Storied shovel digs up past

At today's groundbreaking for the Environmental Studies Center, the youngest sod will be broken with the oldest shovel.

One of Oberlin's oldest traditions is the use of a 68-year-old ceremonial shovel for the groundbreaking of new buildings.

The shovel, first employed in 1930, has been housed in a vault in the Physical Plant since the 1960s. "It's a cool, old shovel," said Gene Matthews, the edifice's building representative. "It's gold, with red and yellow ribbons, and the dates of the groundbreaking of buildings are on it. It's still shiny."

Matthews does not know the shovel's origin.

"I've been here for 25 years, and it's always been in the safe. I don't know if this is the only shovel that has ever been used," he said.

The artifact has been a part of many major additions to Oberlin's campus. The first item listed on the shovel is Crane Pool. The construction of this precursor to the Carr pool was initiated on October 28, 1930. Later in the 1930's, the shovel was used to mark the inauguration of Noah Hall, Allen Memorial Art Museum, and Hales Gymnasium.

In the 1940s, groundbreaking events were held for the addition to the now defunct Carnegie library, and the construction of the Wright Laboratory of Physics on North Professor street.

The ceremonial digging tool has also been used to celebrate the creation of Stevenson Hall, which was originally intended to replace Wilder Student Union.

"The last time the shovel was used was for the construction of the World War II memorial last year," said Matthews. The memorial, dedicated to Oberlin students who died in the war, is south of Finney Chapel.

The shovel figures to be a significant part of future construction at Oberlin. At today's groundbreaking, the shovel will dig in yet again, and will most likely be used for the groundbreaking of the Science Center next year.

The Environmental Studies Center, designed by the William McDonough Partners architectural firm, will be self-sufficient, employing solar panels rather than relying on outside sources for its energy needs.