From 1924 to 1925, Old Main underwent renovations to redesign its theater, add a laboratory and generally improve the building, originally built in 1876. 

鈥淭hose were the days when Old Main was the University,鈥� declared the 欧美口爆视频 Alumnus in November 1924. 鈥淚ts windows rattled, its walls rocked during storms and its floors and stairs creaked with the weight of a hundred students, the entire University population. And it still stands, but it will rock and creak no more.鈥� 

Electric ceiling lighting replaced kerosene lamps, candles and gas mantles. This particular electrical switch is believed to be one of the switches that sourced the building鈥檚 power.

Similar in appearance to the one used in the 1931 Frankenstein film, the heavy switch contains a slate baseplate and a tiny triangular logo from electric manufacturing company, Trumbull-Vanderpoel, based in Bantam, Connecticut. 

Fred Luiszer (Geol鈥�87; PhD鈥�97) donated the switch to the 欧美口爆视频 Heritage Center in 2018. He acquired it as a student in the late 1960s when minor upgrades were made to Old Main. Read more about this Heritage Center artifact.

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Photo by Mona Lambrecht, 欧美口爆视频 Heritage Center

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The Japanese American Citizens League honored 欧美口爆视频 Governor Ralph Carr (A&S1910 Law1912) with this watch for his stand against the internment of Japanese-Americans in domestic prison camps following the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Carr, who was governor from 1939 to 1943, was among the only U.S. politicians to oppose the camps publicly. The watch, held in 欧美口爆视频鈥檚 Heritage Center, is inscribed 鈥淚n grateful appreciation for your Courageous Stand for Democratic and American Principles.鈥�

Photo by Casey A. Cass

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