Another Chapter Added
To Tremendous Growth
Of Chowan College
By VIRGIL L. McBRIDE
The fourth year of the soaring
sixties has written another signi
ficant and memorable chapter in
the tremendous growth of Chowan
College.
For the benefit of the many
hundreds of Chowan alumni who
receive this issue of THE CHOW-
ANIAN, we want to portray in
pictures and words something of
today’s Chowan. Many of our
alumni seldom get the opportun
ity to return to the campus so it
is hoped this publication will show
some of the continuing service
and growth of their Alma Mater.
It is very important to us that
we tell you about the growth of
Chowan College because you, the
alumni, play such an important
part in it. And it is more than
incidental that this author
pauses here to say thank you.
Milestones of a Great Movement
Under the leadership of Presi
dent Bruce E. Whitaker, other
administrative officers, an out
standing Board of Trustees, and
an excellent faculty, Chowan
College is demonstrating that
its current history moves along
with its number of milestones.
Behind all is the support of a
community blessed by many
Christian and generous people.
All of these are involved in the
success of the college during
1964—and the many years the
institution has been in existance.
Let’s take a look through pic
tures and words, at some events
that occured in 1964 in the col
lege’s program of development.
New Classroom Building
On Saturday, May 2, 1964 Dr.
Whitaker gave the dedicatory
address at the dedication of
Robert Marks Hall. He said:
"This beautiful classroom facility
appropriately and gladly desig
nated as Robert Marks Hall, is
a permanent and substantial
building ... we are delighted
with its beauty, its attractive
ness, and its usefulness. I take
personal pride and satisfaction
in the fact that it bears the
name of my personal good friend
and supporter.”
Named for the late Robert F.
Marks of Boykins, Virginia the
classroom biulding is a $500,000
facility with three floors con
taining 22 classrooms, 25 faculty
offices, a circular amphitheatre
which will seat 170, terazza tile
floors and fully air-conditioned.
It is dedicated to “quality
Christian higher education for
the young people who attend
Chowan College”.
New Residence Hall for Women
Chowan College held an un
precedented second dedication
program during 1964. Falling on
another special occasion. Home
coming 1964, the Dedication of
new Residence Hall for
Women, the new addition to the
Cafeteria, and the Residence
Hall for Men (completed in 1963)
were involved. The speaker for
this signal event was the Honor
able Terry Sanford, past Gover
nor of North Carolina. Total cost
for construction of these facili
ties was almost one and a half
million dollars, including equip
ment.
New Infirmary
Also, in 1964, construction was
begun on a new 6,500 square feet
infirmary. Named for Mrs. Lola
Mae Freeman Penny, a former
member of the Board of
Trustees and an alumna of the
college, the building is two-
stories, with staff offices, two
examination rooms, two effici
ency apartments, and private
rooms as well as wards. The
air-conditioned facility is ex
pected to be completed by the
end of the current semester. Total
cost of this facility is $100,000.00.
History Published
It goes without saying that the
recently published "A History of
Chowan College” by Edgar V.
McKnight and Oscar Creech
marked a significant milestone
for Chowan College as well as
the completion of physical faci
lities. In addition to its recogni
tion as a well documented pub
lication, the book grasps the
spirit of Chowan College through
the years and captivates the
reader, especially, in the move
ment toward “new frontiers”.
More information is included on
the “History” in another section
of this issue of THE CHOWAN-
lAN.
Continuing Campus Beauty
Chowan College maintains an
active committee on buildings
and grounds. The committee is
headed up by the Reverend
Oscar Creech of Ahoskie, a
Trustee of the College and for
merly affiliated with the college
as Development Officer. Jack
Hassell, Superintendent of Build
ings and Grounds of the college,
expedites the various plans
made by the committee and di
rects the beautification of the
already lovely Chowan College
campus. New shrubs and trees
are put out each year and land
scaping improvements are con
tinually on the work agenda for
maintenance personnel.
Visitors to the Chowan College
campus, especially alumni, will
be greeted with the captivating
beauty of this old campus which
boasts of its recent improvem-
ments. The administration, fa
culty, staff, students and Board
of Trustees of Chowan College
believe in providing the very
best in physical surroundings in
order to accomplish the purposes
of this institution of Christian
higher education.
Until you have the opportunity
to visit the campus, we hope
that the words and pictures
given to you through the alumni
issues of THE CHOWANIAN
will give you a sneak preview
of the natural and artistic beau
ty of the Chowan College cam
pus.
1
NEW ULTRA-MODERN RESIDENCE HALL FOR WOMEN
MODERNISTIC ROBERT MARKS HALL CLASSROOM BUILDING
FOR MARCH, 1965
PAGE THREE