Brevard College - Pertelote Yearbook (Brevard, NC)

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College Founded By Brothers Temperance speaker instills idea for college. The idea of building a school in Wea- verville. N.C., actually began when a temperance speaker came to town. The story goes that the speaker had such a tremendous impact on the town that no alcohol could be found when he left. An organization called Brothers of Temper- ance was formed. The broth- ers decided to build a small school on the beautiful camp- ground in Weaverville. They built one building which housed a temperance hall and school. In 1854 more buildings were built to house students. The school went well until 1873 when the wooden build- ings burned. After the fire, the school was turned over to the Methodist Church. Dr. John Regan, a doctor and a Methodist minister, was chosen to be the first president of the 4-year college known then as Weaverville Col- lege. The college also gave high school students their education. In I9Q that policy was changed. Weaverville Col- lege became Weaver College, a two- year college which also taught high school. The college was very strict, as were most schools then. Certain ac- tivities were not tolerated: Any stu- dent expecting to partake in card play- r-j-g Memorabilia from Weaver College can be found in the Weaver room. ing or dancing, please make arrange- ments to attend a school where such things are tolerated. It will not be toler- ated here. Extra-curricular activities were im- portant to the students of Weaver Col- lege. Students got a chance to debate each other, listen to orations and origi- nal compositions at the literary soci- eties. Apparently there was a great ri- valry among the societies. At the be- ginning of every year each society fought to get new members. Mr. Nathan Jones, a former student of Weaver College, tells of his experiences with the Delphin Society. At com- mencement one of the main events was what was known as the ' Junior Debate. ' Each of the four societies had a repre- sentative on the team for this event. I had the good fortune to represent the Delphins on the team in 1923. Also at Com- mencement there would be declamation and oratorical contests between men and reading contests among the women. Sports meant a lot to the college, and they meant a great deal to the town of Weaverville. Perhaps the greatest accomplishment that arose from the Weaver gridiron was the Flea Flicker play, which is now used WEAVER COLLEGE A girl tlorin on the Weaver campus UeUi HaU. The audilorrum was locateil in the AdiinnistrAtion RuiUting.

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lie history of Brevard College is a rich and excit- ng one beginning in 1853 when Rutherford College nd Weaver College were formed. In 1934 those wo colleges merged on the grounds of Brevard nstitute to create Brevard College. Approaches ind methods have changed, but many of the same deals and philosophies that sprang from those nstitutions are still practiced today at Brevard. As Brevard College continues to prosper it is im- portant that we remember people who gave of themselves as teachers, administrators, stu- dents, and friends, to build a strong viable institu- tion. The following section depicts in part the history of Weaver College, Rutherford College, Brevard Institute, and the first 50 years of Bre- vard College. Brevard College Campus 1983 Brevard College brought me continued knowl- edge, deep friendships and sincere happiness for two short years. It is a shame that only a few chosen people will experience it. It was the hap- piest and most enriching two years of my life. — Kim Gilbert Class of 1983

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ztwt by major college and pro teams. The name Tornado came to Brevard Col- lege from Weaver College. Costs Work-Study: In the early l9X) ' s. the cost was $300 a year for everything. But times were tough and many students couldn ' t afford $300. So, many students were placed on work-study. There ' s a story that says a boy arrived at school with his cow and through the aid of the cow he made it through his two years. Others waited on tables, fired the furnaces, and did janitorial work, to name a few. Mr. Jones says the most wanted job on campus was that of mail carrier. One year I carried the mail from the post office to the offices and dormitories. This was the most sought after job on the campus because you got to visit the girl ' s dormitory twice each day! In the early years of the college. rules were very strict concerning the conduct of males and females. Mr. Jones describes the situation of the early X) ' s. On Sunday afternoon, if you ' d been good all week, you could spend an hour In the parlor at the girls ' dorm with your favorite girl where many more had the same idea. Not only were you and all the other couples in the same room, but you were well chaperoned. This chaperone saw ev- ery suspicious move you had or look you gave. If you had been extra good, you might get another couple and a chaperon and go to Asheville to a well censored movie. I remember that on one occasion there were three couples who dared to meet in Asheville in the afternoon and go to a movie without permission or chaperon. Some dead eye saw them and reported to the authorities about this scandalous act. The results: the man who was sup- posed to have been responsible was expelled from school. The others were campused for a long period of time. As a result one of the professors resigned, the students went on a strike, and the president didn ' t come back the next year. I recall once I was walking across campus with a young lady going from the classroom to the dining hall at high noon. That afternoon there was a let- ter from the president telling me that I violated a well known social rule and that I would be campused for a week. I am sure that if a couple had been seen embracing or kissing then, they both would have been expelled. Of course there was plenty of it, but you learned to kiss and run. The administration was doing what they thought to be right and proper and I have great re- spect for them in what they did. I know that it is hard for a present day student to believe that this ever hap- pened. Religion played a very important role on campus. Weaver was a Meth- odist College, and the students were expected to act in an appropriate man- ner. Mr. Nathan Jones describes the situation on the Weaver campuS: There were religious organizations for both men and women which were given top priority in the affairs of the campus. Then in addition to this each year a well known minister would be brought to the campus for a revival meetings. Most all of the parents were very much in approval of this kind of meeting. Everyone was expected to attend one meeting at the morning chapel service and another in the evening. Another interesting practice when I first went to Weaver was that we had no classes on Monday. The rea- son for this was that if students went to their home for the weekend they would have Monday on which to return to campus and wouldn ' t commit the sin of riding the train on Sunday. This was later changed and we had no classes on Saturday. On Sunday morning we were lined up and marched to church and Sunday School, with the boys and girls in sepa- rate groups. Weaver College struggled through the depression, but in 1933 the West- ern North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Church demanded a merger of Rutherford and Weaver Colleges. They were to open a college in Bre- vard, North Carolina, on the grounds of the closed Brevard Institute. Skinner Hall was ihe mosi ' modern boys dormitory on the campus. The Delphian literary society met in this