Okay, why Broomsticks? A very interesting story on many levels. Supposedly military drill began in 1858 when Theodore Hyatt entered the gymnasium finding his pupils drilling with broomsticks. Hyatt soon introduced military training to “develop the muscles, expand the chest, and impart an erect gentlemanly carriage….”As Dr. Moll, former President of PMC/Widener stated in his 1954 thesis entitled, A History Of Pennsylvania Military College--1821-1954
“It is altogether possible that the Hyatt cadets did drill with broomsticks in the fall of 1858, but by plan rather than accident, for Principal Hyatt announced the Infantry Drill and Military Uniform in the Circular printed duping the summer of 1858 for the term opening September 6, 1858. If the cadets drilled with broomsticks in the fall, it was because the Governor had not yet given the school s t a t e arms for drill. The legend of the broom drill is re-enacted annually at every PMC Commencement by the old grads who put on a broom drill as part of the Commencement festivities.”
Well, not any more. That is done at Homecoming.
According to Buxton, “Theodore Hyatt found his students drilling with broomsticks. The benefits of military instruction dawned up- on the progressive young teacher himself a one-time New York militiaman, and he promptly changed his school into a military academy.”
None the less, Colonel Hyatt's cadets put down their broomsitcks and pick up their sabers, rifles, or muskets and went to war.
Who would have thought?
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this by the way.
interesting.