Elon University - Phi Psi Cli Yearbook (Elon, NC)

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The Phipsicli A BRIEF HISTOMY OF ElON COLLEGE An extraordinary session of the Southern Convention was held at Graham, N. C, in 1888 for the purpose of ratifying a lease for the church on Graham Normal College. This institution, which had its beginning before the Civil War, was then in the hands of Dr. W. S. Long. Finding its equipment inadequate, the convention elected a board to select a suitable location, erect necessary buildings, and secure a charter from the state. The members of the board were: Dr. W. S. Long, Dr. J. P. Barrett, Col. J. H. Harden and Dr. G. S. Watson. Having visited all the places proposed as possible locations, the board met at Mill Point, Dec. 20, 1888, and decided to accept the site offered there — a beautiful oak grove. The campus is the gift of Mr. W. H. Trollinger, of Haw River, N. C. The people of the community subscribed four thousand dollars. The General Assembly of North Carolina chartered the college on March 11, 1889. Just two months later the first dirt was dug for the foundation of the first building. The college opened its doors to students Sept. 2, 1890. The first president was Dr. W. S. Long. Dr. J. U. Newman came with Dr. Long from Graham College, and has continued his service to the college from the first day to the present. The original plant consisted of the Administration ' Building and the East Dormitory, although neither was completed at the opening. In the early years the young men lived Page Ten 1937

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The Phipsicli on the third floor of the Administration Building and the young ladies occupied East Dormitor} ' . Rev. W. W. Staley, of Suffolk, Va., succeeded Dr. Long as president in 1895 and served as non-resident president for eleven years, with Dr, Newman as his dean for nine years and Dr. J. O. Atkinson, the other two years. Upon Dr. Staley ' s resignation in 1906, Dr. E. L. Motfitt became president. During his administration West Dormitory and the Power Plant were built, and light, heat, and water were provided. Dr. Moffitt resigned in 1911, and Dr. W. A. Harper, then a member of the faculty, was elected in his place. His first project was the raising of the Alumni Building fund, generously donated by Elon Alumni. The boys ' dormitory and gymnasium were erected in 1913. His second project was to get Elon accredited. This was accomplished in 1915. In 1919 Dr. Harper undertook to raise the S125,000 standardization fund as per- manent endowment for the college. The culmination was a fund of $380,000. Other buildings added to the campus during these years were: the Ladies Hall, the Men ' s Club, the West End Hall, and the Laboratory Building (known now as the Publish- ing House) . Early in the morning of January 18, 192S, the Administration Building, nucleus of all college activities, was burned to the ground. This fire proved a real challenge to the constituency and friends of Elon College. The challenge was nobly accepted, and a building program was launched immediately. Page Eleven 1937