October 26.1962
THE TWIG
' Page Three
By PENNY PITTARD
Last night students took part in
another one of Meredith’s tradi
tions — Corn Huskin’, which is
eagerly anticipated each fall.
Miss Peterson’s Idea
This event was first suggested in
May of 1945 by Miss Doris Peter
son, who was then head of the physi
cal education department. (One
of the students who helped plan
that first Corn Huskin’ is someone
who '% very familiar to the campus
today —Miss Betty Jean Yeager,
who is now secretary to the Dean
of Students.)
Event First Held In 1945
On October 30, 1945, pJans be
came reality and, the first Corn
Huskin’ was held in front of the
dining hall immediately after din
ner.
Students went to the event coun
try-style wearing overalls, print
dresses, aprons, and pigtails.
Corn Huskin': Born in'45, Celebrates Birthday
Varied Contests
The contests of the evening in
cluded chicken calling, hog calling,
and corn shucking. The winners of
each contest were rewarded with an
egg basket, filled with candy-coated
almonds, a piggy-bank, and a corn
cob pipe, respectively. Square danc
ing by the faculty and a “sing-song’"
contest, which was judged on the
basis of “pure corn” and “hill billy-
ishness” by Mr. Harry Cooper and
Miss Mary Yarbrough were held.
In 1949 the tall tale contest was
added to the program and later
apple bobbing.
Event Becomes Tradition
According to old Athletic As
sociation records, Miss Peterson had
in mind for Corn Huskin’ to be
an annual party in honor of the in
coming freshmen. This original idea
has been lost, for now Corn Huskin’
is more a celebration of the coming
of fall with Halloween overtones.
Miss Peterson wanted her Corn
Huskin’ idea to become a tradi
tion, and it has — one of the bcst-
loved and most fun-filled.
Sccocs from 1961 Corn