haire.14@osu.edu | From Woody's Couch

Author: haire.14@osu.edu (page 6 of 13)

Twelve Days of Buckeyes: “…Eleven warriors, brave and bold”

December 7, 2012 / haire.14@osu.edu / Comments Off

Our second post for our annual “Twelve Days” take-off continues the first post’s musical theme, since we focus today on a song that most of us could – and some of us probably do – hum in our sleep: “The Buckeye Battle Cry.”

Cover of “The Buckeye Battle Cry” sheet music, 1919

For all you fans of the song – and who isn’t? – did you know that it is older than Ohio Stadium? The first reference to the song was in the December 1919/January 1920 edition of the Alumni Monthly. While short on details, it did say that the song, written by OSU student Frank Crumit, had won a prize in the spring of 1919.

By the fall of that year, students were singing it at games (at the Old Ohio Field), and copies of the lyrics were distributed at the Ohio Union by the student group, Boost Ohio. Boost Ohio raised money for a number of student endeavors, such as arts events and student projects. Frank Crumit signed over the proceeds and the copyright of the song to Boost Ohio, once it was recorded.

Frank Crummit, no date

When Boost Ohio disbanded in 1927, all of its funds and property were transferred to the Student Senate.

But enough about finances, let’s all take a moment from our busy day and sing along to one of the greatest fight songs ever (for those of you working in quiet offices, you might want to do this just in your head):

Buckeye Battle Cry

In old Ohio (Columbus) there’s a team,
That’s known thru-out the land;
Eleven warriors, brave and bold,
Whose fame will ever stand,
And when the ball goes over,
Our cheers will reach the sky,
Ohio Field will hear again
The Buckeye Battle Cry.

Chorus

Drive! Drive on down the field;
Men of the scarlet and gray;
Don’t let them thru that line,
We’ve got to win this game today,
Come on, Ohio!
Smash thru to victory,
We’ll cheer you as you go;
Our honor defend
So we’ll fight to the end
For Ohio.

We’ll scatter to the east and west,
When college days are done;
And memories will cling around,
The dreams of everyone;
We’ll play the game of living,
With head and shoulders high!
And where in wear the spirit of
The Buckeye Battle Cry!

Repeat Chorus

Sheet music for “The Buckeye Battle Cry,” 1919

Twelve Days of Buckeyes: Orton Hall’s 12 chimes have rung for nearly a century

December 6, 2012 / haire.14@osu.edu / Comments Off

Orton Bell Tower

When we were deciding what the focuses would be for our “Twelve Days of Buckeyes” posts this year, the first one was easy: For the 12^th day, we have to talk about the dozen chimes on top of Orton Hall.

The building, which opened in 1893, was more than two decades old before the chimes were installed. They were a memorial gift from the classes of 1906-11, 1913 and 1914, and they were dedicated on June 15, 1915, at the Spring Commencement ceremony, where OSU Pres. William Oxley Thompson officially accepted them as a gift.

Did you know they cost roughly $8,000 and weigh a total of 7.5 tons? The smallest of the bells weighs 550 pounds, while the largest weighs 3,550 pounds. Total cost of installation was $94.68.

At first, they were rung by hand, but thanks to another gift of $5,000 from the classes of 1919 and 1920, electric strikers were installed to activate the chimes on the outside of each bell.

The musical serenades that walkers hear as they traverse the Oval also were done by hand, first by faculty members, then by School of Music students. However, whoever played the chimes had to walk up 80 feet worth of stairs twice a day to activate clappers that hit the inside of the bells. In 1987, a fully automated system was installed.

The bells sit outside of Orton Hall prior to installation, 1915

Inside the bell tower, 1985

What better way to spend Founders Day than Tea with Gee?

September 19, 2012 / haire.14@osu.edu / Comments Off

Our first Founders Day event was a success, thanks to the wonderful folks in Ohio Staters, Inc., who co-sponsored the event with us; the many students, staff and faculty who accepted our open invitation to attend; and of course, President Gee, who shared some time with us to celebrate.

As you know, Founders Day commemorates the first day of classes at Ohio State in 1873, and as President Gee said, the mission that the then-fledgling university embraced at that time is the same today: providing a quality education for the next generation to tackle the challenges of the future. As it was then and is now, Gee said, we are up to the task. So, we appreciate everyone’s participation, and until next year, please enjoy the photos from 2012: