College Life Has Humor & High Jinks

The history of Almira College (and of Greenville College) usually focuses on serious academic and financial matters.

However, even back in the Victorian era there was plenty of humor and high jinks associated with college life.

Some of the lighter side of the collegiate environment was noted in a talk given in 1902 - some 10 years after the Free Methodist Church bought Almira College and founded Greenville College.

The history was presented by Alfred H. Joy at the annual meeting of the Collegiate Club of Greenville College in 1902. Joy, an alumnus of the college, was a son of F. P. Joy and later became an instructor at the Syrian Protestant College in Beirut, and was a noted astronomer.

Joy said, "The students at Almira we would judge were not inferior to those of Greenville College in planning methods of outwitting the teachers. One favorite method was to turn the hall clock back on reception nights (when young men were allowed in) so that 10 o'clock would not come so soon." 

One of the tales told by Joy was of an alleged incident at Old Main at Almira College (now Hogue Hall at Greenville College). Almira, a college exclusively for women, was founded in 1855 and the president for many years was Prof. John Brown White.

Joy said, "A story is told of two girls who outwitted Prof. White - for the truth of it we cannot vouch. One night the good professor, who always appreciated a good joke, was walking around the building (today's Hogue Hall) to see that no boys or other wild beasts were prowling around the premises, when he spied a basket dangling very invitingly from the third floor window.

"He thought he would try the elevator (the basket), so he approached from the shrubbery, which was very plentiful on the campus. Without a word he stepped into the basket, and gave the rope a gentle signal, and he began to ascend slowly. When he had almost reached the destination, the girls who were at the end of the rope suddenly saw that the visitor was not the one they were expecting. Though astonished, they were not to be outdone. They demanded that he promise that he would not punish them before they would let him down. As the professor was beginning to feel somewhat nervous over his situation, located midway between the second and third floors, subject to the will and strength of the two girls, he good-naturedly agreed not to mention the matter and was soon safely landed on the earth again." That incident presumably happened in the 1860s or 1870s.

In his 1902 talk, Joy commented that: "Life in the college building (now Hogue Hall) was somewhat different, of necessity, from that of a coeducational institution. One especial feature which every student who boarded in the building at the time will remember when other things have been forgotten was the motherly interest which Mrs. Prof. White took in each one.

"On account of her love and her natural kindliness she holds an exalted place in the hearts of hundreds of women today, to which few could have attained. She was a real mother to them during their college days. No one can estimate how much her influence has done in uplifting and cheering lives and homes in all parts of the land."

On the last Friday in each month, according to Joy, a reception was held in the parlors "to which the young men of town were invited. These occasions were of great interest you will be sure, to the young gentlemen as well as to the ladies."

He added that the hall was turned into a promenade and the young men would promenade with one after another of the young ladies "racing to see who could make the rounds in the shortest time."

In 1892 the college was sold to the Central Illinois Conference of the Free Methodist Church and Joy noted that "it was decided to change the name to Greenville College."

Referring to those who had attended Greenville College in its early years, Joy said, "All the students have been peculiarly famous in their own particular way. We can mention only a few of the leaders in each line - (Herbert) McGeary, the champion all-around athlete; A.C. Milliken, the biggest man; Will Milliken, the slimmest; Harvill, the shortest; Stevens, the craziest; (Robert) Adams, the most brilliant; Cobb, the wittiest. Then we must not forget Hamke, with the wooden shoes; Parker, the friend of the ladies; Dority, who fell out of the fourth story window; Phillips, with the big mouth; Shaw, the dispenser of hot air; Springer, the cake eater; Green, the married man; Croft, the adventurer from beyond the Rockies."

Joy added something that would probably be a "no-no" in this day of political correctness. He said, "Besides these men of fame we also have had ladies of distinction among our students, but they are so many we cannot mention them."

In his 1902 speech, Joy said, "If a bashful young fellow wishes to escort a young lady to the alumni banquet he must first see Mr. Upton to ask what his chances are and how he should proceed..."