The Science Hall

Yes, most of my thirty-four years of teaching was in this building – GSC’s Science Hall! The Science Hall was completed in 1943. Work on the $175,000 building had begun in August of 1941. Despite the beginning of World War II in December 1941, sufficient amounts of building materials were secured, and work on the Science Hall continued during the war. Current plans are for the construction of a new science building in the next few years.

My teaching duties included all of the zoology courses. (I also taught Parasitology, Genetics, Invertebrate and Vertebrate Zoology, Cave Biology, Entomology, Human Anatomy, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Field Biology, plus other courses as needed. As you can see, teaching in a small college provides one with much experience in many areas.) The labs were often full of local live specimens. Since herpetology is a special love of mine, I kept a variety of reptiles and amphibians. What a joy it was to hear spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) and Wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) bursting in chorus from the lab each spring!

The specimens were a source of interest not only to our college students but were part of a touring exhibit that visited many schools in West Virginia.

Here is a photo taken many years ago of my students helping in a reptile demonstration for elementary students. They are carrying one of our Burmese pythons that were housed on second floor of the science hall.