14The Daily Tar HeelAugust 28, 1989
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Tar Heel file photo
Bell Tower
Tar HeelAndrew Herman
The Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower, soon known by all University stu
dents as it rings several times a day, calls students to classes, provides
twilight music and adds a special touch to the departing crowds after a
football game.
The Bell Tower was a $100,000 gift given by John Motley Morehead,
class of 1891, and Rufus Lenoir Patterson, class of 1893, to honor members
of their families who had been associated with the University throughout its
entire history. Presently, 16 Moreheads and 11 Pattersons are commemo
rated on the tablets beneath the arcade.
One rumor has it that Morehead was jealous of the fact that the library
was to be named after Louis Round Wilson, so the Bell Tower was placed in
such a way that, when looking back on Wilson Library from the flagpole in
front of South Building, a dunce cap sits on top of the Wilson dome.
The Bell Tower first rang in November 1931, and it is located south of
Wilson Library. Not only is it visible for several miles, but it is also occasion
ally audible as far as Durham.
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The student YMCA was formed in 1860, making it the third in existence and one of the oldest student movements in the nation. The YMCA building was
built in 1904 as the center of student activity, much like the Pit today.
Through the years, the YMYWCA has initiated such programs as the Student Stores, intramural sports, freshman orientation, Carolina Symposium, the
studentfaculty phone book and the International Center.
In 1936, the YWCA was organized and later merged with the YMCA to become the "Campus Y." While it is no longer an active member of either the
national YMCA or YWCA, the Campus Y remains as the liberal center of activity with 31 committees and more than 500 members.
Coker Arboretum
Located at the corner of Cameron Avenue and Raleigh Street, the Coker
Arboretum is a popular place for students who want to escape from the
hassles of exams and term papers.
More than 400 varieties of plants and shrubs flourish in this five-acre
naturalistic garden. The area was once a swampy pasture for animals such as
former UNC President David Swain's white mule, Old Cuddy.
The idea for a naturalistic garden was conceived by UNC President
Francis Venable in 1903. The arboretum was named after botanist William
Coker.
Of the plants and trees in the arboretum, the most famous are the
Marshall thorn a red haw that is almost never seen in gardens and a
200-foot wisteria arbor.
Silent Sam
Tar Heel file photo
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Located between the Old Well and East Franklin Street at the University's
north entrance is a well-known Civil War monument nicknamed Silent Sam.
Sam was erected in 1913 by the N.C. Division of the United Daughters of
the Confederacy to memorialize the 321 alumni of the University who died
in the Civil War, as well as the 1,062 who entered the Confederate Army.
Canadian sculptor John Wilson created him for $7,500, using Harold Lan
glois of Boston as a model.
The legend surrounding Sam says his gun is supposed to fire every time a
virgin walks by. Sam's gun, however, has been silent for as long as anyone
can remember.
On the base of the monument, a young woman touches the shoulder of a
young gentleman to call him from letters to arms.
In the spring of 1986, Sam temporarily deserted his post. He was taken to
Cincinnati, Ohio, for an $8,200 restoration to remove the effects of the
weather and the tannic acid from trees and car exhaust from Franklin Street.
His original bronze color had turned to green.
But now Sam's back and better than ever. His restorers say he'll stay a
bright coppery color for several years.
Davie Poplar
The Davie Poplar is a landmark
older than UNC itself.
Many legends surround this ivy
clad tree, which is more than 200
years old. Stories suggest that
William Richardson Davie, author
and introducer of the bill that
established the University, person
ally located the University lands
around the tree. Although this is
doubtful, the name Davie was
assigned to the tree almost a
century later by Cornelia Phillips
Spencer to commemorate one of
these tales.
Another legend about the poplar
is that, while on a picnic in the
spring of 1792, Davie and the site
selection committee for the Univer
sity met, and after drinking and
making merry, Davie thrust a poplar
branch into the ground to mark the
new site, announcing, "This is it."
The switch supposedly grew into the
Davie Poplar. (This was proven
untrue, as Davie was not on the
committee.)
Standing beside the Davie Poplar
is the Davie Poplar, Jr., a shoot
grafted from the big tulip poplar
when it was thought the older tree
would not survive after being struck
by lightning. The second tree was
planted by the class of 1918.
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Tar Heel file photo
The Pit Tar Heel file photo
From about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, the Pit is the place to be between classes. Bordered by
Lenoir Hall, the Student Union, the Student Stores and the Undergraduate Library, this open-air
assembly is a popular meeting place for students throughout the day.
During the warmer months, the entrenched area becomes a stage where students can hear
speeches from campus groups on the latest controversy or listen to their favorite evangelist as
he or she preaches words of wisdom.
Students who pass the Pit during the day should also check out the Cube, an all-purpose
campus billboard. The Cube is regularly painted and re-painted with announcements of
upcoming campus events, including union films, concerts and speakers.
"Pit sitting" has become a noted phenomenon on campus, with some students skipping class
just to enjoy a can of soda and the newspaper while sitting in the sun. Experience has it that if
you sit in the Pit all day, you will see everyone you know at least once.
Tar Heel file photo
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