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Virtual Historical Tour
35. Susannah Wesley Hall
Originally built as a women's dorm in 1925, the anonymous
group of Methodist donors requested the building be called "Susannah
Wesley Hall". The anonymous donors were not only paying for the
construction of the building but also for the furnishings. Once the ten-acre
plot on Michigan Avenue was cleared (the D.A. Garfield house was razed to
make way for the Hall), construction could begin and the dorm was opened in
1926. It was known as "Susie" to generations of students.
Some of the traditions of the women of Susannah Wesley Hall
were as follows:
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Freshman Week - The purpose of which was to give
the new students the opportunity to get acquainted with the college and
each other and to register before the upperclassmen arrived. The
programs during the week included lectures on the history and traditions
of Albion, intelligence tests, receptions, tours of campus, and a
football game.
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House Meetings - At 9:00 on occasional evenings
the drawing room of the Hall became the scene of unusual activity -
women in pajamas, "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" coming from
the piano, a scramble for davenports. The meeting is called to
order, minutes are read, roll is called, reports are given and new
business discussed.
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Teas - Formal and informal teas were held every
Thursday afternoon from 3:30-5:00. Once a month the tea was formal
and held in the small parlors. The women of Wesley were hostesses
to the women of the faculty, wives of professors, and fraternity
matrons. A musical program was usually presented in the reception
room.
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Dinners - Every Wednesday night was "guest
night", when everyone dressed up for dinner and MEN were allowed to
visit. Between courses, musical attractions and readings were
offered, often consisting of college and fraternity
songs.
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Birthday Dinners - The third Wednesday of every
month was used to celebrate the birthdays of women for that month.
The "birthday girls" would wear formal dresses and sit at
special tables in the middle of the room and were served a large
birthday cake.
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Christmas Breakfast - On the last morning before
the women separated for the holidays, all the residents, led by
kimono-clad seniors carrying candles, would march into the dining room
for breakfast together.
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Serenades - It is eleven or one o'clock, and a
quartet or whole chorus of male voices can be heard in the court outside
of Wesley. Instantly the news spreads through the entire dormitory
and every window is crowded with sleepy women, hoping to be the object
of their affections.
Some of the traditions of freshman of Susannah Wesley
Hall have included:
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In house meetings and other gatherings chairs were
reserved for the faculty and upperclassmen.
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In all house discussions, freshmen had to respect the
opinion of upperclassmen before expressing their own. They had
to wait until the chair called for freshmen discussion.
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Freshmen could not be hostesses or assistant hostesses
at the tables.
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Before dinner on Wednesday evenings and Sunday noons,
freshmen were responsible for having the piano in the dining room.
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During the week of class scraps, freshmen had to
uphold the old tradition of wearing green ribbons. The Wednesday
of that week was considered Task Day, and the freshmen had to perform
any duties requested by seniors. At the end of the week,
freshmen women were expected to provide some form of entertainment for
the remainder of the women in the dormitory.
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The morning of May first every year, freshman were to
hang a small bouquet of flowers on the door of every senior's room.
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All freshmen were expected to know the
creed
and benediction of Susanna Wesley Hall by the second house meeting
for the year.
Dormitory Creed, by Barbara Clark
We believe in the principles of Susanna Wesley: in freedom of opinion,
in religious education, and in knowledge of the world about us.
We believe in the dedications of our talents to the work of the Lord.
We believe it our duty to be happy in appreciation of God's universe; to
live in loving friendship with one another; to live so in purity, truth,
and righteousness that there may be light.
Benediction, by Ruth Parsons
May the loving spirit of the Friend of all unite our souls in
sympathetic friendship. Let every setting of the sun find each of us
with a stronger body, a more loving heart, and a more understanding
mind. The love of Christ go with us and bring us joy.
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It was expected that all times freshmen would render
all courtesies to and considerations to upperclassmen.
The most important tradition for sophomores in Susannah
Wesley Hall was that sophomore women were expected enforce all the
freshmen "rules." (Susannah
Wesley Annual, May 1927)
The East and West "legs" of the horseshoe that is
now Susannah Wesley Hall were added between 1954-56 and, for many years, it
has housed most of our freshman, both male and female - since known as
"Wesley". The Dorothy McVittie Kresge Dining Hall was named
after the devoted wife of alumnus and trustee Stanley S. Kresge and mother
of alumnus Stanley, Jr. It is now known as "Kresge Commons."
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