Brevard College - Pertelote Yearbook (Brevard, NC)

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home community. The girls shared all of the household chores: cooking, sweeping, dusting, serving, and laun- dry work. Every student was expected to spend an hour daily on duty work. The Institute was not a college but a high school. The usual courses were offered along with special classes in piano and voice, bookkeeping, short- hand, typewriting, agriculture, dress- making, millinery, household econom- ics, lace-making, and ironing. The In- stitute prepared young women to teach lower grades in rural schools. The music department taught specially designed courses to prepare students to teach music. The students were re- quired to have 4 years of drill, knowl- edge of theory and harmony, and instructions in the teaching of music. Seniors in the music department had pupils under their direction. The com- mercial department helped students prepare themselves for better posi- tions in commercial life. Pupils in the dressmaking department were offered courses in sample sewing, cutting, fit- ting, and garment making. The milli- nery class made frames, bands, and wire hats. They also practiced trim- ming hats. Apparently, the Institute tried to treat students with great respect. They (the I nstitute) made as few rules as possible. The reason was that only those rules that would apply as fully after graduation as before would be An aerial view showing Brevard Institute and the surrounding countryside. enforced. But those who did not abide by the rules could find life unbearable. Brevard Institute fulfilled its mis- sion. Young women and men learned the necessary skills for succeeding in their day and expanded their worlds at the same time. The value of the Institute has long been recognized. The following quote explains why the Institute was so important to this area. Hundreds of young people had been provided an education at a time when public education was almost non- existent. Attendance grew from one student in 1895 to over 300 boys and girls in 1926. By 1933. due to tremen- dous strides in public education, en- rollment had dropped to 33 students. The Institute ' s job was done as far as a primary and secondary education was concerned. The Fitch Taylors ' dream of education had been fulfilled. So end- ed an era. (Transylvania Times 9 18 75) On July 28. 1933 Brevard Institute closed and relocated its program at Vashti school in Thomasville, Georgia. The Women ' s Missionary Council sold the Institute property to the Western North Carolina Conference as a site for the planned merger of Rutherford and Weaver Colleges. During the days of tlie Institute, classes included lecture and practical instruction.

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Z. Bi Taylor ' s Dream Fulfilled Institute provides education for needy. In 1895 Brevard Institute was found- ed by two benevolent people. Mr. and Mrs. Fitch Taylor. They began the school to provide an education for stu- dents who otherwise could not afford one. One of the Taylors ' main concerns was the educa- tion of females. The school began in the old Henning house in Bre- vard, it was located past the post office on West Main Street. The Taylors began the school with the help of the Epworth League and the sale of their own furniture. The people of the mountains mistrusted the idea of education, especially for females. So. the first female boarding student had to be paid to attend. Be- fore long the Henning House couldn ' t hold all the girls, and Mr. Taylor had to purchase a bigger home. He bought the Red House on Probart Street and they began to include courses for boysi but soon the Red House was outgrown and the Epworth League helped the Taylors purchase four acres of land in 1902. The school was named Brevard Ep- worth School and construction of a Sarah and fitch Taylor, the founders of Brevard Institute. large frame building began but was never finished. There was not enough income to support the school, so the school was closed. In October of 1904 the Women ' s Home Mission Board of the Southern Methodist Church reopened the doors of the now-named Brevard Industrial Institute. Mr. E.E. Bishop was elected principal and through hours of dedi- cated labor he finished the building started earlier by the Taylors. Mr. Bishop left the school in 1904, and Mr. C.H. Trow- bridge became principal. Mr. Trowbridge would see the school through the next 16 years of growth. He oversaw the buying of 100 acres of land, the construction of an administration build- ing and Ross Hall. The old Taylor Hall was brick veneered. In order to keep ex- penses down, most stu- dents worked around campus at various jobs. This also served another purpose, that of teaching students basic household and farm chores. An old brochure from Brevard Institute stated: It is not un- common for a girl to go home from this school and succeed in making over her own home and also in changing the manner of life of a large part of her BREVARD INSTITUTE Compared to today, the classes at the Institute were old fashioned. Typing class is recognizable, but how many would guess that the studen right are in Botany lab?

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Registration is always a headache lor students. Old Dunham was the of activity on campus in the BREVARD COLLEGE Weaver And Rutherford Merge Coltrane chosen to head new school. After the decision to merge Ruther- ford and Weaver Colleges, the newly formed Board of Trustees chose Dr. E.J. Coltrane to be the first president of Brevard College. Dr. Coltrane be- lieved ill education, Christianity, and self-help. He would guide the school along these principles. Dr. Coltrane and his wife arrived in June of 1934 to prepare the college for its opening in September of 1934. Dr. Coltrane had two ideals in mind for his college. Brevard would continue the Christian traditions of Rutherford and Weaver, and would also become a Co- operative enterprise. The majority of the campus renovations were per- formed by students. The summer was not an easy one. Dr. Coltrane used his own savings, plus a loan on his life in- surance to assure the school ' s opening. Brevard opened her doors two weeks behind schedule. The day the students were expected, the news came that the kitchen utensils would not arrive on time, so Camp Carolina came to the rescue. They lent the school all of their utensils, enough for 150 people. Those first few meals must have been interesting because there were approximately 400 students try- ing to share silverware. Many of the beds did not arrive on time either. Sev- eral students slept on the floor of their rooms that first night. Since it was the first year of the school, many traditions were started. The student council. Homecoming, and May Day were instituted. The Pertc- lote had its first publication. Brevard ' s royal blue and white school colors were chosen. The school motto, La- bor, Learn, Live, and a school seal were chosen. Numerous traditions from the merged colleges were contin- ued: sports teams, literary societies, clubs, and the Tornado mascot. Dr. Coltrane ' s idea of a cooperat- ive enterprise worked. Students did all the janitorial, farm, and kitchen work. During the first year of opera- tion all but two of the students worked. Most of the $200 bill was re- duced to nothing through work. A few years later students would combine their talents and build a gym. During the second year the school newspaper. The Clarion, was first pub- lished-, several plays were performed, and the first Religious Emphasis Week was held. World War II had a great impact on the students. Most of the male popula- tion was drafted. The college devel- oped a Civil Defense Program. The girls made bandages and were used as spotters to check for planes. The di- minishing male population had its ef- fect on the faculty too. Miss Nancy Blanton, a physical education teacher, became the varsity coach and teacher for the boys. Dr. Coltrane began an accelerated program during this time. This enabled a student to accomplish two years of high school a nd two years of college in three years. The program was useful after the war too. Veterans used it to finish school quicker and therefore to start work sooner. The accelerated program lasted until 1947. When the war was over the veterans poured into the campus. Soon the cam- pus was overflowing, and extra hous- ing had to be built quickly. Temporary barracks were built from Army surplus buildings. These were built where the Bryan Moore Science building stands. College students had four buildings, and there were apartments for mar- ried students. It has been said diapers flying in the breeze became an emblem of the college. Soon other wooden buildings were going up, a cafeteria and another classroom building were added. Ross Hall was turned into facul- ty housing after a fire made renova- tions necessary. Brevard College was doing well. Dur- ing 1947-48, two new buildings were