A Walk Down Memory Lane

Memories of Purdue--1945--1949

I arrived at Purdue in November, 1945. The Navy V-12 still had had a presence at Purdue along with the many veterans using the G.I. Bill to get an education. It was great. The ratio of men to women was eight to one. I lived in South Hall of the women's residences with girls that became my life-long friends. We had to be in the hall by 7:00 P.M. except on Friday and Saturday when it was 11:00 P.M.

Many of us from South Hall pledged Delta Gamma. The house was a big old home which has since been modernized, but remains on the same corner. "Dirty Tom's" was a block away. Is it still there. I met my future husband there, Joe, an ATO, who was on the G.I.Bill.

I am proud to have been a cheerleader. We had great times on the bus or train going to the games. Perhaps you've seen a picture of us on the front of a train. We were at Notre Dame that day. We lost. At one basketball game, the bleachers collapsed. Fortunately, I was on the other side. There were a few broken bones. Sorry to say, we never had a winning team, but we came close at that N.D. game.

Bridge was a popular game. We would race to get to the table after lunch and dinner and play until time for class or study. I'm still playing bridge with my neighbors of forty years.

I know I haven't mentioned all the studying that was necessary. It was tough. We had to wear skirts also, unless the weather was unusually cold. My home was in Spring Valley, Illinois, and my mother asked me why I couldn't go to Illinois U. and save the $100.00 out-of-state tuition-yes, $100.00.

On special occasions, we went to the "sweet shop" in the Union Building. There was also a cafeteria where many students ate there meals. Does anyone remember this?

"Old Purdue, old Purdue how you make me shiver,
With your old sweet shop and your Wabash River,
Oh, I love you with my heart and I love you with my liver,
Oh Purdue--by the river."

I'll be celebrating my 80th birthday this fall. My husband and I did attend our 50th reunion. I'll always remember the good old days at Purdue.

Rose Mary Besenfelder Young, class of '49