The Bourbon news., 1908-10-13
MILLERsBURG ITEMS.
OPENING OF THE NJ. F. C.

lege, which is practically completed,
opened Thursday morning with about
fifty boarding students, every train dur
ing the day brought in new ones and
before the week is passed the building
will bespractically full. The building
was not formally opened until 9o'clock
Friday morning, when with simple and
impressive ceremonies it was dedicated
TO the work for which it is designed.
Shortly after o'clock visitors began
TO enter the handsome and commodious
chapel, which has seating capacity
of about six hundred. At the appoint
I'd time the exercises opened with the
hymn, 'All Hail the Power of Jesus
Name" which was sung by the audi
enca.
The scripture lesson was read by
Rev. G.. L. Kerr of the Associate Re-
form Presbyterian church, followed by
prayer by Rev. r. S. Sanders of the
Presbyterian church. Addresses were
made by Rev. G. l.. Kerr, r. S. San
dnrs and Rev. T. w. Watts, the latter
of the Methodist church.
The address of Mr.. Watts vas especi-
ally fine. He carried his audience
back TO the day one year ago and told
cussed the doubtful period when the
future life of the school seemed to
hang in balance; he showed how the
great work was accomplished and clos
ed by picturing the brilliant future of
this handsome, we'll appointed institu-
ton. At the close of the exercises the
building was thrown open and the visi-
tors invited to visit all parts of it.
For the past So. years Millersburg
has been an educational center. In
1850, Colonel Johnson, brother of the
celebrated Bushrod Johnson, moved
his female school from Georgetown to
this place and at the same time opened
a military school at Blue Licks. At
the head of the military school he
placed Hon. John e. Blaine. The fe-
male school was known as the Millers-
burg Female Institute. He purchased
the brick residence of James M. Bat
terton, corner of Ninth and Main
streets, which is the same site on
which the new institution is located.
To this residence he built frame ad
dition suitable for school purposes.
During the first year of his charge the
school was taught in the Christian
church, in which the first commence
ment exercises were held.
Among the teachers employed at
this time were Misses Harriet, Sarah
and Caroline Stanwuod Harriet
afterwards became the wife of Hon.
James g. Blaine, and it was here that
the depositions were taken in the cele-
brated libel suit which was brought by
Mr.. Blaine against the Indianapolis
Sentinel in 1884. In 1852 DIR. John
Miller, of Covington became sole own
er of the institution and conducted it
until 1855, when it passed into the
hands of DR.. George S. Savage. In
1856 the institution was chartered as
the Millersburg Female College, and
in June 1857, the first diplomas were
awarded, there being four graduates {:
Sarah j. Thorn, now the widow of the
late j. T. Marshall; America j. Mil
Ter, widow of the late Alexander But
Ter; Bette Turney, the wife of John
Current of Riddles Mills, and her sis
ter, Miss Sallie Turney, all of whom
are still living except Miss Turney.
At the close of the Civi! War the in
stitution passed into the hands of Mr..
John Wesley Hamilton, who previously
conducted a female school at Nash
vile, Tenn. In 1867 Mr.. Hamilton
gave up the school and it was taken in
charge by the Methodist Church South
the conference appointing a board of
education who employed Prof. James
Brown, of Jacksonville, ILL.,, as princi-
pal. In the early 70's the conference
sold The institution to Judge Savage.
Later he sold half interest to Prof.
Abbott and they sold third interest
to DR.. George T. Gould. About 1876
DR.. Gould purchased the entire proper
ty.
During the Christmas holidays OF
1879 the Institution was burned anG the
school went into temporary quarters
until the college could be rebuilt,
which was vast Improvement over
the old one. In 1884 DIR. Gould failed
and the school was run oe year by his
trustees, DIR. 1. r. Best, Mr.. James
Miller, Sr., and Mr.. j. e. Smedley,
who employed DR.. Evans, Of the
South, as superintendent.
In the early part of 1886 this board
sold the property to DR.. G. Pope, of
Georgia, who employed as lady princi-
pal Mrs. S. G. Trueheart, now presi
dent of the National Women's For
eign Missionary Society, with head
quarters at Nashville, Tenn. In 1896
DIR. Pope failed, DR.. w. M. Miller pur-
chasing the property, and he sold it in
1897 to Prof. G. G. Fisher, the present
owner and president of the institution.
About five years ago Prof. Fisher took
down the north wing of the building
and rebuilt it. adding many other i'm
provements.
On the morning of October 8, 1907,
the college building was entirely de-
ssroyed by fire. This was heavy
blow to Millersburg and many believed
that the old Miiersburg Female Col
lege was thing of the past. For the
next thirty days citizens meetings
were held frequently ana the work of
soliciting funds for the erection of a
new building was begun at once.
Within two weeks after the fire the
school had gone into temporary quar-
tiers and the work went on uninterrupt-
edly as though nothing had happened.
Within thirty days $4,000 had been
subscribed and everybody was hopeful.
Architect E. Stamler made the plans
and specifications of the building.
When the bids were given out it was
realized that it would take more money
to construct the building than had been