The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1900-04-16
THE GREAT AND POPULAR SOUTHERN
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Trinity College had its origin in
Union Institute, a school Of acad-
emic grade, located in the north.
west corner Of Randolph County,
North Carolina. 1t was opened
to meet a local demand on the
part Of leading citizens for educas
tional advantages for their chill
dren.
The late Rev. DIR. Brantley York
was principal Of Union Institute
from 1888, the year Of its founda-
ton, to 1912. Rev. B. Craven,
then elected principal, remained
in office from 1912 to 1851.
With the year 1851 this insti-
tuition entered upon the second
stage Of its history. It was re.
chartered then as Normal College,
the leading purpose Of which was
the training of teachers for the
public schools.
Before the end Of this decade it
had outgrown its distinctly nor
NAL purpose and considerably en-
larged its curriculum. In 1S49
it acquired for the first time the
charter of a regular college. The
North Carolina Conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, then converting at Beau
fort, accepted the transfer of the
property and re-chartered it un-
der the name of Trinity College.
The first class graduated in
1858. From that date to the out
break of the civil war, the institu-
ton enjoyed an unusual degree Of
prosperity.
During the civil war its pros
perity was of course greatly re-
duced. In 1868, President Cra-
ven resigned, and Prot. W. 7.
GanaWay, then a member of the
Faculty, was placed in charge as
acting president. He held the
position till the close of the war,
in 1865, the work Of instruction
heing Interrupted only from the
time of the encamplng Of troops on
the college grounds in the spring
OF 1865, until the following Janu-
uary, an interval Of about five
scholastic months. -......a
DR.. Craven was reelected Pres .
ident, and the college resumed its
work in the beginning of January,
1866. Following this, the history
Of the college is one Of heroic en-.
deayor to restore its fortunes and
regain its former degree Of success.
The building Of the college chapel
was begun in 1873, and completed
in 1895 About 1888 the first
bequest was made by DR.. Siddle,
Of North Carolina, for the endow-
ment fund. The death Of its
President, DIR. Craven, November
Z, 1882, was a heavy loss to the
progress Of the institution. At
once Prof. w. II. Pegram, then a
member Of the faculty, was made
chairman, in which capacity he
served until June. 1883, when the
Rev. DIR. N. L. Wood was elected
President of the College. In De.
eember, 1884, President Wood re.
signed, and Prof. J. f.. Hoffman
was chosen chairman Of the fac
ulty. In June, 1887, John F..
Crowell, A. B., yale was elected
10 the presidency, which Office he
held till June, 1894.
In 1892 the college was moved
from Randolph county TO the city
of Durham, n. G. John G. Kilgo
was elected 10 the presidency Al.
gust !, 1894.
Trinity Park and Buildings.
Trinity College Park is located
on the west side Of the city Of Dur.
ham, ard consists Of sixty.two and
one.half acres Of land. The park
is incorporated and Is under nun.
icipal government. II has been
laid out in drives and walks, and
otherwise improved at q large out.
lay Of money. The main en-
trance 10 the park Is from The
south side through an iron gate
that spans the entire avenue lead