The Rededication of Ruffner Hall and the Rotunda
[Photo Gallery Below]
A new era for Longwood University began on Saturday, April 23, 2005, as the new Ruffner Hall with its signature Rotunda was dedicated and opened to the public. Thousands of alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends attended the rededication program under sunny skies as Dr. Patricia P. Cormier, President of Longwood University stated, "The bricks and mortar in this building may be new, but it rises from hallowed ground and the ashes of decades of history and memories."
Joining Dr. Cormier at the podium with their own perspectives and comments were Mr. Barry Case, Rector of the Longwood University Board of Visitors,
Dr. David Cordle, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Senator John Chichester, and Dr. Carolyn Wells, Professor Emerita, who entertained the audience with her personal memories in a speech titled, "Once upon a Time."
The program began with a processional representing the classes of 1931 through 2008 who would all participate in the official ribbon cutting. A rousing rendition of the National Anthem was performed by Alice Thomas, Class of 1991 as the last American flag to fly over the Rotunda prior to the fire was raised in a ceremony by the Longwood University ROTC unit. This was followed by a special bell ringing of the Longwood Bell by Emilie Holladay, Class of 1931 and Philip Burns, Class of 2008 - under the tutelage of resident Bell Ringer Extraordinaire Dr. Jim Jordan, Professor of Anthropology. The Longwood Bell, normally housed in the Greenwood Library, was brought to the Rotunda lawn for this historic day and was rung 4 times - once for each year since the Great Fire of 2001.
The following images are reflective of this important day in the history of Longwood University and the Town of Farmville. Additional images will
be added to this virtual scrapbook as they are processed.
Instructions: Click on a photo to enlarge. Return to this page by using the 'back' button in your browser.
Registration
(8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.)
    
  
Reconnect with Longwood by viewing displays and talking with faculty, staff and students
(9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
  
Shop For Longwood Items
(9:00am - 2:00pm)
   
Rededication Ceremony
(11:00 a.m.)
    
             
Celebration Picnic
(11:30am-1pm)
       
Self Guided Tours of Ruffners
(11:30 - 2:30pm)
      
Dedication of Rooms
(2:30 pm)
      
Sorority Open Houses
(2:30 - 3:30 p.m.)
   
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