This rock is painted to celebrate the 101st birthday of Kathleen Read (Kinney) Chase, Oberlin High School class of 1925. Photo taken May 28, 2009.

David Partyka, OC ’78 writes “This is a photo of Barb Robbins ’80 (or Dec. ’79) who painted this portrait of Mahler in the fall of ’78 or 79. As I remember the story Barb was taking a course from Professor Hepokoski and a portrait of  Mahler was on the cover of one of their textbooks. Barb told me that Professor Hepokoski never mentioned the rock (visible from the classroom) except for one, dry aside. Barb was a piano major who could do anything musical or academic and all things athletic (and was a bit handy with a brush).”

Thank you for sending in this painting and story, David.

Photo taken May 24, 2009.

Photo taken May 24, 2009.

This picture, writes Holly Windle, OC ’75,  “shows the graduation farewell inscription from May 1975, with Connie Gowen (’75) apparently associating herself with the sentiments.  Unfortunately, I can’t remember the crew that painted it.  As I recall, my only contribution was insisting that there be a comma.”

Thanks, Holly, for sending in this photo and story.

Photos taken on Saturday, May 23 about 7:30 p.m.

Freshly painted about 10:20 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2009.  Did the painter of this rock also paint the Class of 1898 rock a few weeks ago?

Photo taken May 22, 2009.

Christy Williams Tichy, OC ’66, sent in this photo of the rock in December of ’62 as Santa and writes:  ” We were a small group of freshmen, living at Talcott, who thought up the project together. I suppose the cold winter weather helped, and the excitement of approaching Christmas.  We bought eveything locally, since we only had bikes for transportation.  In the “olden” days students were not allowed cars. I don’t recall any interaction with the police.  If they were there I don’t know where. * We never admited our part in the painting, and were just as “surprised” about it as everyone.  I think the photo was taken that night, accounting for its poor quality.   Students in the picture:  Back: Pat Durham, Susan Lindblom, Sandy Ogg.  Front: Christy Tichy and Ellen Taylor”.

* Christy also sent in a clipping of an article about the Santa decorated rock which appeared in The Oberlin News-Tribune from December 18, 1962 which reported that “Oberlin police spotted a group of co-eds but too late to interfere”.

Thanks, Christy, for sending in this early rock painting and story.

This is the 100th post on the site.

Photo taken May 19, 2009.