Early 1900s dorm parties are sure to deliver some compelling stories. On May 18, 1916, The Collegian printed this headline: “East Hall Girls’ Party is Novel Affair: Gentlemen leave at 11:30.”
I think they emphasized that the boys left exactly at 11:30 a little too strongly. Nobody thought twice about it until they put it in large print.
The article began, “The East Hall Girls’ Party proved to be a big time. It was the kind of a big time that comes when the girls decide to give the boys a real party that overthrows the stilted, tame affairs which some folks have thought East Hall parties to be.”
I cannot tell if that is a good or bad thing. Who wants to have a stilted, tame affair? That being said, I can’t imagine a party that takes place in a dorm and where the opposite sex must leave before midnight to be anything but.
However, the more I read the more I realized how wrong I was.
The author wrote, “It began with the novel entertainment that had been prepared. . . Miss Caroline Stearns and Loinal Wallace brought down heaps of laughter with their special folk dances.”
He continued, “A ‘movie’ was put on by the dramatic club in which Harriet Von Ehrenstein had five dates all in the same evening and which resulted in disaster to the irate callers.”
This party sounds incredible.
The East Hall party even had a little competition.
The Collegian reads, “In a contest held following the above events it was tactile agreed that Edna Stoke was the most popular, Vivian Smith the prettiest, Pauline Werner the smallest, Kathry Heckman, the cutest.”
What were these categories? In what world did these party animals think they could take a break from the folk dances to take a tally of who was the prettiest at the party, and think no one would get hurt?
Intrigued by the trend to publish descriptions of parties in the college newspaper, I looked at another article.
Published on Jan. 6, 1909, this article’s headline was redacted and I genuinely cannot imagine why.
The Collegian published, “The students who remained in town through vacation have to resort to many devices to ward off lonesomeness. Those seeking amusement had to rely on sleeping all day and skating all night.”
It continued, “The one social event of the holidays was a Christmas party given by the Misses Leah Stock and Joy Mauck at the home of the former. About thirty attended and report a glorious time.”
Well I am certainly happy to hear that.
The Collegian even used to report on fraternity parties.
On May 31, 1911, an article in the newspaper printed, “The Alpha Tau Omega fraternity made an interesting innovation in Hillsdale College social diversions in the way of a house party at Baw Beese Lake where they royally entertained their lady friends from Saturday till Tuesday evening.”
I have so many questions, none of which are answered in the article.
The author continued, “The boys rented Tally-Ho-Inn situated on West Lake front, which they beautifully decorated with college pennants and banners.”
At first, I thought the line referring to the length of the party was a bit of a joke, a little Collegian sarcasm.
It was not.
The article printed the entire schedule of events, starting with supper on Saturday night and ending with a beefsteak roast Monday night.
Some highlights of the party include, but are not limited to, an opening sing, a hare and hound chase, and dancing at the pavilion.
I think we can all be glad The Collegian no longer reports on parties, despite how much fun it is to look back at the social events of years past.
