HISTORY IS EVERYWHERE
Graland history is not just two books lovingly chronicled by Mrs. Gorham and Ms. Fetter; Graland history is not justthe peripatetic ramblings I post on Facebook and the Graland website; Graland history is not just a bunch of “stuff” that could possibly careen out of the Graland green filing cabinets in the basement of the Georgia Nelson building.
If you look carefully around our school, you will find history almost everywhere you look. Take a half-day off and tour the campus or spend two hours with me -- I can walk fast. Every plaque has a history; every building has a history. Permit a mere glimpse into some of the school’s history that awaits you.
I have loved dictionaries since my father bought me one at Scribner’s I tried to sleep with it, but my mother thought that was creepy; I must confess I often read the dictionary with a flashlight after the mandatory “lights out.”
One of my all-time favorite words I gleaned from the dictionary was UBIQUITOUS, a word which I sadly mispronounced until I heard it pronounced-- I never learned phonetics.
Some of you may be rolling your eyes wondering if I am ever going to make a point. Here is my point, folks. GRALAND HISTORY IS EVERYWHERE-- hence, ubiquitous.
If you look carefully around our school, you will find history almost everywhere you look. Take a half-day off and tour the campus or spend two hours with me -- I can walk fast. Every plaque has a history; every building has a history. Permit a mere glimpse into some of the school’s history that awaits you.
Begin your tour at the entrance to the Georgia Nelson Building. Turn your eyes to the right and left and notice the terracotta tiles; read the information that relates the history of the tiles. Enter the building, turn to your left, and read. There is a load of information there, and so many stories I might relate. Look for MONTEM.
Keep walking-- you are still on the first floor. Who or what is the Snooky Award?; where is the Graland Half-Century plaque? Don’t forget to say hi to Miss Nelson -- don’t you dare call her Georgia! While you are there, memorize her immortal words.
I guess you have heard enough about the Master Teachers’ Wall in previous postings. So, race up the stairs and find the horse in the plastic case. What a great story! Look at the tiny reproductions of the Allen True Murals and read all about this wonderful gift.
Don’t forget to go to the Caulkins Boardroom and look around. Read about John Comfort, Walter Rosenberry, and Fred Hamilton. Can you see anything there that might interest me? One item is HUGE.
As you leave the Boardroom, look for a painting. Josh Cobb also has a wonderful picture in his office of the faculty from the early days. Go see it -- just don’t interrupt a meeting. You might want to stop in Julie Stretz’s room and whisper, “Margo!” There is a great Graland story about eleven framed pictures.
While you are in the Georgia Nelson Bldg, see if you can find anything else that defines in your mind the word history. I’ll give you one hint: the Permanent Art Collection. Now, that is everywhere. Did you notice the first artwork that began our collection? If you didn’t see it, run downstairs to the first floor. Ask Parthenia Williams or Linda Soloriowhere it is. One last request -- take the elevator to the basement and look for the aerial view of the school (not in the hallway) and the ninth grade etchings.
I could continue this tour, but having my readers nodding off is not on my to-do list for today. By the way, your second stop should be the Fieldhouse. What history awaits!
I feel a scavenger hunt coming on. . . Now, that would be a great way to end the school year or to begin a reunion. Goodbye for now.
Carpe historiam!
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
