How did the student center get the name, "TONK"??

Since it is the OFF Season, I thought I’d see if anyone knows how the TECH student center became the TONK. It seems that many of the students today don’tknow why it is called the TONK.
When I started TECH in the Summer of 1966 I asked why the student center was called the TONK. I was told the following: the police (unknown if local or Sheriff) closed down a Honky Tonk. I wasn’t told why…or when, I just assumed it was because they were selling alcoholic beverages. It could have been in the 1920s, 30s, or40s. Lincoln Parish was dry the entire time I was at TECH and was probably dry for many years before that. Anyway, the police did not destroy the building as they sometimes did back in those days. They gave the building to TECH. Since TECH did not have a student center building…the Honky Tonk building became TECH’s student center. The students began to call it the TONK and have done so ever since.
So, does anyone know the entire story?? I would like to know the rest of the story…asPaul Harvey would say.

That's the story I heard when I was at Tech in the 80's.

I never knew. Thanks for the story.

I just knew if was short for Honky Tonk.

I never knew the story until you posted that recently in the "share your knowledge" thread. It was called the Tonk when I was there, but no one ever explained the history or name, so I always thought it was kind of dumb to call the student center a "honky tonk" when the things happening there were pretty much the opposite of a honky tonk. Neat story though. Hopefully someone can fill in the blanks.

Why do they call the naughty nurse the naughty nurse?

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Originally Posted by Cool Hand Clyde

Why do they call the naughty nurse the naughty nurse?

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Because she was naughty?

Well, if this thread got moved, I probably won't be able to view it. Just about the only forum I read is the football forum. :(

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Originally Posted by 70TECHGRAD

Well, if this thread got moved, I probably won't be able to view it. Just about the only forum I read is the football forum. :(

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You will be able to view it, but you will choose not to.

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Originally Posted by 70TECHGRAD

Well, if this thread got moved, I probably won't be able to view it. Just about the only forum I read is the football forum. :(

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So I'm not the only one who goes straight to the FB forum

It was called the TONK in 1956, my first year and was told it was short for Honky Tonk. There was no al bevs at that time.

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Originally Posted by ChipDog

So I'm not the only one who goes straight to the FB forum

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We know what's worthwhile. :)

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Originally Posted by WonderDawg

It was called the TONK in 1956, my first year and was told it was short for Honky Tonk. There was no al bevs at that time.

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Yep to get a drink...we had to go to Moon's.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm this thread is going nowhere.....no answers. I was hoping someone would ask whoever is in charge of buildings on campus if they knew the story about the Tonk. Guess everybody is too busy.

It would be cool to see if there is a picture out there in the archives somewhere of the original Tonk building to see what it looked like.