The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1893-09-30

Were Taught and with What Diff
cuIties Our Father G~rappled.
To THE EDITOR-Bear in mind that
this was written by DR.. Brantley York,
June 20, 1876, while DR.. Craven was Std
alive and before the removal of the col
lege was ever moOted. The log college
was a splendid building well hewn and
put together. An L was added to it after
it was made the presidents house. | YVES
born in that log college September p,
1889. They were using the frame college
then. X. W. 1ORK
In the latter part Of the year 1887,
was invited by several gentlemen in tie
neighborhoOd Of Trinity college to teach
a school in that community; after some
deliberation, | consented.
Early in the spring Of 1888, | Openel a
school in a house known as Browns
school house. This house was located
about three quarters Of a mile from the
place where Trinity college now stands
1t was a very inferior building, built Of
round logs and covered with common
boards. The floor was laid with punch
cons and slabs. The chimney was made
Of wood with little or no clay in it,
tapeIing up in the form Of a partridge
trap. The hearth was dirt, and the whole
in bad repair; for, when it rained, it was
with difficulty that the books and paper
could be kept dry. This house was en-
tirely too small to accommodate the stu
dents consequently We were necessitated
to erect a bush arbOr in front of the south
door, and part of the students were under
the arbOr and part in the house.
AS soon as the farmers had laid by their
crops, the citizens met in order to select
a place to build a better house. A com
mittee was appointed (as we'll as | recol-
lect) to select a suitable site; and after
examining several places, the place where
Trinity college now stands was finally
chosen as the most convenient situation,
and in a few weeks a log building 3Ox20
feet was erected.
Early in the month Of August we moved
from Browns school house to the one
just completed. We commenced teach
ing in this new bui ding with sixty-nine
students. 1t was sOOn ascertained that
this building, though much larger and
far superior to the one we had Just left,
was inadequate to accommodate our pres
ent number of students.
The first examination held in this new
building was in the spring of 1889. Pre-.
viOus to this examination, | had resolved
to attempt to establish a permanent insti-
tuition Of learning at this place, based
upon al educational association, and with
a view Of reaching the common walks Of
life with a O thorough education than
been previously afforded them. ! CON
suited one man only, Mr.. Jabez Leach.
with regard to this plan, previous to the
examination. During the examination.
which lasted two days, | was requested
by several citizens to deliver a public lee
turC; the time fixed upCn for it was the
second day, Immediately after dinner
My theme was "The Importance of estab
fishing a permanent institution of learn.
ing Of high grade at this place The lee
ture having closed, | presented the plan
| had previously arranged, which was ap
proved by all. \ subscription was then
taken up for the purpose of erecting a
suitable building; between three and four
hundred dollars were then subscribed
a committee consisting ofth1ee, General
Alexander Gray, J. NJ. Leach and the
writer, was appointed to draft q constitu
ton and by laws for the government of
the association. The meeting then al
Journed TO meet some ten or twelve days
hence at which time the committee was
requested to report.
At the time appointed, the people of
the neighbOrhOod met a. the place deSig-
mated in OrdcrtO organize an educational
society, and to do such other things as
might be deemed important in advancing |
the interest Of the institution. Up TO |
this time the institution had a local !
habitation,' but no name. The prin |
cipal OF the school was requested to
give 1t a name; the n me which he |
gave It WAS Union institute. which name
it held Till it became Normal COLLEGE
The institution was located between two
popu'Cus neighborhOOds, the one on the |
south called Hopewell, the inhabitants of
were generally Methodists; the
other on the north, Springfield, whose
were principally Quakers
The object was in naming it Union insti-
to unite these two neighborhoods in
the interest Of the school. This was
effected.
Tie committee appointed to draft a
constitution reported, each member hay
ing drawn a draft separately, and from
several drafts "a constitution wa
formed and adopted. The association
thus formed was dcuCminated Union
Educalional Society" General
Gray was chosen president:
] VI Leach ESQ SfcretaTV THO poroo