The University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama

Recently took a short weekend trip back home to Alabama. Before I made the long drive back home to Greensboro (NC), I dropped by my Alma Mater to get some more gear. I was an undergrad student from August 2013 and December 2017. I don't go home often, but when I do, it's nice to see how much has changed in my (current) 4 years away. 

I took these photos with my Polaroid Flip (I'm genuinely obsessed with this camera. I haven't used my Polaroid 600 or Fujifilm in a long while). Sadly, it was rainy and dreary that day; also super early and shady with all the trees around. My shots didn't turn how how I wanted them too. 

 

 The King House is the oldest building on campus and that's not an exaggeration. It was built and owned by Edmund King who made his fortune as a plantation owner and businessman (he was originally from Virginia). The building was never open to the public (i.e. students) when I was in attendance. Due to its historic significance, they only use it for special/private events and occasions. The land where Montevallo is built all belonged to King before it was eventually donated to the Alabama Girls' Industrial School (currently known as University of Montevallo). I often heard rumors that the house was supposedly haunted (and that's why public access was heavily restricted). My university was actually on a list of most haunted schools/colleges/unis around the U.S. 

 

 

(Left Photo) The archway leads onto Main Quad. There's some history about it's construction and design. I can't remember and tried to locate the information but was unable to find it. I'm not well versed in my University's history like some people are. I was just trying to get through school. 

(Right Photo) A shot of the main street leading onto campus with Main Residence Hall in the background.

 

 These two shots are of Main Residence Hall. It's historically been an all girls residence hall and still is to this day. I lived in Main all 4 1/2 years while I was a student. It's also the oldest and largest residence hall on campus. Depending on who you ask, you'll hear that it's allegedly haunted. I had several unsettling experiences during my stay there. 

The last semester before I moved off campus, the girl next door to me committed suicide. I thought about her often after that incident. My RA was the one who found her; she was never the same after that and ended up transferring out of that hall. At the time, I felt like the university kept the incident quiet rather than using that tragedy to advocate for better mental health awareness.

 

 Here's an iPhone shot of Main Hall. 

 

 

 (Left Photo) The "Becoming" statue. There's more information about the statue down below. 

(Right Photo) The university's main entrance archway.

 

 

 

(Left Photo) The "Becoming" statue. When you drive through the main entrance, it's one of the first things that kind of pop out to you. The placement of the statue was definitely intentional. Montevallo has a lot of things that makes it unique from its famous red, brick roads and buildings, the fact it's never had a football team historically, and it's homecoming tradition of College Night every February, and more. The Becoming statue is just another one of these things of interest. 

 I've pasted more information about the statue underneath:

The Becoming Sculpture was created by Ted Metz, a University of Montevallo art professor. The sculpture, 16 feet tall and made of bronze, was unveiled on February 15, 2003. The pedestal underneath the sculpture is made of limestone and red bricks. The sculpture depicts two hands: a young hand representing university students reaching out toward the future, and an older hand representing the university itself guiding the student to that future. The separation between the hands represents the student’s graduation. The older hand was modeled after Metz’s own hand, while the younger hand was modeled after one of his students’ hands. The sculpture was created on campus by about 40 university students under the direction of Metz and took 22 months to complete. Approximately 90 individual molds were cast using 5000 pounds of bronze. The sculpture stands near Main Hall and Wills Hall.

  
(Right Photo)  This shot was the most disappointing. I tried to photograph the Becoming statue through the archway. It's hard to see the statue because the lighting wasn't the best. 

 

 This was the photo I was trying to capture with my Polaroid. The weather and time of day messed up my shot. Maybe another time.

 

 

 A mural painted on the side of the university bookstore.

 

 

 I took an up close shot of the mural. The people featured inside the letters are historically and culturally significant to the university, region, and overall state of Alabama.

 

 (Left Photo) Is a very poor shot of Main Quad. For those of you who've never heard the term "quad." A Quad "is a courtyard or open area, often grass, that is surrounded by buildings, particularly on a university campus." A lot of the university's events were hosted on Main Quad from time to time. 

(Right Photo) LOL I can't remember what this shot is of. I looked at the actual Polaroid and was still stumped. 

 

(Left Photo) A shot of some of the buildings. 

(Right Photo) King House in the distance) 

 

Saw this quote above the "Montevallo" mural. At that point, I had run out of Polaroids, which is why I took the photo with my iPhone. But anyways... This quote perfectly exemplifies the type of individuals the University's education tries to build and mold. 

 

 

This is Wills Hall which houses the College for Education & Human Development. It's neither ironic nor unintentional this quote was engraved on the building. I never had classes inside this building so, I never paid it any mind when I was a student at Montevallo. I noticed the quote by chance that day and man, it's a very powerful one. 

One of my biggest headaches with this current sociopolitical climate is the willful ignorance of so many people. We live in an age of technology and information with literal computers glued to the palms of our hands and yet people are stupid. And yes, I said stupid because it's honestly the most appropriate adjective to describe the majority of the American populace. There is so much power that comes from being knowledgeable and educated. When you're ignorant and uneducated, it's easier to be controlled and manipulated.