Someone raised the question in the comments to this post the other day of whether people would be allowed to park so close to the Sallyport. The answer is that for many decades yes, indeed they would. Here’a a nice crisp aerial from 1933 that shows the parking lot that was replaced by Founder’s Court extended nearly to the side of the building:
This area is just about dead these days but it used to be one of the busiest social spots on campus, close to the always hopping Sallyport, Autry House, and the women’s tennis courts (where Duncan Hall is today). There are probably a hundred or more images in the Woodson of kids hanging out, fooling around and generally wasting time in and around their vehicles. Here are just a couple, both taken the same year (possibly even the same day) as the registration photo from Monday:
I’m not sure how many students had cars back in these days but I don’t believe it was a majority. There seems to have been a very specific procedure that carless students used to thumb rides back towards town out in front of Autry House on Main Street if they couldn’t catch a lift with luckier classmates.
Speaking of the women’s tennis courts, I just happen to have with me a 1929 news clip about how a new persimmon red Graham Paige roadster instantly stopped play on those courts. I know I’d run for a look:
Bonus: