Askew Student Union
building is gone
An enduring
influence
A Chowan College campus landmark, Askew
Student Union, was destroyed by fire on July
30, 1981. Constructed in 1956, Askew Student
Union served class after class of young people
as a center for study, recreation and inspira
tion. It was located just a short walk away
from historic McDoweU Columns building and
in walking distance of all dormitories and
classroom buildings.
All that remains of Askew building—beyond
the influence that it has had on so many lives
and the memories of this special place—are two
bronze plaques. One plaque simply states
“Askew Student Union 1956” and was located
on the outside front wall. The other plaque tells
us about a unique relationship between this
Northeastern North Carolina family and the
college which was so much a part of their lives
in this Roanoke-Chowan region—a unique rela
tionship that spans the generations. That pla
que reads:
This Building Presented to
Chowan College in 1956
by
John O. Askew, III
Harrellsville, N. C.
in memory of
his mother and two sisters
who attended this institution
Though the plaque calls her “mother”, she
was once a young girl named Mary Duers
Valentine and she was a student at Chowan
College. She probably lived, went to classes,
and enjoyed the friendship of her classmates in
McDowell Columns Building—which still
serves students today. She graduated in the
Class of 1872.
Mary Duers Valentine married John 0.
Askew, Jr., and they built a home, reared a
family and contributed greatly to the entire life
of the community, church and region. They
bore two sons, John and Grady, and three
daughters, Mary Louise, Nora and Lillian.
Two daughters, referred to on the plaque as
“Two Sisters” Mary Louise and Nora came to
live and learn at Chowan College.
Mary Louise, called “Maidie
tuberculosis and died at the age of 21. Nora
married H. I. Britton, of Norfolk, Va. They had
two daughters, Mabel and Louise, one who
became a teacher and one a librarian. Both are
now retired.
Lillian (not mentioned on the plaque) attend
ed Peabody Conservatory of Music and lived
with her brothers in Harrellsville until her
death.
John (John O. Askew, III) whose name is on
the plaque, made a gift in 1955-56 to make
possible the construction of a new student
union building for the students at Chowan Col
lege. He made his gift “in memory of his
mother and two sisters who attended this in
stitution”. Those who can remember the col
lege in 1955-56, will know what a significant
gift this was and what a critical need the new
Askew Student Union would meet. Those who
remember John Askew also know that giving
to help others was a part of the natvu'e of this
benevolent leader. He generously supported
the coUege in many ways, including pianos for
Askew Student Union and Marks Hall and the
entrance gate to the campus. His generosity in
cluded his church, his community, the hospital
and so many other causes, many of which will
never be known because of his quiet generosi
ty-
John attended the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served in the mer
cantile business in Harrellsville for 45
years. He had extensive farming interests in
Hertford County. He was a member of the
Ahoskie Kiwanis Club and Wiccacon Masonic
Lodge 240.
m
contracted
He was a leader in the Harrellsville Baptist
Church, and sang in its choir. He served
Chowan College as a trustee and a member of
the Endowment Committee. Dr. Whitaker
states that “John Askew was a strong force
and a gifted leader who believed in and
generously supported the college mission of
providing Christian Higher Education for
present and future generations of young men
and women.” He died on March 8,1969.
Grady (Grady D. Askew) graduated from
Oak Ridge Institute and attended the
University of North Carolina. He served his
country in the army in World War I. He was a
banker with the Bank of Harrellsville and had
extensive farming and business interests.
Grady D. Askew was also known as one of
the area’s leading philanthropists. He
established the Grady D. Askew Foundation in
December, 1967, with an unrestricted en
dowment of $300,000. Proceeds from the
Foundation are divided equally among Chowan
College, Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, and
Harrellsville Baptist Church, of which Askew
was a member. He provided an additional
$200,000 to the Foundation from his will.
Noted Dr. Whitaker, “Grady Askew’s
prevailing virtue was his love for his fellow
man which he expressed through his service
and benevolence to meet the spiritual, health,
and educational needs of the
citizens in Hertford County
and the Roanoke-Chowan
area.” He died on October 18,
1972.
The Askew Student Union
building is gone . . . but its in
fluence, like Chowan College
and the Askew Family. . . will
endure!
THECHOWANIAN, October, 1981—Page 3