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

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First in Communigf College Education Before the 1957 legislative move to give financial -45? ,.4 aid under the Community C olle ge 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. Once the 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 -10 Miles MURFREESBORO Chowan so Miles ROCKY MOUNT Wesleyan ll5 Miles WILSON Atlantic Christian 120 Miles GREENVILLE I- East Carolina 110 Miles WILMINGTON Wilmington College 210 Miles NORFOLK Old Dominion 50 Miles ELIZABETH CITY College of the Albmarle 8 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- shaw as 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 fCha.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.

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FIRST IN ED UCA TION 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 meni- bers. As of the December 7, 1885, minutes there were 21 white teachers in 20 schools drawing an average s alary of 329.10 per month with an enrollment of 437 boys and 347 girls for 18 weeks of instruction. For 21 1 2 weeks 594 boys a.nd 572 girls attended 19 Negro schools with 29 teachers drawing an average monthly salary of S27.35. The December 1, 1885, minutes name 20 school dis- tricts each represented by three nien. First in Public Education In 1907, according to the r ec ords of the Pas- quotank H i sto ric al Society, public education in North C arolina began when S. L. Sheep sold the Atlantic Collegiate Institute and became the first public school superintendent of Pasquotank County. 4'f'7P Elizabeth City High School Now there are four county and seven city schools. Consolidation of some oi 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 l l 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

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Monday, July 11, 1960, THE DAILY ADVANCE notified 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. 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- r EL' zens. Speakers told of the fully accredited liber al arts and science programs that the W A college would offer. They explained the man- ! ner of selection of the tw e lve trustees for Km the college and the probable tuition of from Biology Laboratory, 1962 S200 to S250 a year. When they made clea.r that acounty property tax of fifteen cents on every S100would 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 County voted 4,119 for to 1,791 against supporting a community college. Head- lines announcing the land slid 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 bec 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. 9