College of the Albemarle - Beacon Yearbook (Elizabeth City, NC)

Page 12 text:

First in Communizy College Education Before the 1957 legislative move to give financial aid under the Community C ollege Act Mr. Elton Aydlett suggested to his colleagues of the State Board of Higher Education that Pasquotank County was a possible site for acommunity college. They laughed because it seemed so far from the beaten track. Oncethe actwas passed, however, Mr. George Attix and Mr. Charles G or don began considering in all seriousness the possibilities of such a college in Elizabeth City. Then in November of 1959, with a call from Mr. Roy Simons to Mr. Gordon, Pasquo- tank County was off to another first in education. PORTSMOUTH Frederick 40 Miles MURFREESBORO Chowan 60 Miles ROCKY MOUNT Wesleyan 115 Miles WI LSON Atlantic Christian 120 Miles GREENVILLE East Carolina 110 Miles WILMINGTON ' Wilmington College 210 Miles . NORFOLK Old Dominion 50 Miles ELIZABETH CITY College of the Albmarle B These four men discussed from every angle the problems and prospects of a community college and decided that ?Elizabeth City would be an ideal location, particularly since it was miles from any oth er college. At that point the Elizabeth City Chamber of Commerce with Mr. Paul Brad- shawas president took the promotion of a college as its major project for 1960, and success seemed possible. By radio, by newspaper advertisements, and by s p e e c h e s to organizations, the official com- mittee KCha.rles Gordon, chairmanj acquainted citizens of Pasquotank County with the advant- ages of having a local college. On February 12, 1960, the committee called a public meeting for persons interested in an area college. Three days later the Pasquotank County Commissioners voted their support.

Page 11 text:

FIRST IN EDUCATION The first available minutes of the Pasquotank County Schools are dated July 6, 1885, and show S. L. Sheep as secretary and superintendent to the board composed of a chairman and three mem- bers. As of the December 7, 1885, minutes there were 21 white teachers in 20 schools drawing an average s alary of 529.10 per month with an enrollment of 437 boys and 347 girls for 18 weeks of instruction. For 21 1X2 weeks 594 boys and 572 girls attended 19 Negro schools with 29 teachers drawing an average monthly salary of SB27.35. The December 1, 1885, minutes name 20 school dis- tricts each represented by three men. First in Public Education In 1907, according to the r e c o r d s of the Pas- quotank H i s t o r i c a 1 Society, public education in North C arolina began when S. L. Sheep sold the Atlantic Collegiate Institute and became the first l public school superintendent of Pasquotank County. Elizabeth City High School Now there are four county and seven city schools. Consolidation of some of these schools has begun to be considered. Weeksville High School Of these eleven schools, four are the high schools pictured here. P. W. Moore High School Central High School From these high schools Elizabeth City State Teach- ers' College and the College of the Albemarle draw many of their students. 7

Page 13 text:

Monday, July 11, 1960, THE DAILYADVANCE notif i e d the public that a petition for a com- munity college had been filed and forwarded by the Pasquotank County School Board of Higher Education. In August, the former hospital build- ing was inspected officially by the State Board and found to be adequate to house a community college. ,V noet, Biology Laboratory, 1962 Original Hospital Building From then until Wednesday, November 1960, wh e n the voters went to the polls, the com- munity collegewas constantly before the citi- zens. Speakers told of the fully accredited liber al arts and science programs that the collegewould offer. They explained the man- ner: of selection of the tw elve trustees for the college and the probable tuition of from S200 to S250 a year.. When they made clear that acounty property tax of fifteen cents on every S1 00 would have to be voted, there was some opposition, primarily from a few owners of large properties. Heeding the sign Future Home of Community College erected near the old hospital building, citi- zens of Pasquotank Coimty voted 4,119 for to 1,791 against supporting a community college. Head- lines announcing the land s lid e approval equaled those naming the newly elected President of the United States . College of the Albemarle was chosen as the official name of the new college. Possibly the name seemed most apt be c aus e the new school was to serve not only Pasquotank County but also sur- rounding areas that were once included in the vast precinct of Albemarle.