Union College - Stespean Yearbook (Barbourville, KY)

Page 25 text:

Eaniel Stevenson 1337-1397 James Perry Faulkner 1397-1905 James Warren Easley 1905-1910 James Dixon Black 1910-1912 Percy L. Ports 1912-1914 Ezra T. Franklin 1915-1923 John 0. Gross 1929-1933 Conway Boatman (right) 193d-1960 Mahlon A. Miller I960-

Page 24 text:

In 1879, thirty-five local Barbourvillians purchased 20,000 of capital stock to provide funds for the founding of a college. This was done at the urging of Mr. Abraham H. Harritt, a school desk salesman and Mr. James T. Gibson, a local dry goods merchant. The formal opening was held over Mr. Gibson ' s store, now the Western Auto Associate Store. Judge James D. Black, who would later become the College ' s fifth president and a Kentucky Governor, gave the opening address. It was he who named the college Union with the hope that it would serve as a unifying force in the Barbourville community, regardless of religious or political beliefs. It was in a room above this store also that the first classes were held until a suitable building could be erected. In October 1886, the College became affiliated with the Kentucky Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church through the foresight of Daniel Stevenson, a well known educator of the period.

Page 26 text:

The first Administration Building was erected in 1880. In 1905 fire destoyed this building and it was replaced by the new Classroom building. The Classroom Building? with its gracious tower, was erected in 1907. It is now on the National Register of Historic Buildings and is undergoing extensive renovation. This is a strong contrast to when the classes were held in James T. Gib- son ' s store back in 1870-1880.