Over the years, Farmington State Normal School had several school songs. Beginning in the 1860s, a "class song" was written by a member of the graduating class and performed by the class during graduation exercises.
For a period from 1870 to early 1880s, a school hymn or song is not referenced in school programs, but a class ode authored by a graduating student reappears in graduation programs beginning in 1884. By the 1890s, the tradition expanded to include a spring ode. It was also written by a student of the graduating class but was performed during Arbor Day exercises after the planting of the class tree.
As a special tribute to the school, a student revised the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne to celebrate the Normal School's 50th anniversary in 1914. The first "official" school song also made its appearance in 1914. School Hymn had lyrics written by Lillian Lincoln set to the tune of To Thee, O County, a patriotic song of World War I. Miss Lincoln, who became a faculty member after she obtained her degree from the school in 1885, taught geometry, drawing, and Latin. She later became the principal of the Model School.
School Hymn
Mantor Library at UMF
School Hymn
Tune: To Thee, O Country
O, Mother Normal, for whose care
Our gratitude we bring,
With joy we sound thy name abroad,
With love thy praises sing.
Thou keepest watch with tender eyes
Wherever we may be,
And joy or grief that comes to us
Brings joy or grief to thee.
And as the years go fleeting by,
May we lend heart and hand,
Increase by love and loyalty
Thy work throughout the land.
May he who heeds the sparrow’s fall
And plans each victory
Be mindful of thine every need,
And blessings bring to thee.
The only change to the School Hymn over time was a slight edit to the lyrics. The phrase Mother Normal was the replaced with Alma Mater after the Normal School transitioned to Farmington State Teachers College in 1945. By the 1950s, the school song was referred to as the College Hymn in the graduation programs.
Miss Lincoln wrote Memories in 1925. It also took the form of new words for an existing song, Materna, the same tune used for the song America the Beautiful. Memories was performed at formal school ceremonies and events for many years, although did not entirely replace the School Hymn.
Lillian Lincoln
Mantor Library at UMF
Memories
Tune: Materna
O better far than hoarded gold
Are precious memories;
To count them o’er is wealth untold,
A joy that never dies.
O Farmington, O Farmington!
Make rich our mem’ry’s store,
That thro’ long year of hopes and fears
We yet may love thee more!
O greater wealth than stately towers
Are friendships, strongly made:
They crown our lives with wreaths of flowers,
Bright wreaths that never fade.
O Farmington, O Farmington!
Grant that our friends may prove
A source—‘mid strife and cares of life—
Of strength and faith and love!
Like walls to guard on every hand
Are habits, fixed and strong;
They bind us with an iron band
To either right or wrong.
O Farmington, O Farmington!
O may our habits give
Strength to abide, whate’er betide,
Strength, worthily to live!
O, like a beacon’s flaming beam
Are ideals planted deep;
Our spirits soar and toward their gleam
Our deeds do upward leap.
O Farmington, O Farmington!
Make strong, --our hearts within,--
Ideals, in youth, of love and truth,
That we, thro’ God, may win!
Another school song written by Margaret Bakeman appeared in graduation and baccalaureate programs in the 1930s. It also consisted of new lyrics set to an existing tune. However, Bakeman's song appeared to have a short life and never replaced Miss Lincoln's Memories or School Hymn, both of which remained a part of the school's end of year celebrations for many years.
O, Farmington, Dear Farmington
Tune: Sweet Genevieve
O Farmington, dear Farmington,
Way up among the pines of Maine!
We love thy mountains and thy hills
And prize thy Normal School’s fair name;
We love the spirit of this place,
We love its friendships, strong and true,
O Farmington, dear Farmington,
Our grateful hearts sing out to you!
Our school is honored near and far
In many a town in many a state;
O, by our steadfast purpose here
May we its fame perpetuate!
Our calling is a noble one,
We know what good we all may do;
O Farmington, dear Farmington,
Yes, we’ll be loyal unto you!
Sources: Songs of Farmington State Normal School, ca. 1939. Last Chapel Exercises and Commencement Exercises programs, (1864 - 1954). Arbor Day Exercises programs (1890 - 1954). Farmington State Normal School Handbook, 1935-1936.