The Sundial and the Golden Chain Society
The Golden Chain Society is a senior honor society that recognizes the extraordinary contributions of up to 12 outstanding rising seniors each year. Founded in 1926, it is the oldest organization of its kind at North Carolina State University. To date, there are 1,043 links in the Chain, including former Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., legendary basketball coach Everett Case, UNC President Emeritus William C. Friday, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Henry Hugh Shelton and NC States Womens Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Kay Yow. Induction into The Golden Chain Society is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a rising senior at North Carolina State. Links in the Golden Chain Society come from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, but they hold certain traits in common.
Each new link receives a certificate, gold chain link, and key with the societys emblem. The design of the key represents the sundial that lies on a pedestal near Primrose Hall. Surrounding the sundial are the twelve links of the Golden Chain.
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09/16/2008
Before this little monument (gift of the class of 1913) was recently moved to its current spot in front of Primrose Hall, it was located a few yards to the north, closer to Hillsboro St., where it had sat, virtually ignored by passersby, for decades. Its original site was on that grassy triangle of lawn in front of Halladay Hall, but was bumped from there in the ’50s when the connector street was put through.
Another forgotten NC State landmark, a 7-foot tall granite drinking fountain, stands hidden behind Primrose Hall. This was a gift of the class of 1914 and originally stood in the center of the quad bounded by Leazar, Watauga, Halladay and Peele Halls. Don’t know when it was moved from there, but has been at its current spot for as long as I can remember.
An evocative shot of the sundial, btw: Makes me think of that Rolling Stones song “Time waits for no one…”