Table Of ContentSeldom Seen and Always Heard
II
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Friends Raymond Jones and Erma Edwards greet Miss Olsen on her day.
Miss Bertha E. Olsen exemplifies the word 'dedication.'
Her dedication to Glenville State College and the Glenville
Community is an example everyone should follow.
Originally from England, Miss Olsen, received her educa
tion at the New England Conservatory School of Music. After
graduation, in the fall of 1930, she came to Glenville State
Chairman, Dr. Gillespie, of the Fine Arts Dept. established a scholarship in
College and began a forty-two year career of teaching. Miss Miss Olsen's name.
Olsen taught all aspects of music as she was the only music
instructor.
Miss Olsen has not only been an asset to the college but
also to the community. On November 16, 1980 at the Trinity
United Methodist Church, a celebration was held in honor of
Miss Olsen and her fifty years of service in the Glenville com
munity. Approximately two hundred of Miss Olsen's friends
were on hand to pay tribute to her.
The highlight of the celebration was the establishing of a
scholarship for music majors in Miss Olsen's name. The
scholarship is founded on donations and will be available to
incoming freshmen based on musical talent.
The celebration and scholarship are just one way of thank
ing Miss Olsen for all the time she has freely given to the com
munity and to GSC. Even now Miss Olsen continues to be of
service. Besides playing the organ for the Trinity United
Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church, Miss Olsen is
responsible for the. chimes being played on campus. The
music, although popular consensus had it coming from pre
recorded tapes in the tower, is played by Miss Olsen on the
Baldwin Organ in the auditorium.
Miss Bertha E. Olsen, a person of rare qualities, we thank
you for all you have done.
A familiar sound on campus is Miss Olsen'S playing of the chimes.
2 Olsen Dedication
President Simmons congratulates Miss Olsen on her
50th year anniversary in Glenville.
Miss Olsen glows on her day of honor from family and friends.
iss Olsen, who also plays the organ at the Trinity United Methodist Church Nelson Wells after reading of her life story, presents Miss Olsen with a rose.
with Rev. 8erisford.
Olsen Dedication 3
The courtyard of Pickens Hall is a busy place during the spring A view of the Administration Building from the amphitheatre during the fall.
and fall months, as Carol Wilson and James Harris found out.
Welcome!
Welcome to the aisles of the Glenville State College Coun
try Store, In the 1980-81 edition of the Store, customers will
find a varied Sportswear Department, rows and rows of Knick
Knacs, Games People Play, and the Executive Shop.
In this year's edition of the GSC Kanawhachen a visitor can
stroll through the aisles and see many new changes made to
GSC in the 1980-81 academic year. New staff was hired, the
Physical Education Department hired a new Head Coach,
sports took off with a zoom, and the weather in the winter
months plagued many.
The election year drew many candidates to the college
campus, and all climbed upon the soap box at the Country
Store. Main events for the year were the "Wild, Wild West"
Homecoming, and the Second Annual "GSC Week and Field Majorettes, Rhonda Anderson, Carolyn Snodgrass, Vicky Kerrigan,
McNemar, and Marilyn King performed at the Homecoming Parade.
Day." The school newspaper, The Mercury started
publishing on Mondays to reach a larger audience, and then
back to the Friday publications.
For the second year in a row the GSC enrollment has in
creased, making GSC one of the largest small colleges in
West Virginia. For the beginning of the fall semester the
dorms were crowded, and many of the students wishing to
have private rooms, had to share until available rooms were
found.
But, since this is known as the "friendly campus" many stu
dents grinned and bore it.
Terror was brought to the GSC stage as the Drama Department
"Dracula."
4 Table of Contents
Phi Beta Lambda's float theme was "Pioneers Rob
State," in the annual Homecoming parade.
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Table of Contents 5
Pickens Hall Women's Dormitory stands at the bottom of the small hill, below many of the main
buildings. The dorm houses women, men and the Department of Business.
The Administration Building is one of the
oldest buildings on campus. Here the Ad
Building is seen through a rearview mirror.
The four-faced clock tower has been built, torn
down and rebuilt in its long history.
6 Buildings
GSC Buildings Profiled
In February of 1872 an Act was passed by the WV structure was used and named "Lively House." In 1885 the
Legislature to establish a Normal School at Glenville, pro WV Legislature appropriated the funds for a new building, to
viding the residents of Glenville would donate suitable be near "Lively House." A third building was later connected
buildings. Before the purchase of the buildings, school was to make what is now the Administration Building.
held in the Glenville County Courthouse. The courthouse
. served as "school" for two terms and then an old frame (continued on page 8.)
large renovation occurred on the campus of GSC in the summer of '80 when the horticulture class added
and woodchips.
Buildings 7
(Continued from page 7.)
Later, this building became inadequate for the growing
school, and the Legislature appropriated money to build
another building. These two buildings were separated by a
distance of 15 feet, which was used as hallways and a stairway.
In 1897 a tower was constructed on the roof of the "old
building." The tower was deemed unsafe due to its height in
1903 and torn down and rebuilt. In 1899 the E. Howard and
Company of Boston, Mass. installed a four-faced clock which
has been the signal for students to change classes ever since.
What is now Clark Hall was once the Robert F. Kidd Library.
Upon the building of the new Robert F. Kidd Library, Clark Hall
took over the Education, journalism and history classes. Clark
Hall was named for the educator H. Y. Clark, who spent many
years as a teacher at GSC. The original plan of the college of
ficials was to keep the buildings in a square.
In the fall of 1942, the campus gained a new Science Hall.
The construction of the new Science Building was hampered by
the lack of materials due to the war. The Science Hall was the
eleventh building to be built on the Glenville State College cam
pus. Shortly before the Science Hall was built, Louis Bennett
Hall, the men's dormitory, was erected. Before LBH was built,
there was a frame structure, known as "the Ark" which housed
about twenty residents.
The amphitheatre and back of Robert F. Kidd Library, the amphitheatre is a The Bell Tower with the four-faced clock is a daily sight to all who attend
common stopping ground for students between classes. GSC. The clock strikes each hour and is a signal for classes to change.
8 Buildings
The Pioneer Center houses classes, offices, the cafeteria and the Student Union.
The dormitory was built by the Works
Progress, and construction was finish
ed and dedicated in November of
1938.
Many of the buildings have been
since remodeled and renovated. A
women's dorm, Pickens Hall, was
erected and a Forestry Building on
Mineral Road was built. As a visitor
looks through the buildings on cam
pus, it is obvious that there is quite a
bit of history in Glenville State College.
The Administration building was two buildings,
separated by a hallway and stairway. It now houses
classes and offices.
Buildings 9
Home Away From Home
"In the stillness of Appalachia," is one description of GSC,
another would be "Almost Heaven West Virginia," or maybe
the best description of the mountainous Glenville area would
be "God's Country." Anyway you speak of it, this is Glen
ville. In the fall, the red, yellow, brown and gold of the hillsides
make a rainbow of leaves. The sidewalks, streets and roads
are blanketed with the colorful leaves.
Winter brings with it snow covered roads, hills, trees and
sidewalks. Students and faculty members must brave icy
mountain roads and walkways to get to and from classes.
Yet, everyone still admires the beauty and the stillness of the
new fallen snow on the hillsides.
As the rains came, so did the spring floods that Glenville is
famous for, yet, a time looked forward to for the blooming of
the flowers and the spring breezes. Many teachers can tell
the arrival of spring, as their classes become smaller and the
amphitheatre grows crowded with students enjoying the sun. The President's house, as seen from Louis Bennett Hall.
It is hard for most students to concentrate on finals, term
papers and graduation as the sun shines through the win
dows. Even though finals are just around the corner, the
sundecks are crowded with sunworshippers.
(Continued on page 11.)
Sunsets are always a beautiful sight in Glenville. due to the surrounding
mountains.
All the parking lots on the campus were repaved and repainted During the fall of the year. an extensive renovating project was undertaken. and many of the
in the fall. sidewalks were repaved.
10 Seasons
Trees surround the college campus. Many of the trees help to beautify the lawns The forestry club enjoys the outdoors, during one of their many "field days."
and provide shade for those who like to sit and enjoy the good weather.
(Continued from page 10.)
As the students walk to and from classes they can ap
preciate the wildness and beauty that only 'Wild, Wonderful
West Virginia' can provide.
Ornamental Horticulture class helped to beautify the campus by planting
over various parts of the lawns.
Season 11
Description:Homecoming, and the Second Annual "GSC Week and Field What is now Clark Hall was once the Robert F. Kidd Library. Mack Samples and his band perform in the parade, with the Belles of the 1980 .. Don Quixote fought the battle of evil, while Sancho looks for the demon. Order of Diana.