Picture of the Sophomore class
Dublin Core
Title
Picture of the Sophomore class
Date
1908
Creator
Alabama Girls Industrial School
Description
The story of Condie Cunningham has captivated students at the University of Montevallo for generations. There are no known images of Condie Cunningham, but many believe that one of the young women pictured is Miss Cunningham. Interestingly enough they did not start labeling the student’s pictures with their names until the following year in 1909.
In Main Hall students would often gather around a chafing dish to make hot chocolate and talk. When the call was made for lights out someone blew the flame towards a bottle of alcohol which ignited and caught Miss Cunningham’s nightdress on fire. Students tried to wrap Miss Cunningham in a rug, but she began to run. By the time the flames were extinguished, she had been severely burned. Miss Cunningham suffered serve burns and was treated at the school. She died on February 6, 1908, 48 hours after the incident.
Since 1909 students have said that Condie's ghost haunts Main Hall. Students speak of a ghost covered in flames. Others report hearing her in the shower screaming. Some sororities have made it part of their initiation to spend the night in the hall where Miss Cunningham was running when she caught fire.
As captivating as the ghost story is and a part of the University’s history, the tragic accident gave President Palmer the leverage to make some much needed improvements to the Main Hall at the school.
In Main Hall students would often gather around a chafing dish to make hot chocolate and talk. When the call was made for lights out someone blew the flame towards a bottle of alcohol which ignited and caught Miss Cunningham’s nightdress on fire. Students tried to wrap Miss Cunningham in a rug, but she began to run. By the time the flames were extinguished, she had been severely burned. Miss Cunningham suffered serve burns and was treated at the school. She died on February 6, 1908, 48 hours after the incident.
Since 1909 students have said that Condie's ghost haunts Main Hall. Students speak of a ghost covered in flames. Others report hearing her in the shower screaming. Some sororities have made it part of their initiation to spend the night in the hall where Miss Cunningham was running when she caught fire.
As captivating as the ghost story is and a part of the University’s history, the tragic accident gave President Palmer the leverage to make some much needed improvements to the Main Hall at the school.
Language
English
Coverage
1900-1909
Rights
Annie Crawford Milner, Archives and Special Collections, Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo
Subject
Condie Cunningham, Main Hall
Source
1908 Chiaroscuro
Contributor
Jo McGinnis
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
paper
Physical Dimensions
8 1/2 x 11
Files
Collection
Citation
Alabama Girls Industrial School, “Picture of the Sophomore class,” Archiving Montevallo, accessed May 15, 2024, https://carmichaeldigitalprojects.org/archivingmontevallo/items/show/12.