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Page 11 text:
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women ' s dormitory, was constructed in 1958 for $300,000. Construction has continued to the present, with four men ' s dormitories on campus and a new $2.3 million dollar gymnasium project underway. Chowan, as in the past, strives to build on its reputation and prepare for the future. Parker Hail Whi taker Library 9
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Page 10 text:
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C howan College began as the Chowan Baptist Female Institute in Murfreesboro N.C. in the year 1848. Dr. God- win C. Moore is credited as the founder of the college and served on the Board of Trustees until his death in 1880. Murfreesboro itself was originally a landing site on the Meherrin River called Murfrees Landing because the site served the farmland of William Murfree. In 1786, William Murfree donated 97 acres of land for the establishment of a town, and in 1787 the town charter of Murfreesboro was ratified. Pure water, natural drainage and the Chowan River as transportation aided Murfreesboro in quickly becoming the leading town in Hertford County. In the late 1700 ' s the nation was recovering from the expenses of the War of Independence and therefore could pro- vide little public schoohng. Most educational facilities were funded privately by the local residents. The Hertford Academy was begun in 1794, the first incorporated school in the county. Then the Buckhorn Academy was founded in 1847 in the present community of Como. The late 1840 ' s saw the development of several schools, such as the Wesleyan Female College, Chowan Baptist Female College (both in Murfreesborol, and the Union Academy and Wesleyan Female College, both failed; only Chowan continued under the aid of the West Chowan Baptist Association, the leading group of Baptists in Hertford County. This is the same association which had aided and supported Wake Forest Institute in February of 1834. It became apparent to Dr. Godwin C. Moore in the late 1840 ' s that another institute of higher learning was needed for women now that Union Academy had relocated out of Mur- freesboro. Dr. Moore had been a trustee of Wake Forest Col- lege, the first Baptist college of North Carolina since 1836. Besides needing books, buildings, and faculty, the need to educate women was put forth by Dr. Moore. The ante- bellum period in North Carolina was no different from that of any other southern state. Women were mastered by their husbands — they could not own property, sue or be sued, or make a will without their husbands ' permission. Surprisingly, it was the church who came to the aid of many schools who wished to educate women. From such roots Chowan Baptist Female In- stitute began. Murfreesboro became the designated site of the college; therefore buildings had to be purchased in the area. The first such purchase was the Banks ' School buildings, which were formerly used as a girls ' school. They were purchased for $1,225 and were repaired for immediate use. Archibald McDowall, a Wake Forest graduate, was engaged by Dr. Moore as Chowan ' s first acting president. On October 11, 1848, Chowan Baptist Female Institute opened and registered eleven students. Gradually, girls came by boat and mule until enrollment increased to forty-seven. The first five month session at Chowan cost $113, which in- cluded room, board, tuition and extras. (Present Chowan students are known to spend as much per semester for books alone.) In order to promote habits of economy and simplicity in the girls, uniforms were required of the girls (made with The Columns Building was completed in 1852 materials from local merchants) and expensive jewelry was prohibited. They were also required to attend church in Murfreesboro every Sunday. The school grew in size and curricula, with many church associations aiding the institute. In 1937 it became ap- parent to the Board of Trustees that Chowan could not operate as an accredited senior institution under contem- porary standards. Chowan closed during the World War II, then re-opened as a junior college a few years later. In the early 1950 ' s, several vocational courses were offered, such as bookkeeping, business, and secretarial studies. The Raleigh News and Observer donated to Chowan a Linotype machine, which created the Graphic Arts Department, with John McSweeney as instructor. A joint-stock company was formed in the early 1850 ' s to finance construction of the college. The first such building was the Columns Building, constructed at a cost of $15,724.73; in November of 1852 it was ready for use. Salaries for faculty were paid out of the companies ' revenues, with the president receiving $2,000 annually, the mathematics pro- fessor $1,000 annuaUy, with other positions receiving less, as of 1868. Other expenses were met by fund drives, of which the townspeople of Murfreesboro contributed heavily. The need for new facihties was constant. The Columns building was soon outmoded and an extension was added in 1923. Stone Cottage, was built for $2,600 in 1914. The F. O. Mixon dormitory for men was constructed in 1954 at a cost of $77,434. The Askew Student Union was built in 1956, along with the Green Science Building. Jenkins Hall, a
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