From 1893 to 1956, Clemson was a military college with an all-male cadet corps under an army Commandant. Clemson students’ lives back then significantly differed from those of current students. All Clemson students during this time period wore military uniforms, practiced military drills, attended military classes, marched to mess halls, lived in barracks, and attended a summer military camp at a US Army post. They did all of this while attaining a college degree.
Upon graduating from Clemson, most of these cadets were commissioned into the US Army Reserve Corps, and many saw active duty in foreign wars. During the 63 years that Clemson was a military college, 12,314 students graduated; nearly 10,000 became Reserve Officers; about 5,600 served in active military service, and 335 died or were missing in action in defense of our nation.
To commemorate these experiences that were vital to the corps of cadets, the alumni of Clemson Class of 1939 constructed the Cadet Life Garden. The purpose of this ambitious project was to portray and explain the unique experiences and events of these cadets, so that we may reflect on and perpetuate our military heritage. The garden portrays these cadets’ lives through 20 plaques, all surrounding the central Guardroom Bell.
The Guardroom Bell was essential to the lives of Clemson cadets. The bell in the garden is in fact the original bell and was set atop No. 1 Barracks. It was always manned by cadets: two “rats” (freshmen) for running errands, a Corporal of the Guard (a sophomore), an Officer of the Guard and Officer of the Day (seniors). These cadets’ duties were administrative, and they had the very important duty of ringing the Guardroom Bell for all formations and for the first class of the day. The bell was first rung in 1893 to signal the completion of No. 1 Barracks, and was deactivated in 1954 when No. 1 Barracks was demolished to accommodate modern new dormitories.
With the Guardroom Bell and its surrounding 20 plaques that portray the Clemson spirit of the original cadet corps, the Cadet Life Garden is yet another military memorial on Clemson’s campus that perpetuates our military heritage.
