple-sugar production. And contributed. watch the dome from various parts of town," she Boon's Lick Trail to California and "James S. Rollins seems to have said. Oregon cut directly through been responsible for the master Columbia. I stroke that won the contest for he lighting ceremony made for pigh spirits and "Never within our recollection Boone," wrote Jonas Viles, author Ta good family occasion,said Wayne Behymer, has there been such an influx of of a centennial history of Missouri. BS Agr '60, of Col umbia. Behymer said he emigrants as now," said a local Just before submitting bids to the didn't believe early Boone Countians had any idea newspaper editor. But Boone assembly, Rollins learned Howard of the University'S potential, "but they might feel at County had more on its mind than County had more subscriptions than home in the midst oflhcse old buildings." After Ihe population increases and soaring Boone. He Quickly returned to ceremony, the crowd nibbled on pumpkin cake, revenues. It was concerned with the Columbia to sell 222 acres he sipped apple cider and viewed two exhibits in Jesse community and educating the owned adjacent to the proposed Hall, "Why Tigers?" and "History of Architecture people. University sile. The subscription and Design of Francis Quadrangle." The Tiger The Missouri General Assembly committee bought the land at $25 mascot is traced to the Civil War when federal enacted the Geyer Act Feb. 11, an acre, then inflated the value to militia formed a Columbia unit to defend the town 1839, which began the University. S75 an acre. from Confederate bushwhackers. The original "Ti­ The next issue was location. A Boone Countians can be proud of gers" were made up of local townspeople and subscription contest to raise property the part their ancestors played in University students. and money was devised to decide founding the university 150 years The lighting, which is symbolic of the Univer­ which mid-Missouri county would ago. All told, only $500 of the sity's commitment to reach out to all Missourians, is be home to Mizzou. SI17,921.75 pledged was not paid. the first in a series of sesquicentennial events being "The principal part of the "In their zeal to secure the location planned. Such events might include lectures, exhib­ preceding week we were all busily of the university in Boone County, its, a costume ball and a Founder's Day celebration engaged in closing our subscriptions many subscribed for more than their in Jefferson Cit y. The anniversary will officially be for the University," wrote a Boone ability," said an 1848 Board of observed in calendar year 1989. County farmer to a friend in Curators memo. "Notwithstanding, "Alumni have to be especially aware of the Kentucky. "I still think Boone most subscriptions were met so challenge this Campus faces in Jefferson City and draws the prize and dearly will she promptly, although at a heavy across the state," said Kelly about funding chal­ pay for it." And Boone Countians sacrifICe, there are perhaps few lenges facing the University. " Ifthey hope not 10 see did pay. parallels of such prompt and faithful those lights dimmed in the future, they need to play A number of Boone County sub- payment." an active role in keeping them shining brightly." 0

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