Considering the Past: Topics in M.C. History

 According to a 1923 article in the Twig, the practice by sophomores from N.C. State to paint the sophomore class numbers on campus was already an "established tradition" when the college was located downtown. The writer explains that the "Meredith Sophs always get inside information as to when the painting is to occur and they're always ready with yells and songs for the boys." This particular year, the N.C. State sophomore men painted the "25" on Edenton Street, near Blount St. - even enlisting President Charles Brewer to guard the wet paint until it dried. Meanwhile, the "girls yelled for the boys and the boys for the girls. Sophomore songs rang across the campus."  In September 1925, the Class of 1928 (the Sophomore Class) was the last to have their numbers painted on the streets of the downtown campus - but this was just the start. 

In December 1925, Meredith College moved, with classes starting on the new campus in January, 1926. The college built its own water tower behind the dining hall - and this imposing, highly visible structure now became the object of the neighboring schools' pranking attentions. And this, in a story in the February 5th, 1926 Twig, was the year that the sophomore men at Wake Forest College made their move and when it happened, the Meredith sophomores "literally flew by, all headed in the same direction," that is, to the water tank in the back of campus. The young women were thrilled that their Baptist brothers had acted. A song from the event went:

Who are we singing to? 

Who holds our hearts so true?

They're the Sophs that we all adore;

They're the boys we want to see more.

Who makes us happy here?

Who do we all hold dear?

Well, we think you can guess who, who ---

It's Wake Forest!

Mid-painting, word came from President Brewer that the men of State had already asked permission to paint the tower tank - and had received it. So for now, work was halted and the Wake Forest numbers on the tank were painted over. All acted honorably, apparently - but a rivalry was brewing. Still, the Meredith Class of '28 boasted that theirs "was the first class to have its numerals painted by Wake Forest." Those young men tried again later that month - on the "highway" and "on the back of a temporary garage on campus." All of which lead to the complaint:

Why can't Wake Forest come over and put (the numbers) up where (they) could be permanent? There is still plenty of space besides the disputed territory of the tank.

Finally, the State sophomores followed through in March of 1926 with their "gorgeous numeral." The class of 1928 was happy that they had been recognized - again - and now on the new campus. A full newspaper column was devoted to the event.

In December 1927,  there was a painting party by State men for the Class of 1930. The honored class and their big sisters gathered "to the right of the library building" (Johnson Hall) to yell:

Zip! Zip! Zee.

Who are we

Meredith Sophs

Yes sir ree!

Rah! Rah! Ru!

Who are you

State Sophomores

Tried and true.

On March 8, 1929, a front page story in newspaper announced a party during which "the Sophomore Class ...will entertain the State and Wake Forest Sophomores in recognition of the two beautiful numerals that have recently been painted on the water tank." A compromise had been reached by the three schools. At the party, as duly reported by the Twig a week later, an "exact reproduction of the water tank with '31's painted on it occupied the center of the stage," and programs with water tanks with '31's, as well as paintbrush-shaped lollipops were handed to all attendees.

A similar 1932 event was remembered in a 1952 Twig newspaper article that the annual painting  "advertis(es) to the general public which neighboring boy's college is presently interested in the angels of Angel Farm."  In 1934, painting the tower with class numbers (or with the nickname "Angel Farm") was explicitly linked with “Soph Day Off” after which the Wake Forest or State men attended an evening party hosted by the sophomore class. In fact, in the early thirties, the painting was now enshrined in a nearly annual recitation of Meredith traditions in the newspaper, while stories about the actual event disappeared. But the painters carried on: the 1952 writer opined that the graffiti had continued as it was a "flattering and beautifying custom."

In 1945, when "Angel Farm" was painted on the tank, a photos appeared on the front page of the April 1st edition of the Twig. The editors were careful to point out, however, that this was not an April Fools' story.

In 1952, the U.S. Marines joined the fun, giving the tank "one of the most sought after honors in the United State today" and according to the Twig, putting "Wake Forest, Carolina, Duke and State to shame." (Why did no one take a photograph?)

Although not as showy, there were other traditions associated with the water tower:  while The Twig discreetly does not reveal the year, a 1937 review of the Crook Hunt reveals that the tower was the hiding place of choice for at least one class - a likely reason for the increasing number of rules regarding this hide-and-seek tradition. 

And during the early 1950s’, Phyllis Cunningham, the apparently game instructor in the Department of Physical Education, would climb the tower as part of Astro’s and Phi’s “Decision Day” celebrations - to the astonishment and delight of the students. 

After a new water tank was installed "on the other side of the fairgrounds," the campus water tower was taken down in February 1963. By this time, it appears that the painting tradition had waned if not disappeared (and Wake Forest had moved to Winston-Salem), the tower climbing had ended with the departure of Miss Cunningham in 1955, and hiding the Crook had been banned from the structure. The loss of the tower removed a familiar, if not necessarily loved, landmark from campus.