Before they were Lyons: Physical education
Mary Lyon believed that students should exercise both their brains and bodies. All students were required to walk one mile each day, and later, when the school hired Dr. Mary Homer in 1862, the requirement increased to two miles. Dr. Homer also introduced gymnastic exercises that included rings, dumbbells, and hoops, advocated for an open exercise space, and put a large emphasis on student health due to epidemics of the time. During exercise in the Blanchard Hall gymnasium, now known as the Blanchard Campus Center, students wore exercise outfits that included a flannel blouse, a long skirt, and trousers. After Mary Lyon, exercise continued through annual field days, gym work and other required outdoor exercise.
Merry Making: The Le Giocose Club
In 1905, Mount Holyoke students had strict schedules and they were fairly isolated. In order to unwind and socialize, students created social activities for themselves. The first organization was the Social Club, which they renamed one year later as Le Giocose Club. Le Giocose is Italian for “the merry-makers,” and the purpose of the club was to host informal social events for the student body that promoted fun and relaxation. The first event hosted by Le Giocose Club was a “Know Ye One Another” dance in the gymnasium on October 18, 1905. A month later they hosted a husking bee and dance. By the 1920s, other social outlets were available for students, both on and off campus, and so “Leggie” was no longer needed to produce fun, social events.
