scrubbing the steps

women scrubbing the steps of the library at Wellesley

There once was a statue called "The Backwoodsman" that stood on the south porch of College Hall. He was not a favorite of the students, and one year for some reason a group decided he needed to be washed. They scrubbed him annually from 1895 until 1912, when he mysteriously vanished. 

women scrubbing the steps of the library at Wellesley

Undeterred by the absence of the recipient of their ablutions, the students scrubbed various locations around campus in subsequent years. These scenes show the library steps being scrubbed in 1914, prior to the installation of the statues that flank the front entrance. In 1922, the tradition was deemed too silly to continue.

women scrubbing the steps of the library at Wellesley

Sadly, I have been unable to locate a photo of The Backwoodsman.

Below is an excerpt from Wellesley College 1875-1975: A Century of Women describing the scrubbings.

passage from Wellesley College 1875-1975

 

No comments:

Post a Comment