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T. Berry Smith Hall Spills Secrets

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In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Fran reflected on memories of her father and the time that they spent in what was then Science Hall. Frances, the oldest daughter of the Brown children, was in eighth grade when she went up the stairs of T. Berry Smith Hall to scribble her name on the wall, a memory that she has nearly forgotten at the age of 86. Fran Brown recalled that it was not common practice for people to go up the tower, although the names inside tell a different story. She reminisced about her father and that he was a very popular teacher and took many trips with students. She remembered that as a freshman she joined in on a trip to the Bahamas. The Brown family spent ten years in Fayette, and in that time, Fran graduated high school and enrolled at Central in September of 1952. She had plans to become a nurse and took many pre-med classes. However, The door to the T. Berry tower is covered in names of past Central students, including that of Frances Brown (McNemee) ’56 she took advice from her father that, “Wherever you live, there T. Berry Smith Spills Its Secrets; will always be a school.” She changed her focus and became a teacher. Names in Tower Go Back To 1914 Frances graduated from Central in the spring of 1956 with a bachelor’s degree in By TRACI BALLEW biology. She spent many years teaching seventh- and eighth-grade science and English “Apply thine heart unto instruction and thine ears to the words of knowledge.” over the past 124 years, but the memories that have been made inside its walls. The top of the tower provides a stunning view of Howard and to this day still teaches Sunday School at her church. As we think about the memories that were

You may notice this inscription at the County and is now closed off to visitors and made inside this tower and on the Central entrance of the iconic T. Berry Smith Hall on students, but it is full of names—names of Methodist University campus, we reflect on the Central Methodist University campus, a Greek sororities and fraternities and names of the names inside the T. Berry Smith tower— place where heart has certainly been applied students from many graduating classes dating names of classmates from years gone by, names unto instruction for more than a hundred back as far as 1914. like W.L. Thorpe, class of ’32, Ben “Old Baldy” years. One of the names that stands out belongs Henke, class of ’54, Doug Downing, class of

The Victorian building is complete with to Frances Brown (McNemee), who wrote her ’63, Betty Cockrell (Stacey), class of ’72, Mike a tower parapet with brass spindles and a name, along with, “The daughter of the great Jackman, class of ’79, Bill and Susie, who wrote hexagon roof over the tower with slate ribs. Dr. W.H. Brown,” on the door leading up the in the tower on October 26, 1983, and Jim The cornerstone of Science Hall, later renamed tower stairs on a Saturday in March of 1949. Arnold, class of ‘98. T. Berry Smith Hall, was laid on June 17, 1893, Dr. Brown was a biology teacher at Central If walls could talk, what would the walls and the occasion was such an extraordinary from 1946 to 1956. Just two years after World of T. Berry Smith Hall tell us? What changes event that bands, lodges, and clubs marched in War II, Dr. Brown had relocated his family has the building been witness to, and what a parade from Main Street to the building site. from Oklahoma City to Fayette after being conversations have the halls heard? Many of Doors to T. Berry Smith Hall opened in 1896, hired by then-president Dr. Ralph Woodward. these answers are held by the amazing people and it was home to all college classes as well as The newest member of the science division also that have entered through its doors. Let us the library, chapel, museum, and laboratories. served as the head of biology with a focus on never forget the friends and fond memories we

But the most interesting part of T. Berry botany. have made on the campus of Central Methodist Smith Hall is not what this building has housed More than 70 years after making her mark, University.

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