Nichols High School - Log Yearbook (Oxford, NC)

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On the first floor, one would find offices for the case Work- er, and in former days, that of the lady Supervisor, Miss Net- tie N. Bemisg the post office, children's visitor's room, read- ing rooms for the staff, the candy corner, and parlors. The chapel was a most important and only auditorium for years. Here ,thousands throughout the years, enjoyed various pro- grams and assemblies. Religious training given and received in this one room has Without doubt placed its stamp on Wor- thy citizenship in North Carolina. The fourth floor, when no longer required for living con- ditions, was used as storage space for clothing, until the Duke Building was erected, than this department was transferred. This Main Building no longer exists in material form, but there are memories associated With it that will long be cherished. Often one is lauded for his life of service and good deeds. This building is deserving of similar praise, in its Way, for it has made pess ble the means for greater contributions and finer development of the boys and girls in the Oxford Or- phanage. Here cliaraclcr has been built and lasting friendship made! Page Seventeen

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and Mr. James Campbell, assistant. The institution was for male students only. The management of the institution was changed several times without result and the troubles of the College never came to an end. It was converted from one type of school to another, without success. In 1860 it was suggested that St. John's College be made a military school, and as the war broke out, the College sus- pended its operations. At the close of the war, Mr. John H. Mills, who was con- ducting a female school in Oxford, made arrangements to move into the building and had contemplated purchasing the same. He abandoned the idea, and in 1868 the property was sold under mortgage held by Capt. John Berry and was bought by the Grand Lodge of Masons for the sum of S7,000. An ef- fort was made in 1871 to arrange for re-opening or to lease the property. This failed and a caretaker moved into the build- ing until further disposition could be made. Thus the story of St. John's College closed in a record of failure, but not until the Masons of the State had placed themselves in the ranks of the pioneers of education in North Carolina. In 1872 there was a tie in the casting of votes to sell the building and Grand Master John Nichols cast the deciding vote against the sale. The question, What shall we do with it? , then arose but remained undecided. Mr. John H. Mills, who may be called the Father of the Orphanage introduced a resolution to convert St. John's College, called the Main Building, into an orphanage, and in ten minutes the resolution was carried by a unanimous vote and Mr. Mills was placed in charge of the work. Since the conversion of St. John's College into the Main Building, or the Orford Orphanage, as known then, there have been nine superintendents: Mr. John H. Mills, Reverend B. F. Dixon, Reverend J. T. Harris, Dr. W. S. Black, Mr. N. M. Lawrence, Col. W. J. Hicks, Mr. R. L. Brown, Reverend C. K. Proctor, and Reverend A. D. Leon Gray. The Main Building, for over eighty years, was the center of life for the Oxford Orphanage. There was a time when the superintendent lived in a part of the building, for there was no other provision for living quarters, there was also a time when a large number of small- er children lived in this building, for there was no cottage for them, there was the time when it provided the only class- rooms for school, for John Nichols School was not completed until 1925. After the school was moved to the new building, the second and third floors were remodeled for rooms for the lady members of the staff. Page Sixteen

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ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE OR THE MAIN BUILDING