Page 6
Friday, November 15,1996
of
During the early 20th century, snow covered Weaver College
campus. Special to The Clarion
Jennifer Galloway/George Spitzer
Staff Writer/Layout Editor
How would you like to sign out in
the town book or to get written
permission from a parent or guardian to
leave campus? Over the years at Brevard
College some students had to do just
that.
Brevard College originated from
two colleges: Weaver and Rutherford
Colleges. This particular area was
chosen because of the high health rating.
The area was said to be free of malaria
and to have clear water; also it had an
altitude of 1,250 feet above sea level.
Excelisor community was what they
called the area when it was first settled.
The school first started out as a one-
room lob cabin building. Only eight
students enrolled during the first year of
school.
The year when the institution was
first charted as a school was 1858. The
name given was Rutherford Academy.
1870-71 was the time when Rutherford
Academy was changed into Rutherford
College.
The college was the first in the
South to admit boys and girls into the
same classes. Though it was considered
liberal, Brevard still contained many
conservative views.
Sunday during church, men and
boys sat on one side, and women and
ladies sat on the other. Religion was so
strict the boys and girls were lined up
and had to march to church and Sunday
school.
During the Civil War the school
was closed twice. Once the school was
closed during the war, and the other
time it was closed during reconstruction.
It was stated that keeping the
student body’s attention was almost
impossible. The men never knew when
they would be called into active service.
McLarty-Goodson
stands in the center
of the 50 yardline of
the old football field
team i
\wec^At (MA 150 fUMKcU.
'/o 1938 the Grst Orient
[ Student arrived from
Seoul, Korea.
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ramflWLntf1(0),S)TC)fTiiC
The war was so intense that a military
company was organized among students.
Weaver College was founded in
1853. The first session was held in the
Conference House until 1854. In 1872
the Conference House burned to the
ground; that year a new brick building
was built. In 1883 it was deeded to the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Then in 1912 it was reorganized as
a Junior College. During 1915 the
General Assembly of North Carolina
granted a new charter to the school. The
school was now controlled by a board of
trustees and 15 members.
During 1933, Rutherford and
Weaver Colleges merged into Brevard
College.
On September 17, 1934, the
enrollment was 385 students. The next
year a girl’s dormitory was built on
campus. Also, the first graduation was
held in 1935. 16 students attained their
college diploma; five students received
diplomas for high school work.
]D)i(d you
know...
during the 30 's not
a single student on
campus owned an
automobile.
in the 1950's there
was a carnival held on
campus every year around
Halloween.
I.ho f;round breakirif^ for IJryan
Moore Science Buiidin-g was in
1960^
in March 20, 1972
Taylor Hall allowed
women in the lobby
7 days a week.
the 1982 cross country and
marathon teams were
national champions.
Students in the late 1800's did not have the technology for large classes. Today
it is not uncommon for 30 students to be in a classroom. special to The cianon