Theta Pond

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In 1895, a pond for use as a reservoir was built by students under the direction of Dr. James C. Neal, director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, to solve the water shortage problems being experienced by the OAMC campus. Known as both the College Pond and the Horse Pond because of its proximity to the Horse Barn (previously called the College Barn), this shallow pond was built using teams of horses which removed the top layers of soil and created a dirt embankment to catch runoff water. For the campus, water was pumped from a well by a windmill into a cistern in the middle of the pond, and subsequently distributed to the rest of the campus.

The horse barn burned down in 1922, and the pond was subsequently renamed Theta Pond, after the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority house, then located across the street. After it was no longer needed as a water source with the construction of a new power plant and the use of a well located west of Murray Hall, Theta Pond gradually developed as a favorite scenic landmark at OSU.

In 1928, Theta Pond was drained in order to be enlarged and, in 1943, was remodelled by adding a rock spillway, an island, and an ornamental rock bridge, and at the same time increasing the depth of the pond to twenty-two feet at its deepest. Pre-war Civilian Conservation Corps workers supposedly constructed the two smaller satellite ponds during the thirties.

The Development of Theta Pond

The Muck

Headline from The Daily O'Collegian

Because Theta Pond is a natural drainage area for parts of campus, unwanted sediment would naturally collect. At one point the depth was reduced to nine feet which practically killed the pond. Several clean-ups were attempted. In 1963, students arranged for a muck removal and in 1972, another cleanup was arranged, this time by the Student Council on Pollution and Environment with help from the 245th Engineering Corp of the Stillwater National Guard, who removed more than 300 tons of silt and decayed matter from the two satellite ponds. In 1977, a new drainage system was added, and in the early eighties, the floating water fountain was installed.

Extracurricular Activities

First started in 1907, class tug-of-wars across the Horse Pond were an annual event, the losing class being given a slimy award.

It is uncertain when "pond-tossing" first began, but it has since become a traditional rite of passage for initiations, engagements, birthdays, and other important events.

Over the years, a few strange items have found their way into Theta Pond. The Sirloin Stockade bull, shown here, is one example. In 1981, a full-size Ronald McDonald statue was pulled from the pond.

Wildlife

Theta Pond is home to various types of wildlife, including birds, squirrels, swans, and the popular ducks and geese. One unique inhabitant was Sam the alligator. Sam was kept in a cage at one end of the pond, but managed to tour many of the sororities and a few fraternities on campus.

Education

Many classes have used Theta Pond for educational purposes. Each semester biology classes study the pond's environment and inhabitants, while other classes use the area for a welcome break from the classroom. Children are always fascinated by the pond and its denizens.

OSU students first participated in concrete canoe races in 1973. Since then it has been an annual event of the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Built by casting a light-weight reinforced concrete shell over a forming mould, students every year attempt to make a lighter and more maneuverable canoe than the last.

Today, Theta Pond is a favorite landmark on the OSU campus. Students go to Theta Pond to relax, study, picnic, and enjoy the natural environment. Surrounded by the Centennial Gardens, Theta Pond beautifully complements the rest of the campus, whether alive with the colors of spring or graced with the snow of winter.

Material for this exhibit comes from collections housed in the Special Collections & University Archives department in the OSU Edmon Low Library.

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