The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-11-26
Is the Southern Normal Uni
versity at Huntingdon.
1t is Surpassed by None in Complete
ness of Work.
Its Lecture Room seats 1, 900 Persons
.--Has Every Requirement.

A Scimitar representative visited
Huntingdon, Tenn, few days ago
and found live town with a popula-
ton of 1900, stave factory, -four mill,
saw mill, two steam gins, a pressed
brick mandatory, two large lumber
concerns, two banks, each with capt.
tai of $4,000, thirty-one business
houses five white churches, three col
ored churches, two newspapers, three
colored schools, a fine white public
school, and university second
to none in the State. The citizens are
public spirited, enterprising and saga
cious, in proof of which qualities is the
university just mentioned.
1t is the Southern Normal Univer-
sity, and tits credit to West Tennes-
see and the State generally. To Prof
]. A. Baber, one of the principles, is
due the credit for organizing the en-
terprise, but he is indebted tothe citi-
zens Of Huntington for the encour-
agement and aid necessary to enable
him to carry out his project. Prof.
Baber had school at Holiday, Tenn,
when he wrote Prof. Alvin Davidson,
then teacher at the National Normal
University at Lebanon, 0. These gen.
tlemen, with Mr.. w. F. Baber, there
upon presented the plan to the citi'
zens Of Huntingdon, who, seeing the
advantages which would accrue from
the location in their town OF such an
institution, set about to secure it. An
excellent site OF six acres was donated,
and the town took $4,000 in stock,
afterward selling it to the promoters
at so cents on the dollar, thus donating
$4,000 to the work.
Their public spirit and &c nerosity did
not 60 unrewarded. 1t was less than
year ago that the subject was
preached, but the promoters meant bu-
siness. In February the contract for
the building was let and the burning
of brick began. Since then not only
has the main building and dormito-
ries been completed, but where there
were lot OF old fields new residences
sprang up and the town has increased
in population fully 300 in the last six
months.
The university building is an impos
ing structure and was built to last al
ways, apparently. Every brick in it
facing and inside, as well as the par
tition walls, is hard pressed, set in ce
ment. The front wall supporting the
tower is three feet in thickness and
iron girders are used Over 100000
dry pressed brick were used in the con
struction. 1t is three stories high
T-shaped, 104 feet across the front and
100 feet deep. 1t has q lecture hall &C
by 80 feet, which has seating capac
ity of 1000 persons. This hall is well
lighted, has a lofty ceiling "a feet high
large gallery, stage 60 by 20 feet
furnished with handsome drop cur
tain, grand piano, and it, with the
entire building, is headed with steam
pipes.
The building has twelve class rooms
ranging in size from 20 by 20 to 80 by
40, physiological and chemical labora
tories, study rooms, library, Offices, din
ing hall, kitchen and engine room. It'll
tower is 100 feet in height and from il
a magnificent view of the surrounding
country for miles around can be oh
tanned. A $500 clock is shortly to be
placed in the tower. The cost OF the
building, including steam heating ap
paratus and furniture, thus far amounts
to $4,000. The class rooms are fitted
with inlaid blackboards made Of lime
cement and plaster of paris; in the
laboratories the material is provided
for demonstration in anatomy, physi
ology and dissection and chemical ex
periments. Everything, in short il
complete and of the best and most dur
able kind.
The faculty Of the university is d
follows J. A. Barber, A. B., and Alvin
Davidson, A, M, associate principals
Miss Emma Daily, A. NJ, Greek and
rhetoric ]. A, Barber, A. M, meta
physics and higher mathematics
Alvin Davidson, A. NJ, Latin and nat
ual science ; E. G. McDougle, G. E. b
s, penmanship, drawing and book
keeping Miss Kate Wells, letter writing
and elocution: E. L. Mendenhall, b
D., mathematics and grammar S. @
Parish, B. S., history and debating
Miss Minnie Kerr, photography and
typewriting; Miss Kate Van Horn
instrumental music; s. w. Presson,
vocal music Mrs. T. H. Baker, art; ],
NJ. Davis, band and orchestra director