The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-03-30
CONSTRUCTION
new SOUTHERN
NOW UNDER WAY
Breaking Ground Carried Out With
Program Addresses-Attend-
ed By Large Crowd

!
The first actual labor in the con-
struction Of, Southern College was
performed Friday afternoon, when
Dr. r. H. Alderman, president of the
college, took a manly grip on the
spade, presented for the occasion by
the senior class of the Lakeland high
school, and tossed up the first bit of
earth from the spot where the beau
tiful buildings of Southern College
are to be erected.
This simple act was preceded, how
ever by ceremonies BETTING the i'm
portance of the occasion, and the
spade and axe, both donated by the
| high school seniors, were beribbOned
in white and blue, the Southern col
| Ors.
A large crowd gathered on a hill
top covered with blooming orange
trees and overlooking the glinting
waters of Lake Hollingsworth, where
the blue of unclouded skies were re-
f1ected. In the assembly were many
of the most prominent people of the
city, including Mayor Petteway. Man
ager Appleyard of the Chamber Of
Commerce, the city commissioners,
and the directors of the Chamber of
Commerce.
J. Edgar Wall of Tampa, president
of the board OF trustees of South"
ern, presided, and an appropriate
scripture reading from the third
chapter of First Corinthians. was
read by Rev. A. R. Durham. presid-
ing elder of the Ocala district
Dr. J. Edgar Wilson, editor of the
Florida Christian Advocate, delivered
an eloquent prayer.
o. c. Lanphear, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, made a short
talk, extending cordial welcome to
the college and those connected with
the institution, and giving the assur-
ance that the Chamber of Commerce
and the city of Lakeland are solidly
behind Southern, and feel honored by
the coming of the institution to this
city
DR.. S. w. Walker, first president Of
the college, had been invited to speak,
but was unavoidably detained. DR..
]. P. Hilburn, also a past president
of the college, outlined the early
history of the college, and contrasted
its beginning under great difficulties
with the suspicious new start now
being made, and dwelling on the
fact that for many years Southern
has been building up Christian char
acter in the lives of it's students.
DR.. S. w. Lawler, chairman Of the
educational campaign of the Metho-
dist church of Florida. reviewed the
unique history of the state and his
long connection with the educational
work of the church, interspersing his
serious remarks with humorous ma
terial.
DR.. R. H. Alderman, a former stu
dent and at present president OF
Southern, made a few remarks, ex-
pressing the hope that the wonderful
spirit of Lakeland toward the col
lege may continue to encourage the
institution and render it moral and
material support.
AS leader of the digging gang, DR..
Alderman was the first to WELD the
spade, but various others took hand,
including E. T. Roux, L. N. Pipkin,
w. A. Cooper and T. l.. Hendrix. of
the building committee, and several
ladies. including Mrs. ]. NJ Gross,
Mrs. r. H.. Alderman, Mrs. w. o. Le-
masters, Mrs. e. T. Roux.
An axe was next requisitioned, and
the first lick was struck by j. E.
Wall, after which DR.. j. M. Gross,
pastor of the First Methodist church
of Lakeland, pronounced the bene-
diction.
The first buildings to be erected
are the social hall and the girls dor
mitory, but the administration build
ing and the boyos' dormitory are also
to be built before the opening of col
lege here in October. The complete
plan Of the college includes other
buildings which will be added later
as the need develops and funds be-
come available. The general style OF
architecture is colonial
The Hugger Brothers Construction
Company of Montgomery, Ala, the
contractors, have everything in read
mess for rapid construction.
Every one connected with the in
stftution is enthusiastic over the
beauty of the site donated by Lake
land, and 1t Is readily seen that this
beauty will be enhanced by the erec-
tion OF the handsome buildings O