The freshman class of Nebraska State Normal College at Chadron had its picture taken in the hills south of the campus in 1911. — Photo courtesy of CSC Information Office
Until the 1930s, the college was known as the Normal College, and it was nicknamed “the Normal.” In fact, above the front doors of Old Admin one can see the inscription “State College,” and the space between the words used to be the word “Normal.” If one looks there in the evening sunlight, outlines of the “Normal” can be seen.
In the 1920s the freshmen had to obey the “Ten Freshman Commandments,” the first being “Thou shalt have no other school before thee” and the tenth being “Thou shalt no[t] covet any Sophomore’s girl or fellow.”
Where Memorial Hall stands now there used to be Scott’s House, a place for faculty and staff to live. When Memmorial was built in 1953 the house was moved just east of Sparks, and moved again into town when the library was built.
On March 31, 2000 the presidential election came to CSC with the arrival of Green Party candidate Ralph Nadar. Speaking on how companies fill foods with unhealthy chemicals and fats, Nadar said, “[Companies] have a new way to keep the economy humming. We sell them crappy products and then spend more money making up for [healthcare costs].”
During World War II, there were many individuals from Chadron State College who served their country. Men served in many branches of the armed forces, while women served as nurses and in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). By March of 1945, the college had lost a total of 14 soldiers in both the Pacific and European theaters.
Of the numerous buildings on campus, there are currently five that are listed on the National Register of Historical Places. The structures are the Sparks Hall (built in 1914 as a dorm for women), Miller Hall (built in 1920), Mari Sandoz Center (built in 1929 as the library), Edna Work Hall (built in 1932 as the dorm for women), and Crites Hall (built in 1938 as the dorm for men). The Administration and Hildreth buildings are considered too altered to be listed.
Before the college’s founding in Chadron, the location was originally proposed to be situated in Alliance, one hour south of Chadron.
In the 1940s, the campus Phantom placed about two feet of dirt over the “c” on C-Hill, the very day before students were supposed to re-paint it.
