100 years of Otterbein Homecoming

This weekend celebrates Otterbein’s 100th anniversary of homecoming. This year, an added significance comes along with the annual festivities taking place.

Stephen Grinch, Otterbein's library archivist since 1998, gives T&C Media a look at how Otterbein first celebrated homecoming.

“There used to be a big banquet that was sponsored by the Varsity O that was really the very first celebration of Homecoming,” said Grinch. “They had a big banquet for the men in the Association building [where Roush Hall now stands]." "There was a separate banquet for the ladies held in the dining room of Cochran Hall."

There are some traditions Otterbein does today that happened in the early years of homecoming. 

“It wasn’t until the 1930’s that you saw a homecoming queen. Parades started in the 1920’s so those go back pretty far,” said Grinch.

Homecoming is still one of Otterbein’s most celebrated events. “It’s all about getting together,” said Grinch.

Click HERE to see the entire schedule of events for homecoming and family weekend. If interested in more of Otterbein’s homecoming history, see Stephen Grinch’s lecture at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Courtright Memorial Library.