This week's Sepia Saturday photo prompt of happy people enjoying an invigorating hike
made me want to shut down the computer, grab my hiking shoes, and get out into the fresh air. And then I thought, "Who are you kidding?" Instead I returned to the task at hand: finding a suitable photo.
My best photos appeared on my blog back in June 2012, but only one Sepia Saturday participant even saw it, so here it comes again, new and improved.
My great-aunt Velma Davis Woodring kept a scrapbook during
her freshman year at Harrisonburg Teachers College (now James Madison
University).
Velma tells about a hike up the Massanutten one Saturday
in October 1924. Probably the most
recognizable physical feature of the Shenandoah Valley is Massanutten Mountain.
My mother used to say it looks like an elephant’s head and trunk. I think so too.
 |
| Massanutten Mountain Rockingham County, Virginia |
Velma and her classmates were accompanied by the young
college president, Samuel Duke.
 |
| Samuel P. Duke College President from 1919-1949 |
Here is a transcription of her report along with the
photos she took to remember that day. (I had to guess what Velma wrote in some
places where the white ink has faded.
Impressions in the paper helped.)
 |
| Hikers of Harrisonburg Teachers College 1924 |
 |
| Velma on the right Her friend on the left identified as "Bill" |
 |
| Velma captioned this: Hikers |
Oh how I wish Velma had revealed how they amused themselves.
If you're feeling up to it, why not hike the trail over to Sepia Saturday to see where others might take you.
©
2014, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.
We will never know! I guess even a beautiful view begins to pall after a while when you're stuck up on top of the mountain; there's only so much you can take in. For some reason I was reminded of the film 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' - all the girls trekking up the moutain! Thank goodness Velma's trip had a happier ending than the film.
ReplyDeleteOh dear -- sounds ominous. Not familiar with that movie.
DeleteSounds like a fun trip. There must have been a long line of students strung out along the trail and crowded together on top.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they had to make a couple trips on that train. I hadn't thought about those large numbers.
DeleteThat's a lot of girls hiking a mountain! I was struck by how they were dressed; some in knickers, some in dresses - they all looked a little too well dressed to be hiking up a mountain. Thanks goodness we have better clothing choices these days!
ReplyDeleteThe shoes didn't look right for such an activity either.
DeleteIt would be fun to know that, wouldn't it?
ReplyDeleteI see the elephant's head and trunk, too. :)
Knowing Velma, they probably had a bunch of guessing games going.
DeleteWhat a great adventure!
ReplyDeleteTruly! Thanks for visiting.
DeleteYes I can see the resemblance to an elephant.
ReplyDeleteI love the hiking pants in the final photo. I would have thought pants were rate back then. Now 3/4 length pants are my favourite.
There are a number of pictures of girls in knickers. I have not seen any full length slacks in her photos, so maybe those hadn't been "invented" yet.
DeleteSeems funny to read they took a train to the mountain; it is a short car ride from JMU!
ReplyDeleteI know! I know where the tracks are at the college, and where they run through the valley, but I can't imagine where the tracks turned toward Massanutten.
DeleteGreat Photos ! Why Do People Not Seem To Walk in Large Group Anymore?(or is that just me?)
ReplyDeleteProbably too much trouble to walk in a large group. I hate the feeling that someone is going to step on my heels!
DeleteWow, pictures AND Velma's narrative, What a treat.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great piece of family history!
ReplyDeleteThank-you. And thanks for visiting.
DeleteThe picture that jumped out at me was the large group photo. So many of the girls are dressed in white blouses with sailor collars, a tie, and dark skirts. It looks so much like the pictures I posted here: http://www.abbieandeveline.com/2012/11/24/sepia-saturday-sisters-but-not/. Now I'm wondering if that was the typical school uniform for teacher schools, and, if so, will help me date my photo a little more specifically. Thanks! Two weeks ago it was a tablecloth I recognized. Hope we can keep on this roll!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was a school uniform, although certainly the middy blouse served that purpose at some schools. In the yearbook, a lot of the sports teams wore middy blouses and bloomers as uniforms - tennis, basketball, field hockey.
DeleteAh well - maybe just wearing the latest fashion...
DeleteI feel so out of it. I have never walked up a mountain. My mother never walked up a mountain, nor did my aunts.
ReplyDeleteIt's not too late for you! Start a Cleage tradition!
DeleteI have walked up many mountains, and the urge to do so will remain as long as I am able, but walking in such a large group is not that much fun. However, I must say that Velma's account and photos of their excursion is charming.
ReplyDeleteYes, I thought her narrative added just the right amount of teenage "cute."
DeleteI loved this! Isn't it funny that they had to wear skirts even when climbing a mountain? The train full of college students sounds like fun in itself.
ReplyDeleteI hope that I will get back to contributing next week.
Kathy M.
Yes, get on the stick, girl!
DeleteI'd imagine that there were several students at the teacher's college who were from the low country. Even the Shenandoah Mountains can look pretty intimidating, (as a low country boy I speak from experience)so a school hike must have been a memorable adventure. Their faces show the excitement. And Velma's white ink on black makes a creative album style.
ReplyDeleteVelma to the rescue!!!
ReplyDeleteI must say,
Lovely scrapbook!!!
And yes,
it looks like an elephant head and trunk extended!!!
:D~
HUGZ