Human Sciences Cottage Nurtures Students, Children For 85 Years

Nestled in between Weeks Hall and Doak Hall is a small, two-story building that looks straight out of a Walt Disney film. The vintage light fixtures and ornate carpeting gives a vintage vibe from days past. The full kitchen makes this former residence hall seem homier than most buildings on campus.

One of the first photographs of what used to be known as The Practice House.

One of the first photographs of what used to be known as The Practice House. Picture courtesy of the Southwest Collection.

Although students no longer live in this building, the primary purpose of the structure has remained the same. The small house, known as The Cottage, has helped raise and inspire students and children for more than 85 years.

Lynn Whitfield, the university archivist for Texas Tech, said the Human Sciences Cottage was originally called the Practice House. Whitfield referred to the house as a sort of laboratory for the home economics program. The Cottage opened in 1928 and was the fourth building on the Tech campus. In the first semester, Whitfield said five girls moved in to begin their practicum.

“Basically, they lived in the house for a period of time,” Whitfield said. “There was a house mother who stayed with them, and that was the person that pretty much oversaw everything, and she was the constant in the household. Then, by 1933, there were eight girls living in the house.”

The students obviously enjoyed their time with the children. Picture courtesy of the Southwest Collection.

The students obviously enjoyed their time with the children. Picture courtesy of the Southwest Collection.

According to Whitfield, the students living in the house learned how to be perfect mothers and housewives. Their days began at 6 a.m. when the girls would begin their household chores. The students rotated positions, which included housecleaning, cooking and laundry. The students were also responsible for maintaining a financial budget, which they had to support themselves and host social events with.

“It wasn’t just women playing house,” Whitfield said.

The Practice House began serving as a childcare facility in the summer of 1931. Dr. M.C. Overton began volunteering to perform free medical check ups on the children who stayed at the nursery. A few years later, Overton brought a new girl to live in the house.

“In 1935, the first baby comes to live at The Practice House,” Whitfield said. “Little Barbara was two weeks old, and her mother died during childbirth. She had a father, and she had eight siblings. So, Dr. Overton made a deal with the girls living in The Practice House that if they would provide the baby with a good, stable home, he would provide free medical check up on the baby.”

Barbara was the first of many children to be raised by the students in The Cottage. Whitfield said parents in tough situations could sign a one-year contract with Tech to have their babies live with the home management students. Parents remained in constant contact throughout the entire process and were allowed to visit as long as they did not disrupt the baby’s schedule. The goal was always for the babies to return to their families.

The Practice house bustled with activity. Learning how to be a good hostess was a crucial part of the home economics curriculum. Picture courtesy of the Southwest Collection.

The Practice house bustled with activity. Learning how to be a good hostess was a crucial part of the home economics curriculum. Picture courtesy of the Southwest Collection.

“The children’s stories are so touching,” Whitfield said. “You can tell from the photographs that the women who lived in the house loved those babies.”

By 1951, 18 babies had lived in The Practice House. Beginning in the 1950s, the program morphed into a childcare service for Tech professors, similar to the childcare program on campus today. In the 1960s, the program outgrew The Cottage.

The Cottage was used for storage beginning in the 1970s. The building was occasionally used for research offices. The building began deteriorating and had to be abated before it could be used again. In 2011, a renovation of The Cottage began. Sara Dodd, Ph.D., director of The Center of Adolescent Resiliency, said the renovation was a large project.

“It became a project for a student that was in interior design,” Dodd said. “She had to do the history; she had to do the prominence; she found original architectural drawings. Then with the faculty member who was her supervisor, they figured out decoration-wise colors, textures, lighting — all those kinds of things that would be consistent with the age of the building, yet be very functional in 2014.”

Historical accuracy was one of the main goals of The Cottage renovation.

Historical accuracy was one of the main goals of The Cottage renovation.

The Cottage is still used to nurture children, just older ones. The building currently houses the Center for Adolescent Resiliency. Three programs operate in the center, including the Covenant BodyMind Initiative, United Future Leaders and Transforming Through Transition.

Gloria Gonzales, director of United Future Leaders, or UFL, said her program involves almost 900 local grade school students. The program encourages students to be the best they can be through three initiatives : civility, ethics and leadership. Gonzales explained that Tech students involved in the program go out to various schools and spend time with the kids, inspiring them to become successful college students in the future. The group is also very active in the community, which Gonzales says will help with college applications in the future.

“Our students, if you multiply their service hours, donated over $36,000 of service,” Gonzales said. “So that’s really exciting. We have very active, involved students.”

D’Wayne Extol, a senior electronic media and communication major and track athlete, has volunteered with UFL for more than a year. He said he looks forward to working with the children every week.

The Human Sciences Cottage is located off of Akron Avenue, between Weeks Hall and Doak Hall.

The Human Sciences Cottage is located off of Akron Avenue, between Weeks Hall and Doak Hall.

“The thing that stands out to me the most is the impact the kids have on me,” Extol said. “how I feel when I leave campus. It’s just so refreshing, you know, when you see these kids, and they’re happy to see you after school — when kids are tired and they just want to go home. These kids, when we go to campuses, they’re like, ‘Oh my God, you guys are here! This is the best part of my day!’ You know, that makes me feel good.”

Even though the role of The Cottage has evolved throughout the years, the purpose has stayed the same: help children.

The Human Sciences Cottage will be dedicated during a ceremony on October 16 at 2 p.m.

To view more pictures from the past, visit the Southwest Collection website.

 

About Sarah Self-Walbrick

Graduate Executive Director — Mass Communication Graduate Student, Class of 2017
Sarah, a Lubbock native, has two bachelor of art degrees in electronic media and communication and journalism, and is pursuing a master's in mass communications. She loves Texas, her husband and dog, and good storytelling.