Ytterboe the Dog

Ytterboe the Dog

Ytterboe the Dog Jeff M. Sauve Nearly sixty years after his fateful demise, Ytterboe the Dog (affectionately known as Bo) remains very much a part of St. Olaf campus lore. Although he belonged to no one in particular, the black mongrel with chow traits first appeared...
Wind Chime Memorial Tower

Wind Chime Memorial Tower

Wind Chime Memorial Tower Emily Hoar In the wake of the death of St. Olaf College Professor of Religion and Philosophy William “Bill” Narum in May 2000, his family established a fund to honor his belief in community cooperation and to promote integration between...
Well-Worn Footpath

Well-Worn Footpath

Well-Worn Footpath Jeff M. Sauve What do golf balls, bullet casings, baby food jars, and a 1902 silver half dollar all have in common? Each item was found by someone poking around in Norway Valley. Since the early 1880s, students have made the woods their playground,...
Viking Court

Viking Court

Viking Court Jeff M. Sauve “Times have changed,” declared the 1948 St. Olaf yearbook. With the post-World War II enrollment up from 100 to 900 men, both students and administration faced housing hardships. One solution was the creation in January 1947 of a...
Thorson Hall Hillside

Thorson Hall Hillside

Thorson Hall Hillside Jeff M. Sauve “I wanted to make St. Olaf so nice no student would ever have to apologize for it,” said John Berntsen, former head of the St. Olaf College grounds. He retired in 1964 after fifty-two years of devoted service. One of his...
The Water Tower

The Water Tower

The Water Tower Jeff M. Sauve Since its completion in the spring of 1948, the 150,000-gallon capacity St. Olaf Water Tower has attracted its fair share of mischief-makers. Students climbing to the top leaving their mark or engaging in clandestine activity have been...