Fassifern School - Sapphire Yearbook (Hendersonville, NC)

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. .,-::. 2252355555 :.:.,,, U My 1 ' K V-af-tba! M V .::.:. 53 , 15 llai , A. i ,,, 773.38 Fassifern, 1907-1921 V Xlff ASSIFERN opened its doors to students October 7, l907, completing, therefore, with Q, this term, its fourteenth session. The name, chosen se'.'eral years before the foundation Ear' of the school, was bestowed in honor of one of the Cameron homes in the highlands ml of Scotland. This charming region, in the neighborhood of Loch Eil, is intimately M Q fN3 associated with the romantic adventures of Prince Charles Edward and the Rebellion of the '45. The night before he was joined by the clans at Crlenflnnan, the prince was the guest of Cameron of Fassifern, brother oft the gentle Sir Ewen, chief of the Clan Cameron. Fassifern is a Gaelic word, meaning House among the aldersf' The founder of the school while a teacher in a large boarding school noficed that many very young girls were brought there who needed more individual attention than could be given them in a large school. She conceived the idea of establishing a school so limited in numbers that each girl might receive the particular teaching, care, and attention her case demanded. Lincolnton, North Carolina, was selected as a suitable and convzniently located towng and a hillside overlooking the river was the chosen site of the home school. When the opening day arrived the buildings were not ready, so the school was really begun in a house belonging to Mr. Reinhardt, on the main street of the village. Here arrived, October 7, seven boarding pupils: Eva Moody, jane Meares, Mildred Jenkins, Nell O'Kelly, Lesa Royall, Lorena Wiseman, Jannie Wetmore. At Thanksgiving the house on the hill was ready, and by that time the number of boarding pupils had increased to thirteen, known as the original thirteen. During the first year there were fifteen resident students, the number selected for the ideal school. There were thirty-one students in all, including three co-eds. These three were, or to be exact, now are Capt. W. E.. Shipp, U. S. A., graduate of West Point, Lieut. James Abernethy, who won his military title in the World War, and Dr. David Rudisill. The faculty at that time included the present principals and Miss Josephine Bowen, teacher of music. lt soon became evident that with the demands of a school for girls it was necessary to employ other teachers, so more students were received. The second year twently-two boarding pupils matriculated at Fassifern, and a cottage was bought for their accommodation. Later two buildings were added, and there was room enough for forty resident students. Sarah Williams of Greenville, S. C. fMrs. Denis Ryan of Massachusetts, was the last of the original thirteen to leave, having remained at the school five years. The oldest inhabitant was Mary Damron, who remained seven years as a student, leaving in l9l6. Fassifern's hrst graduate and certificate student in music was Anne Pegram Oates, l9l3 fnow Mrs. Henry Ashley of Californiaj, who, after completing the four years' course, remained two years as a student in music. Evelyn Byrd Graham, who entered as a student in 1909, is still at Fassifern as chaperon. The Class of l9l4 graduated only one student, Jennie Saine, who was also a music certificate pupil. She remained a year longer as special student. Nineteen hundred fifteen sent out six graduates in full course, Katherine Manning and Lucy Murchi- son, both of Wilmington, carrying off first and second honors. Miss Manning entered Goucher College on certificate from Fassifern, graduated there with distinction, and is now teaching in Washington, D. C. A brilliant pair of' sisters, Sarah and Eleanor McLoud, of Asheville, the latter a graduate of l9l5, entered Lake Erie College, Ohio, and completed the course there with honors. Caroline Hough was admitted on certificate to the University of Florida. In 1916 Fassifern was accredited by Smith and Wellesley colleges. Almost since the formation of the Southern Association of Colleges it has been on that accredited list. ln l9l4 it was decided to move the school to Hendersonville, N. C. On the anniversary of the first opening Fassifern received into its new home sixty boarding pupils, thirty-four of whom were former students. There were twenty day pupils from the town of Hendersonvillej In the course of years departments have been added, with instructors for the same. In l9l5 the Page eleven

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. A 1 4 Annual Staff NANCY BATTLE ..... . . . .... . Editor-in-Chief ANNETTE WRIGHT . . . . ..... Business Manager ELIZABETH ITIICKERSON Assistant Editor-in-Chief STAFF VAN LANDINGHAM CALL MONTGOMERY RICE MYERS MCMILLAN Ross GENTRY M. WADSWORTPI WEST CRIMES E.. SHELTON RANEY BIRDS!-LY TUCKER DOUGLASS ROBERTS MIDDLETON RUSSELL Page ten

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1 e2 A,4,., ,.,.A.,.. , ,q 1.: , .,.:.,., ' ffyq 2 is?-M course in Spanish was begun, and in l9l6 the departments of Domestic Science and Domestic Art were established. Under the present instructor, Miss Weiss, the Art Department has talcen on new life. lnstruction in Spoken English, or Expression, was begun in I920 under Miss Huff and Miss Weiss. The graduating class of l9l6 had only flour members. Jessie Jenkins won first honor, and Louise Hodges fMrs. N. F. Jones of South Carolinaj, second. The l9l7 graduates were eight in number, with Miriam Mcclammy and Mary Cobb as first and second honor students. Mary Cobb had the distinction of being the first girl admitted to the Freshman Class of the University of North Carolinaq She has continued the course, and is now a member of the Senior Class. Nineteen hundred eighteen had one more graduate than the previous year, the first and second honor members were Jean Robertson and Ella Tew Lindsay, the latter having taken the whole High School Course at Fassifern. ln l9I9 there were twenty-six who received diplomas. This year presented the problem of two seniors who had exactly the same average, so there were two valeclictorians-Virginia Ryder and Alma Seagle. One delivered her farewell message in English and the other in Latin. jane Guignard had second honor. Nineteen students graduated in l920, with Deane Van Landingham and Annie Chadbourn-e leading. There are about forty members of the Class of I92I. W as as vs When Fassifern School was moved to Hendersonville there were two buildings containing all the rooms necessary for sixty resident students. ln l920 a new dormitory, McBee Hall, was erected. This building has been used for seniors, and twenty-five have been housed there during the present school year. A house has been rented as a home for teachers, thus allowing more space for students, who at this time number one hundred and seven, just one hundred more than the group who appeared on October 7, I907. V For lack of' room Fassifern was obliged to decline, during the past year, almost as many as it accepted. The faculty now consists of sixteen teachers. All instructors in the Academic Department have college degrees. The following universities and colleges are represented by their alumni: France, Toledo, Cambridge, Columbia, Tulane, South Carolina, Smith, Goucher, Newcomb. Mrs. Drysdale, teacher of the intermediate department, is a graduate of the Philadelphia Normal School: Miss Thrall, Domestic Science, of the Framingham, Mass., Normal, Miss Huff, Expression, Emerson College of Oratory. Miss Dowd, a great addition to the life of Fassifern has been Director of Music at St. Mary's, Raleigh, and for many years a beloved teacher there. Her assistant, Miss Butman, is a graduate of the New England Conservatory. ' So in every department Fassifern has sought the best instructors. Her daughters have been accepted on certificate by Smith, Coucher, Lal-te Erie, Universities of North Carolina and Florida, and by most of the Southern colleges. Many are still in college, many are married, several are business women or teachers. It is hoped that all are useful as well as happly women. -is as Ss Fassifern toolc an active part in the worlc for the soldiers during the World War, and has lcept its I00 per cent membership in the Red Cross. ln l9l8-l9 the contributions through the Red Cross were cash SIQI, garments Il0. To Committee for Devastated France and Permanent Blind Fund, 5200. ln l9l9-20 through the Red Cross to European Relief Fund, Sl5Og to tubercular patients, Hendersonville, 550. During the present term M50 has been contributed, through the Red Cross, to European Relief Fund, and S47 to the same through Mr. Page. Also S42 to the Chinese Relief. A good deal more will be sent to the relief fund before the close of the session. ' The school has aided students or supported scholarships at Valle Crucisg Christ School, Arden: Franklin Presbyterian School, Salisbury lndustrial School, Balfour Orphanage, Thompson Orphanage, and other 'nsmulions' KATHERINE CAMERON SHIPP. Page twelve