It was an ordinary day. Having supper on our back deck with my granddaughters and daughter Brynn. Talking about how many years Brynn lived with us at our "Beach House" in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Carol and I moved to our new home in the mid-1990's. Brynn graduated from high school in 1992 and entered Millersville University, my Alma mater, the following year. She lived at home the first year, but lived on campus after that. While a student at Millersville she met her husband Dave and when they both graduated they both stayed with us at our home for a year before moving to Maryland where they both taught school.
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| Mr. Eliphalet Oram Lyte |
I began asking her some questions about Millersville when she was a student and eventually I asked her if there was still a Lyte Auditorium when she was a student. She looked at me, questioning why I asked her that, before she said she remembered Lyte Auditorium and even took classes in the building. Funny question I suppose, but I had just read about the man, Eliphalet Oram Lyte, and some of the contributions he had made to education and the field of music.
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One of the books that Mr. Lyte wrote.
It can still be found for sale. |
Seems that Mr. Lyte was born in Lancaster County in 1842, entered what was then Millersville Normal School in 1866 after serving in the Civil War and teaching for two years. He eventually became a professor of rhetoric and bookkeeping in 1868 and then a professor of pedagogy and grammar before being named principal (similar to President). After 44 years at Millersville he resigned due to poor health. He was given credit for the construction of a new Science Building, the Library and the Gymnasium. The Science Building has since been demolished, the library has been named Biemesderfer Executive Center and the Gym is now Dutcher Hall. Mr. Lyte was also responsible for the construction of the Model School which was an innovative school where a student could concentrate on subjects for two years and receive a teaching degree.
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The Millersville Normal School which was still known by that
name when I attended Millersville State Teachers College. |
This school eventually became Myers Hall and now is the Charles and Mary Hash Building. I too remember Lyte Auditorium and taking a few music classes in the building. Then, in 2009 it was closed for a $26 million construction and renovation project and eventually was renamed the Charles R. and Anita B. Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC) with the 650-seat Lyte Auditorium incorporated into the VPAC. But, the real story about Mr. Lyte goes like this …… He was a well respected teacher who was the author of grammar and composition textbooks as well as being a musician who was the composer of the tune we all sang at one time as a child, and maybe still sing, "Row, Row, Row Your Boat". This song was in the publication The Franklin Square Song Collection that he authored in 1881. He adapted the lyrics which were previously published to a different melody. But, I'll bet you don't know all the words in the verses of the song which I can remember singing over and over again as a "round." So, just in case you don't remember, I have them for you …
Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
If you see an alligator,
Don't forget to scream.
Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Throw your teacher overboard
And listen to her scream.
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Ha ha, fooled ya,
I'm a submarine.
Bet'cha didn't know those three verses! Actually the song was … Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily - Life is but a dream in his original version, but many other verses where added to the song over the years. Good ole Mr. Eliphalet Oram Lyte, a Lancaster County native, died in 1913. His legacy still lives on at Millersville University and I will always remember him as having a building named after him and for giving me a favorite childhood "round." It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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