The Sounds of Campus

Cadets 1906

UK Cadets with their Bugles

The early years of the UK campus resembled an army camp almost as much as a college.  All men students served in the Cadet Corps and wore their uniforms.  Marching drills were held on the large lawn in front of the Main Building.  In line with this military environment a bugle rang out on the hour to indicate the time to change classes.

By 1911 the university introduced a new way of letting students and faculty know it was time to change classes - a steam whistle.  Apparently the whistle was so loud that it not only alerted UK students to changed classes but annoyed most of the citizens of Lexington. Nevertheless, the whistle continued its hourly alerts for 7 years.

In 1918 a new bell system was introduced to the campus which, I suspect, students, faculty, staff, and townspeople all welcomed!