Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Old Campus.
Entrance to the building that houses the graduate studies programs at ISU.
In the late 1950s it was the social center of the college, the place where townies and dormies came together. Inside the lower doorway and to the right was "The Grill" where snacks, drinks and meals were served 12 hours a day. Card games were played, parties were planned and, once in a while, someone cracked a book.
I remember standing on the upper stairway and gazing over the drive way at Reeve Hall, the girl's dorm, on my first day of college. Second year, I was questioned (being one of the usual suspects) after a panty raid on Reeve Hall. I quickly asked the Dean why he thought I would be involved in such a thing. He said he was doing the questioning. That stopped me. I had a lot of questions at the time. Why a gang of young men would run throught the girl's dorm and make noise and upset drawers of clothing was the least of them.
Merely being interogated and released regarding the panty raid caper increased my growing but undeserved reputation as a hell raiser. It was, however, nice to be known for something.
During my college years co-ed dormitories began and panty raids stopped. Reeves hall was ancient even then. It was razed many years ago. Now it is possible to stroll from the south entrance of the old Student Union to the corner of 7th and Cherry on a paved path that takes you through razed buildings (the old girl's dorm, the Elk's City Club and the Rose Dispensary) unobstructed. Except by memories.
additions: Bill McFall
As you walk across the spaces where the buildings were razed, you also cross the Statesman restaurant that was operated by (Johnny?) Katsounpas?. Johnny was convinced to go to Washington by Birch Bayh and he was the operator/manager of the Senate Cafeteria in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC during the Bush 41 era as well as some other presidents. He Was called Mr. K by the senators because people couldn't say his Greek name easily. Johnny was the son of Tom who ran Tom's Cafe in Marshall, IL
additions: Mike McCormick
Reeve Hall was not razed until 1997 which was not as long ago as I thought. Also that concrete copies of the gargoyles were available from ISU Alumni Association for a time at $250.
