Shepherd University - Cohongoroota Yearbook (Shepherdstown, WV)

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SHEPHERD COLLEGE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL ORGANIZATION AND EARLY HISTORY ' ' ' HEN the county-seat of jefferson county was moved from Shepherds- , town to Charles Town, the people of Shepherdstown and vicinity decided to use the vacated courthouse for educational purposes. An article of incorporation for a school, to be known as Shepherd College, designed to instruct students in languages, arts and sciences, was drawn up and signed by C. W. Andrews, A. R. Boteler, C. T. Butler, G. M. Beltzhoover, David Billmyer, Samuel Knott, and Henry Shepherd. This body of incorporators gave themselves power to elect instructors, pay salaries, and prescribe courses of study. They appointed Prof. Joseph McMurran, first principal of the institution. A writer in The Picket of February 27, 1896, relates the school's early history as follows: Shepherd College was opened for the first time in September, 1871, by Professor joseph McMurran, under the authority of the Board of Trus- tees, with forty-two pupils. On February 27, 1872, the Legislature of this State passed the fol- lowing Act:-'That a branch of the State Normal School be and the same is hereby established at the building known as Shepherd College, in Shep- herdstown, in the county of Jefferson. The said school is hereby placed on the same footing and subject to the same regulations as the other branches of the State Normal School, Provided, that the said building and lot on which it is erected shall be fitted up in a suitable manner for the purpose of such a school and conveyed in fee or for a term of years not less than ten, assigned or original, free of charge to the State for such fitting up, on occupancy.'--Acts 1872, Chap. 101. A 1 But the Normal School was not organized by the Regents under this Act-and in September, 1872, the exercises of the College were resumed by order of the Board of Trustees, with Professor joseph McMurran, as Prin- cipal, and Miss Louisa P. McMurran and Mrs. Lilie P. Lee, as assistants. There were enrolled sixty-two pupils, but the rooms in the wings only were occupied, as the large rooms had not been fitted up for occupancy. On February 14, 1873, an Act was passed by the Legislature and approved amending the Act of February 27, 1872, establishing a branch Normal School in Shepherd College. This amendwent consisted in making IO

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A MEMORIAL TRIBUTE OMMENCEMENT at Shepherd College in june, 1909, brought a pleasing round of anniversaries, society contests and commence- ment orations. It was a glad week midst opening bud and burst- ing flower and all the sweet influences of nature, rejoicing in the presence of friends, with the chorus' loud acclaim and the pianos' soft tones, with smiles and tears, amid God bless you and Amen, with greetings and partings, and a yearning after the Infinite-this was Com- mencement. Would that it could have lingered longer! The students soon departed for their homes, the Seniors, many of them, to take up active work in the school room in the fall, some to go to college and university, the undergraduates to rest, to work on the farm, and to look forward to the new school year. The Faculty almost as a body, went to the State Educational Association at Clarksburg, and after that to their homes for a short visit, then to a summer school or on a vaca- tion trip. The Principal, Prof. Knutti, accompanied by his family, went to Clarksburg, then to Morgantown where he attended the School of Methods for Sunday School workers and the Educational Conference. He also contemplated taking a little work in the Summer School, but was soon attacked with typhoid in a serious form, and almost from the first the physicians considered his recovery doubtful. Everything that medical skill or the ministration of a devoted wife and many friends could do was used towards his restoration, but the disease baffled all efforts and on Saturday, July 31, his spirit passed to the world beyond. Vlfe believe that the students, the alumni, and our readers generally, will sympathize with this humble effort to pay a tribute to the memory of one whom we all loved, and that this issue of The Picket will, as often as it is seen, remind us of the Work and influence ofa noble leader, now gone from us as to bodily presence, but whose memory still lives in our minds and hearts.-Shepherd College Picket. 9

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