Conklin Hall

According to A History of the Pennsylvania State Forest School, 1903-1929, by Elizabeth Thomas, Robert Conklin, commissioner of Forestry, spearheaded the effort for a campus classroom-dormitory in 1907. He received $15,000 from the state legislature - just less than half of the projected costs. Moving ahead anyway, they began building the first half of what is now known as Conklin Hall.

Some of the costs were managed by using locally sourced materials - sandstone, wood, and student labor. “Students were put to work digging out the building’s basement with pick and shovel.”

In 1909, Conklin received the other half of the financing and construction began on the second half of the building. (Photo: Group of men building second half of Conklin, 1909)

The building was known as “Main Hall,” “Recitation Hall,” or “the dorm” until 1930 when it was officially named “Conklin Hall.” (Photo: Dedication of Conklin Hall. Caption reads, Conklin Hall after the dedication of the dormitory by the Alumni Association of the Pa. State Forestry School. June 5, 1930. Robert Conklin is standing in doorway)

pulpit rock

In 1917, this iconic photo of Joseph Rothrock was taken at Pulpit Rock, which was also used as the base for the second, undated, photo of a Mont Alto forestry student.

Student Life

Since its inception in 1903, students have been documenting their time on campus through photographs, letters, and more. Check out these highlights:

• Athletics: Soccer, ~1980; Cheerleading, 1977; Basketball, 1906-1907
• Extracurriculars: 1927 fraternity induction ( Xi Sigma Pi initiates (l to r) J.E. Mausteller, L.A. Prichard, T.E. Evans. Gift of James O. Artman, ‘31); estimating timber, spring 1912; still life with snake (is it real?! 1952-1953)
• Campus life: Students with horses (students were required to bring their own horse to campus until the late 1920s); playing guitar in the dorm (1964-1965); enjoying a hot meal in the dorm room (we do not endorse this - spring 1948); PSFS pride (class of 1927); letter home (1922-1929, based on stamp:

Dear Anita,

This one is not so soon. We have been having, and still are having, examinations. But worse than that the sophomore class are getting the claim that we initiated a certain Freshman too much. Well, I will admit that he did get plenty, but I also think that he nearly deserved it even if I was not in favor of some of the tactics. Our class has 40 hours campus duty to work off on Saturday afternoons and Monday afternoons. It’s no fun but there was done by the faculty worse than the campus duty factor.

Well anyway, we haven’t been in a pleasant form (?) of mind for quite a while. Tomorrow we have a zoology test and maybe an agriculture test. I know about as much of these as I do about swimming the English channel.

Say! I certainly did have tough luck today. I laid down on my bed about 11:25 and fell asleep, not waking up until 1:00 o’clock. Thus I missed Sunday dinner, the best meal of the week, and the only meal here which has ice cream for dessert.

You must watch out for the ghost that appear at the fatal hour of 12:00 midnight Holloween night. Or the goblins will get you if you don’t look out. I suppose that there will be a bunch of halloween parties there these next couple of weeks. That is the fun of being home. Oh! Well we are going to have a Holloween dance. I guess that I will go. If the faculty doesn’t stop our class from being present.

I do not have any good snaps of myself at the present. I have taken a long time ago, but that was too long.

How is the Yardley High football team getting along this year. I suppose they get beaten every time that they play. I guess you have to cheer them along the best you can.

The school got in two barrels of cider last week. They left one barrel out, well, my roommate and I got 2 ½ gallons of it.

It is time to end the day. I shall have sign off.

Station N.R.H.

PS. Please excuse mistakes and smears, as it’s too late in the evening to write letters.

Hermitage Cabin

In 1922, the freshman class (1925) decided to build a cabin in the woods as a class project. The cabin, called “The Hermitage,” was located about 5-6 miles from the school - near Chimney Rocks, as we know it today. (Map, Michaux State Forest)

The original Hermitage burned down and was rebuilt (several times over the years) by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. (Newspaper article, Jan. 29, 1975 - Record Herald)

Displayed with photos of The Hermitage is the contract that students developed to pass possession of the cabin down from one class to the next.

Photos

• Tumbling Run Cabin, part by class of 1926, gift of G Dean
• Caption: Tumbling Run above our cabin, from Pyle’s album
• Tumbling Run Cabin: Kemp, Whittaker
• Caption: Hermitage - built by Paul Kemp, Mick Lehmont & assoc. Burned by Glen Forney & mountain hoodlums - J.T. Auten. 1925 - South View
• Caption: From Pyle’s album, Building Hermitage
• Caption: “Kemp” building hearth - from Pyle’s album
• 1926-9 Hermitage; gift of William B Barnes
• Fireplace - T.R. Cabin (Tumbling Run); Goodrich, Kemp

Hermitage Contract: This Indenture

Made this 16th day of June, in the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty six,

Between - the class of ‘26 at Penna State Forest School, of the first part, and - the class of ‘28 at Penna State Forest School, of the second part, in the manner following:

The said parties have and hereby do mutually agree and covenant as follows: The party of the first part to convery and the [arty of the second part to accept the cabin known as “The Hermitage,” situated in the Mont Alto Forest, at the base of Monument Rocks, along the stream known as Swift Run, on the following conditions:

• First - That they part of the second part maintain it
• Second - That they make some effort to improve it
• Third - That at the expiration of their stay at PSFS, or at any time as they see fit, they shall convey said “Hermitage” to some other class of their choice, who in turn shall be held to these same articles of agreement.
• Fourth - That it is further agreed that members of the class of ‘26, their friends and assigns forever, shall at all time have free access to said “Hermitage.”

In Witness whereof, the said parties have hereunto set their hands and seals.

• Chas. D. Goodrich ‘26, Walter A Gresh ‘28 - June 16, 1926
• George A Gerhart - 1928, Seymour G Hile ‘30 - March 29, 1928

Stone House/Seldom Inn

From A History of the Pennsylvania State Forest School, 1903-1929, by Elizabeth Thomas, Stone House (formerly located across from the entrance to campus) was a popular residence for select students. (Photos: different sides of building; large photo is captioned 1903)

Stone House had its own kitchen and a reputation “of being a base for free-wheeling operations.” Students renamed it “Seldom Inn,” and nailed a plaque above the door. (Photo: undated, however several items in photo say 1924 - class of ‘24, perhaps?)

Unfortunately, Stone House was demolished in 1958 due to extensive termite damage, damage from auto collisions, and being labeled as a traffic hazard for obstructing the view at the corner. (Newspaper article)

It was well-loved in its day, as evidenced by this last verse of a poem by Roland W. Brown, instructor of geology and chemistry (from Thomas’ book):

Let the old house stand through the coming years;

It has grown into our hearts.

It has flowed with mirth and seen some tears;

And from every stone there starts

Such a flood of speech that forever swells,

Like the curl of smoke and the chime of bells.