1919

January 2
Jimmie Barry died. Guardian of Iowa Field for more than half a century, the man who tamed Burch with a heavy stick and a blow on the nose, the little old Irishman who spoke at “mass meetings” before big games to rouse the fans, Jimmie Barry “laid down his ‘stick’ for all time.”

October
A story in the alumni magazine assured graduates, “If you want to return for Homecoming…in your De Haviland-4 or Oriole, it will be all right with the committee in charge. A landing place will be ready—not on Old Capitol steps but conveniently near…. A joint committee of an hundred faculty and city people is working out the arrangements, and the Aeroplane Landing Committee is only one of nearly a score.”

November
ALL DECKED OUT FOR HOMECOMING
The Iowa Alumnus noted that “though Homecoming seems rather late this year, and some of the thinner blooded might fear cold weather or snow,…intercessions have been made with the weather man, and none need to fear.” The special event was planned for November 21-22 and the entire community worked to ensure no detail was overlooked.

“The decorations were more elaborate than ever before attempted. The engineers fairly outdid themselves in making a fifteen-foot electric sign which they hoisted to the south-east corner of the physics building. The sign had some 200 incandescent globes in colors, working out the legend Soak Um Iowa. An arch extended over Washington Street at the southern exit to the campus, also studded with electric lights. From its center hung a flash sign ‘Ames,’ alternating with ‘Amen.'

“Up and down Clinton street trees and lamp-posts were girdled with cornstalks like huge sheafs stacked at intervals. At the intersection of Washington and Clinton streets was an attractive corn obelisk. Ears of yellow, white and red corn were used in the design, topped with an electric globe. On each side of the base which rested on a triple platform ‘Iowa’ was laid out in red corn against the yellow back-ground. An arch of old gold greeted one at the campus entrance and pennants lined the central walk up to Old Capitol. The business section of Iowa City was tastefully decorated, and many of the stores had special window decorations and displays.”

Iowa vs Ames in its Homecoming game on November 22, 1919. Iowa won the game 10-0.

The weather did turn out comfortably, a new university song called “On Iowa” was launched and favorably received, the “pep artists” (three college men with megaphones) led the crowd’s cheering, and Iowa beat Ames 10-0.

Regarding the college song, “On Iowa” was written and composed by W.R. Law, ’04LLB, and entered in a contest sponsored by the Chicago Alumni Association in 1917. Though it didn’t win first prize, the song—perhaps because “it is catchy and has a swing which makes it go”—was ultimately adopted by students and alumni.

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