Seminary Building (1890)

The first building was so named because that reflected the original name of the school – and for several years it was the only building! The West Virginia Conference Seminary was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1890 after decades of planning and fundraising. (Today we think of a Seminary as a school for theological training of pastors, but at that time “seminary” simply meant preparatory school. College level degrees were offered beginning in 1903.) This building was destroyed by a fire in 1905. Another building (the Lynch-Raine Administration Building) was constructed on this site in 1906.

1888-08-30 Contract awarded to George Croll on August 30, 1888 for construction on the stone foundation for $4,167, less $1.75 per perch for all stone furnished by the Trustees. (Haught, p.50)

1888-10-11 This day In 1888, the contract for the Seminary Building to be erected was signed by the Henry O’Blennes Company. His bid, $23,332, was the lowest and was according to the plans and specifications prepared by architect E.W. Wells to be completed on or before the first day of July 1890, and to be enclosed on or before the first day of December 1889. (Haught p.50)

1890-09-03 The West Virginia Conference Seminary, Buckhannon, West Virginia: A High Grade Institution of Learning For Both Sexes will open its doors for students. Offers superior advantages at small expense. (Haught, p.55) There were 70 students, and the first student enrolled was Roy Reger.

It opened in 1890, and until 1895 was the only building on the campus, when it was joined by Ladies Hall – now known as Agnes Howard Hall.

The Seminary Building burned on February 4, 1905 due to sparks from the heating system. Although the building was a total loss, there were no injuries.

This was a Saturday, and classes were in session. By Monday, arrangements had been made to hold classes in the two other buildings which had been built by then, The Music Conservatory (Annex) and Ladies’ Hall. Ministers in town also made space available for classes to take place.

Roy McCuskey, who later returned to the college as the president from 1931-1941, was a senior at the time of the fire, and has written his recollection of being in the building. It can be found on page 88 in his book, All Things Work Together for Good to Them That Love God.

Roy McCuskey’s First-Hand Account of the Seminary Building Fire

The fire occurred February 4, 1905. The building was heated by air with coal as fuel. Probably a faulty flue was the cause. I was standing in the first floor hall not far from the library room when some one noticed smoke coming from a ventilator and shouted “fire”. An alarm was sent in to the city volunteer fire department, but it was discovered that the hose was frozen. The fire spread rapidly through the ventilators which acted as flues and in no time the fire had reached the third story. An attempt was made to salvage the equipment, chairs, and other movable things were carried out or dropped from the windows. Books from the library were handed out the windows, students and faculty joined in the work.

The thoughtful and quick action of Professor Trotter saved the records and students’ enrollment cards. They were the first things to be taken from the building. Of course, there was considerable confusion during the fire, or until all that could be saved was taken out and all the students were safe. Some were still on the second floor when a slight explosion occurred; there was a grand scramble to get out. John Gilmore, (the late Dr. John Gilmore of Wheeling) thought the stairs had collapsed and presented himself at one of the windows yelling for help. Some of the boys seized an overcoat and used it for a net into which he jumped to safety.

The building was a total loss. President Wier was out of town and Vice President Trotter assumed full charge. Rooms were provided in an empty residence on College Avenue; the parlors of the Agnes Howard Hall were pressed into service, as well as rooms in the Music Hall, and classes were resumed the next day.

Graduation exercises for the Seminary Class of 1905, of which I was one, and for the first College Class, consisting of five members, were held in the Opera House.

Architect: E.W. Wells

Foundation:
George Croll
Contract August 30, 1888

Construction:
Henry O’Blenness
Contract October 11, 1888

For Further Reading

Books

Haught, T.W. (1940) West Virginia Wesleyan College: First Fifty Years: 1890-1940. West Virginia Wesleyan College: Buckhannon, WV.

Plummer, K.M. (1965) A history of West Virginia Wesleyan College 1890-1965. West Virginia Wesleyan College: Buckhannon, WV.

Miller, B.T. (2014) Our Home Among the Hills: West Virginia Wesleyan College’s First 125 Years. Virginia Beach, VA: The Donning Company Publishers.

Articles

1958-10-02 All Walks Lead to Ad Building, by Becky Broughton. (Pharos 1958-10-02, p.3)