The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-14
M0NTEvALLo

I Montevallo, October 1S.-(SpeciaL) Jon
 October 12th, 1896, the Alabama Technical | Institute and College for Women opened
 it's doors for the reception of students. I At that first exercise there were present i Governor Oates. the full board of trus-
 tees, the faculty, students. and hundreds
 1 of citizens from Montevallo and adjoin-
 and equipment were wholly inadequate, 1 yet the greatest enthusiasm prevailed, i for every one saw that a great future was in store for the young institution, ! Captain H. C. Reynolds was the first
 president, and served for three years. He was a strong executive. and during his
 I term of service secured from the United l States government the grant of land which has enabled the college to make many of the later improvements. | He was succeeded by pr. Francis NJ. Peterson, who came form the Southern ! University at Greensboro, and served un- 1 til the fall Of 1906. Dr. Peterson was 1 probably one of the most popular col I lege presidents with the students who has ever presided over an Alabama in- stitution of learning. On account of i'll ! health he was forced to take leave of absence in October, 1906. Mir J. Alex | Moore. now the very efficient county l superintendent of Walker county, served as president pro tenn. for the remainder l of the session.
 The present incumbent, pr. T W. Pal- mer, has been president since June. 1907 a period of more than thirteen years. I The most casual observer would readily notice that many improvements have l been made. during that time.
 I Today. the 24th anniversary of the birth l of the college, was modestly observed | by appropriate exercises conducted by | the Sophomore college class, under the l leadership of Miss Camille Dowell and Miss Lulu Palmer. The following was | the programme:
 | Hymn. "Bless Be The Tie That Binds;" reading of the One Hundredth Psalm by Miss Lulu Palmer prayer by Miss Lil- ! Han Sharpley Of Birringham introduc- tory remarks by Miss Lulu Palmer; ad- dress by MT. c. l.. Meroney, secretary of the board of trustees.
 Then line of march was formed and all repaired to the campus where a tree was dedicated to the college. On account of the season. the tree was not planted now. but a stone marked with suitable engraving was placed on the spot where the tree will be planted later.
 An inspiring talk was made by Miss Lucille Crabtree of Tuscaloosa. on the significance of tree for the college and for the students
 The Sophomore class then sang their COuege song. ana, alter SnOWeTlnS the stone marker with many beautiful flowers gathered from the college cam pus, formed themselves into the letters "A. T. I. c. w." and the student body joined in singing the college song. Mir. c. l.. Meroney, the principal speak CT of the day. is a lifelong citizen of Montevallo. and was very active in help ing Captain Reynolds in having the col lege located at Montevallo. He is thor oughly conversant with the history of l the institution from it's beginning, and was very happy in telling of the strug- l gles and the victories. of the early days, and also of the progress that has been made from time to time.
 1 The next annual commencement will be | the silver anniversary, at which time an elaborate celebration will be held. 1 On account of the crowded condition of the English department. it was found | necessary to have another teacher of l English. Miss Louise Griswold, a dis
 tinguished graduate of the University oi l Ohio, has been employed and will arrive
 as a journalist, and is a forceful and
 vigorous writer. Her record in college | was an excellent one
 1 President Palmer, chairman of the ex- 1 ecutive committee of the Alabama Edu- l cational Association, has called a meet
 1 ing of that committee to October 16th at | 8 D. m., at the Tutwiier Hotel, Birming- ham. Many educators in the state win
 l attend that meeting.