Getting ready for the 130th Anniversary of WVWC – which first opened September 3, 1890. Here is a bit of background information! More to come as the week progresses.
Prelude to 1890: What happened in Buckhannon BEFORE WVWC was founded?
Who was involved? Why was it founded in the first place?
Our perspective of time and place is important to the study of history.
For example, here is what it looked like in Buckhannon in 1900. Ten years AFTER the college was founded!
The campus has changed a bit! But, you can see some familiar street names to give you some context.
You may not recognize some of the buildings that are in this picture.
And, you will realize that there are a lot of our current buildings missing from the picture!
When you think of WVWC History, you are likely thinking of YOUR history (band, choir, fraternity, sorority, team, professors, classmates: People and experiences).
I am thinking of MY experience:
- My history goes back several generations. My Grandfather -Class of 1941, My dad – Class of 1957, My Mom – Class of 1968 and many others.
- Each generation experienced the school in different times and in different ways, but the core of the place has not changed throughout the years. For example, when my grandfather was here, there were only 5 buildings! When my father graduated, none of the buildings on the Chapel Oval side of campus existed…including the chapel!
- We each think of the professors that have had an impact on our lives.
- I think of the time I first met my husband in the cafeteria in McCuskey (where the Art Department lives now).
The photograph on the right shows my family members who have graduated from WVWC (all except Grandpa Russell and the daughter of the two seen graduating here – who has her Masters in Education.
So, depending on your perspective, your initial impression of WVWC History may be different from mine and from what your classmates assume it is all about.
But, from the very beginning, there are some things we all share whether we know it or not! Let’s explore them together.
- The nature of the place has not really changed throughout all of the changes.
- Beautiful campus and buildings
- Spirit of service and community engagement
- Caring and nurturing faculty and staff
This is a souvenir postcard from 1901.
On the top left corner, you will see Ladies Hall – or, as we now call it Agnes Howard Hall.
On the right, is the Seminary Building. What? This is a building that many do not know about but is a huge part of our history. For the first 15 years, this was the major building on campus. Everything was here — classrooms, offices, 2 chapels, rooms for the literary societies, and even a gym. It burned in February 1905.
On the bottom left you can see the President’s House. This was on our campus from 1892-1952.It was built by President Hutchinson (the first president) with his own funds. He made an agreement with the Trustees that they would buy it from him when the time came that he would be leaving. And they did! If you come out the door of our present-day library and go straight down the sidewalk toward College Avenue, you would have come to this house. It would be on your right and across the street from what is now the Upshur Parish House.
The bottom right is a picture of the Pringle Tree. There is more about this later in this lesson, but I think it is interesting that the person who created this postcard thought it was important to include this tree. It shows that the college and the community have always had a strong relationship.
Here is a better photograph of the Seminary Building. This is one of my favorites because of the people.
I love the parasols, the people leaning out of the windows, and especially the guy on the right who will be forever late…
We tend not to think of these as having been real people.
They were here. They had dreams and worked hard. They had problems from time to time. They greeted each other on campus and in the halls as we do today.
But, let’s take a giant step back and see how they (and we) got here.
How did we get here?
We did not get here by accident or by magic.
We were created. By people who had dreams.
We were created through a lot of hard work and effort.
Who were these Dreamers, and why did they create us?
How and why were they here?
In the late 1700s, there were three types of people who came over the mountains to explore and settle the area that we now know as West Virginia.
- Adventurous Settlers – Exploration, Indian Fighting, Hunting and Fishing, pioneers. Other schools have embraced the terms Mountaineer and Pioneer, but they apply to us as well.
- Social Minded Settlers – Wanted to make a better life. Many were immigrants. They were also seeking to escape the overpopulation and lack of employment in the seaboard colonies.
- Religious Settlers – (to quote Thomas W. Haught)…….”These were the men whose souls were on fire with a holy zeal for the spiritual well-being of all those living in the scattered pioneer settlements of the new land”. Education was a key part of that work. Click on the Circuit Rider to see a brief video.
In other words, the third group wanted to save the souls of the other two groups! And they wanted to educate them. This is very important to our story.
Life on the frontier was not easy.
To compound the difficulties posed by rugged terrain, harsh weather, and primitive living conditions, and wild animals, there were wars to deal with!
French & Indian War 1754-1763
This is a war that was monumental in the history of our area, but one that does not get as much coverage in many history classes for some reason. At least it didn’t in classes I was in. (My perspective)
The very basics:
- The French had established settlements, missions, and trade with the Native Americans around the great lakes region.
- By the 1740s, The English settlers were coming across the Allegheny and Appalachian Mountains and began competing with the French.
- Some Indians chose to side with the English before realizing that the English wanted to take their lands rather than to establish trade.
- In other words, The British and the French were fighting, the Native Americans were fighting with and for both sides, and life was hard.
- William Pitt became Prime Minister of England and had a more aggressive approach
- The Pringle Brothers (John and Samuel) were not fans of the military life, and deserted from Fort Pitt in 1761
- Eventually, they came to the area which is now Upshur County and lived in a hollow tree near Buckhannon from 1764-1767
- 1768 Went for Supplies
- 1769 Came Back with Settlers
- You can read more about them here (Pringle Brothers & the Sycamore Tree).
The Settlers were in conflict with the Natives of the area…
This was not surprising, considering that the natives had considered this their hunting grounds for many many years. Even after the war was over, the fighting was not.
Revolutionary War – Joined the cause of freedom
Many of the settlers were soldiers during the Revolutionary War. After all, remember that these were independent people who valued their freedom! This one you have likely read more about!
10 years AFTER the Revolutionary War began, the Methodists dedicated Rehoboth Church, in Monroe County. It is claimed to be the oldest church building west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Francis Asbury was still actively preaching and organizing churches in the area.
With all of the wars, primitive settlements, threats from Indians, and economic woes, the role of churches and preachers in the development of the area is sometimes not as widely emphasized, but is a major factor in all of it.
Rifles as well as Bibles were carried by the worshipers. (Still much danger from Indians)
It is still there! And is on the National Register of Historic Places.
In other words, an Independent Sort of People came here, settled here, lived here. They still do. This is still a good description of our character.
The area west of the Alleghenies was settled by people who valued adventure and freedom.
Development was slow to come in the early days, and there was also conflict with the people on the other side of the mountains – in “The Other” Virginia.
We valued independence and freedom.
Slavery? Not so much. But there was certainly not agreement on all things among those West of the Alleghenies…loyalties were often divided, even within families.
One of the founders of this college was a member of the Virginia Legislature and voted for the Order of Secession from the Union! He even fought for the Confederacy.
Three of our other founders were in the Union Army. Two as soldiers, and one a Chaplain.
When you consider that only 28 years before the doors opened to students (September 3, 1890) Buckhannon was the site of Jenkins Raid (August 30, 1862) where 20 prisoners were taken by the Confederate troops commanded by General Albert Jenkins. During that raid 5,000 small arms were confiscated along with ordnance, stores, and clothing. ( e-WV article on Jenkins Raid)
As polarized as our society is right now, it seems amazing that these people were able to find some common ground around such an important issue as education, and to do all of the hard work that was necessary to fulfill that dream.
Even beyond the Jenkins Raid, Buckhannon was right in the middle of the conflict.
- The first land battle was fought in Philippi – only about 20 miles away
- McClellan’s army camped here on their way to the Battle of Rich Mountain
- We have streets named Sedgewick and Meade……..two of Lincoln’s generals
- Presbyterians had tried to build a school here before the war, and even had lumber and materials on the site. McClellan’s army took them. Now the Presbyterian school is in Elkins….(Davis and Elkins College, which first opened for classes on September 21, 1904).
- Upshur County soldiers fought on both sides of the Civil War.
So, the area was founded by independent people, and conflict was all around.
These are important things to remember as we shift to the topic of Education.
West Virginia had few schools, and few opportunities for formal education beyond the basics
Students had to go to PA or OH for those opportunities to places like Allegheny College, Ohio Wesleyan University, etc. The 1840 Census indicated that 28,924 white persons over the age of 20 could neither read nor write.( e-WV article on Education)
Terminology:
- Academy – An academy was often for boys only, and quite often military in nature
- Normal School – mainly for teacher preparation, and generally offered a two-year course beyond secondary level. The first of the public normal schools in the United States was founded in 1839, in Lexington MA, so the concept had been around some 50 years by the time of our founding.
- Seminary – The term Seminary meant something very different than the way we use it today. Although many students from here did eventually go into the ministry – this was NOT a seminary as they exist today, dedicated solely for religious studies. Rather, it was an educational institution which offered educational opportunities for women as well as for men From the very beginning, the founders were adamant about two things:
- This was not to be a sectarian school (all would be welcome). Although there was a great emphasis on spiritual growth as well as educational growth, that was to be expected!
- Women and men would be part of it. That included faculty as well as students. In the late 1800s, this was fairly radical.
This timeline shows that many schools were being founded in Western Virginia (West Virginia after 1863) during this period of time.
Education was highly valued.
- The earliest ones were Academies and Military Institutes.
- By 1858, there was finally a Female Seminary founded in Morgantown.
- Education for black children was also being addressed.
- The first Free Public School was not until 1865.
Some of these things make a bit more sense if you remember that the Civil War was raging from 1861-1865. (Perspective of Time)
Many schools were being founded by church denominations as well as schools to train teachers:
- Alderson Broaddus – 1871 in Winchester, VA —1876 moved to Clarksburg — to Philippi in 1901 — Baptists
- Glenville – 1872 – State school. Teacher’s college
- Salem – 1888 – Seventh Day Adventists
- West Virginia Conference Seminary – 1890 — Methodist
- Davis and Elkins – 1904 — Presbyterian
Back to the Methodists……..those Circuit Riders
The Methodists had also experienced some internal conflict!
The Methodist Episcopal Church was founded on Christmas Eve 1784 at the Lovely Lane Church. Before that time, there were various Methodist Societies that generally met in homes for prayer and worship. http://lovelylane.net/home/history/
Methodist Protestant Church
Formed in 1830 as the result of a difference on several issues by a sizable group in The Methodist Episcopal Church. The key issues at dispute were the role of bishops, the desire to elect the presiding elders (district superintendents), and the desire to have lay persons represented in the voting membership of the Annual Conference. The new denomination soon established its constitution and discipline and held its first General Conference in 1834. (http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/glossary-methodist-protestant-church-the)
The Methodist Protestant Church also backed a school which we recognize. Morris Harvey (now University of Charleston).
Methodist Episcopal Church South
“Formed as a result of the separation from The Methodist Episcopal Church. Reflecting the debate in that nation over slavery, pastors and members of The Methodist Episcopal Church found themselves embroiled in a strong controversy. At the General Conference of 1844, a Plan of Separation was voted on which would have facilitated an orderly division of the denomination over a period of time, largely along regional or geographic lines. However, the leaders of the southern group immediately set out to establish a separate church. This was done in the first General Conference of 1846 of The Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Though weakened through the period of the Civil War, the new church grew and became a dominant religious force in the southern portion of the nation. In 1939 The Methodist Episcopal Church, South reunited with The Methodist Episcopal Church and The Methodist Protestant Church to form The Methodist Church.” (http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/glossary-methodist-episcopal-church-south-the)
1939 – Uniting Conference in Kansas City, MO – April 26-May 10
Reunited: Methodist Episcopal Church North, Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Methodist Protestant Church to become The Methodist Church
Bringing all of the branches together again after all of the years of Civil War, reconstruction, the Great Depression, and World War I was a monumental step. One of the outcomes was that there are now often two Methodist Churches in the same town – sometimes next door to one another. In addition, West Virginia Wesleyan College was chosen by the West Virginia Annual Conference as the Conference College – over Morris Harvey.
1968- Uniting Conference in Dallas, TX – April 21-May 4
United the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church to become the United Methodist Church
This occurred in 1968 – one of the most divisive years in the history of the United States. It was weeks after Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. The issue of the Vietnam War was dividing people across the country. And, in the midst of all that division, the church came together as one.
All along the way there was a great value put on Social Justice and Equality
Interesting times, though…the United Methodists are once again in conflict.
Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, the General Conference was scheduled to meet in May. At this conference, the issue of the role of gay clergy is one that is tearing the organization apart. That, and the fact that being a worldwide church, means that perspectives from many cultures are clashing when trying to address social issues. General Conference will now be held next year, and could result in far-reaching changes.
Prelude to 1890
The school did not just appear………
It took a lot of meetings, travel, reports, WORK – and of course money.
If you recall from the last slide, the Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1784 – and by 1884 there were Centennial Celebrations being planned. You may recall that concern over education had been present for many decades before that as well.
The report of the members of the Committee Centennial Celebration stated:
“That the erection and endowment of an institution of learning of high grade for both sexes be one of the principal objects of the thank offerings of our people of this Conference. The location of said institution to be fixed by the Conference at a future session. “ (Annual Conference, 1884; Haught, p.155)
Thus began a whole set of meetings and fund raising. All of them done without the modern conveniences such as telephones or even roads!
Many of the men who served on the Committee on Centennial Celebration and the resulting Board of Trustees of the Centennial Fund eventually also served on The Board of Trustees of the West Virginia Conference Seminary.
- All of this just years after the Civil War, and during the Reconstruction Period.
- And, all of this while still divided M.E. North, M.E. South, and Methodist Protestant.
Methodists Valued Education and Social Justice — Then and Now
Clergy were involved
Lay People (church people who are not ministers) were also involved – and these same people, who were so highly involved in church leadership, were also highly involved in the formation of the WV state government
- Several were present at the Wheeling Conventions, and in the creation of the State of West Virginia
- Several were on the committee to draft the state constitution
Fundraising was done all across the state in large and small churches in order to provide funds for building, staffing, and operating the school
Today the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is still the body which elects the Board of Trustees for West Virginia Wesleyan College.
But in 1890, a mere 25 years after the Civil War ended, and after countless meetings, fund raising, and planning, the West Virginia Conference dream of a school finally came to pass.
Trustees included both clergy and lay members, elected by the Annual Conference.
The Lay Members of the Board of Trustees in 1890 included:
- Trustee from 1887-1915
- He lived in Moundsville, WV and was a manufacturer of leather goods and brooms.
- He ran one of the largest broom countries in the country at the time.
- Trustee from 1885-1930, and Secretary of the Board from 1894-1921
- He lived in Weston, WV, and served on the site location committee
- Mr. Barnes was the Director of Citizen’s Bank of Weston
- Trustee in 1890-1894, and Treasurer of the Board
- Mr. Martin was one of the framers of the West Virginia Constitution
- He was a delegate to the General Conference in 1876
- And, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1877-1881
- Trustee from 1887-1889 (he died before the school officially opened)
- He had served in the Army of the Potomac
- After the war, he was a lawyer and prosecuting attorney
- In 1880, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
- Trustee from 1885-1916, President of the Board from 1898-1913
- He was a Judge, and lived in Charleston, WV
- Trustee from 1885-1919
- He served as a Captain in the Federal Army
- A lawyer in Buckhannon, WV
- West Virginia Legislature 1872-1879
- Prosecuting Attorney in Upshur County 1886-1900
- Trustee 1890
- Lived in Wheeling, WV
- Manufacturing and Businessman
- Trustee 1887-1897, Chairman of the Board 1887-1897
- Was a member of the Virginia Legislature when they voted to secede from the Union
- He voted for secession, and fought with Stonewall Jackson’s unit
- However, after the war, he came back to Barbour County and resumed his Law Practice
- He was a Framer of the West Virginia Constitution in 1871
The Clergy members of the Board were also an interesting group.
They were not only ordained ministers, but leaders in education and community alike.
H.J. Boatman ( I still have more research to do on this one!)
- Trustee 1885-1898
- Was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1850
- Edited the Methodist Episcopal Times
- Trustee 1885-1899
- Trustee 1884-1897; President of the Board 1884-1887
- Charter Member of the West Virginia Conference
- Chaplain in the Third Virginia Volunteers; U.S. Army
- Trustee 1885-1891; Secretary of the Board 1890
- Trustee 1886-1893
- Circuit Riding Preacher
- Chaplain of the 7th West Virginia Infantry
- Trustee 1886-1896
- Preacher, Teacher, and Newspaperman
- Superintendent of Public Schools in Buckhannon for two years in the 1870s
- Trustee 1884-1894
- Elected to General Conference 1892
- General Missionary Committee 1891-1892
- Trustee 1886-1894
- First State Superintendent of Free Schools
To review:
- Settlers came over the mountains (Adventurous, Social Minded, Religious)
- Endured conflicts and primitive environments (French & Indian War, Indian Wars, Revolutionary War, Civil War, rugged living conditions)
- Even the Methodist Church had conflicts and divisions (Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, Methodist Episcopal South)
- Created a whole new state
- Created a school which would offer “learning of high grade for both sexes” (Valued education, valued equality)
- Strong ties with the Methodist Church
- Not sectarian. Never intended to be from the very beginning
- Specifically included women from the very beginning
- West Virginia Annual Conference was very highly involved with fundraising and recruitment of students
- West Virginia Annual Conference is still involved – elects Trustees, who are the governing body
- Education, social justice, and community engagement are still important in both the West Virginia Annual Conference and at West Virginia Wesleyan College – as they have been from the very beginning.
Prelude to 1890 (Further Readings)
- e-WV article on Circuit Riders
- e-WV article on Education
- Gilchrist, J. Pringle Brothers & the Sycamore Tree
- Haught, T.W. (1940) West Virginia Wesleyan College: The First 50 Years
- McGrew, P.L.(2018) Thank You Note to the Founders
- *Miller, B.T. (2012) Our Home Among the Hills. Preface and Chapter 1
- Minutes from Conference, 1887
- National Register of Historic Places: Rehoboth Church
- Plummer, K.M. (1965) A History of West Virginia Wesleyan College: 1890-1965
- Rehoboth Church of Monroe County Turns 225
- Watson, J.D. (2020) Those 60 Acres More or Less
WVEncyclopedia.org Pringle Tree
