Bridgewater College’s first official Homecoming Day was November 16, 1929. Alumni returned to campus to enjoy a dinner and reception in honor of former college president W. B. Yount along with tea and a football game. However, student newspapers tell that prior to the 1929 events, Bridgewater College was already celebrating a “Home-Coming” football game as an annual tradition.
As well as Homecoming football games, Homecoming queens and courts and spirited bonfires; Homecoming activities at Bridgewater College over the years have included class skit contests, variety shows, freshmen beanie burnings, movies, dances, dormitory bed races, performances by dance and music groups, parades, Spirit Weeks, fireworks, tug of war, and Mr. Bridgewater competitions.
Homecoming was suspended from 1942 – 1947 due to World War II and resumed October 23, 1948.
Bridgewater College’s first Homecoming Queen was selected in 1952. She was Janet N. Eller, Class of 1953. (A May Day Queen had been elected since 1923.)
The 1984 Homecoming theme was “A Salute to the Wonderful World of Disney”. The movie Jurassic Park was shown at Homecoming 1994. 2003 Homecoming had a Roman theme.
Provisions of Use: Personal and non-profit use only. No cropping or altering of images in any way. Credit each image's source as "The Robert R. Newlen '75 and John C. Bradford Special Collections/Bridgewater College Digital Commons". Consider including a hyperlink to the image hosted on the Bridgewater College Digital Commons.
