Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1921-01-28
PLANS THE 9
BAPTISTC0LEEGE.
What is Proposed 10 Be Done by
School To BE Erected For
Southwestern Section Of
Virginia.

Almost every citizen in Tazewcll
County by this timo has read or
heard something about Bluefield COL
lege. That 1t is to be located in Taze-
wcll County near the cities of Gra-
ham and ,Bluofleld, is generally
known. That 1t is to be n college for
young men, representing an oxpendi-
ture in the beginning, of one million
dollars, and under the auspices Of
the Baptist Denomination, is also
generally understood
1t is earnestly desired TINT all shall
have II clear understanding of It's
aims and purposes, it's ideals, it's
building program and It's financial
plans and resources. II Is believed
that full nnd accurate knowledge
OF all its outstanding features of tho
College will result in common good.
1t will be Il purpose through succeed
,.ing issuccs of this publication and
in various other ways to accomplish
the above desire.
Origin of the College.
In this brief article we call alton
tion TO the origin Of Bluefeld College.
All things come from an idea and
Il conviction, BlucGcld College ropro-
scnts tho unfolding of n conviction
which goes back to the days of the
pioneers of tho baptist denomination
In Southwest Virginia. These pion-
ccrs had II conviction that somewhere
in this general region our Baptist
people should found ~ college for
young men.
This conviction grew. taking more
definite shape now and then, as tho
need for higher education under
Christian auspices wns understood
and aa South West Virginia atvanc~
ed In importance and in population.
Finally, Virginia Daptists five or six
years ngo, decided to locate somo
where In South West Virginia n col
lego for boys. This conviction assum-
cd moro definite form two years ago
when the Baptists of Virginia nppro-
priated 100000 for this purpose and
appointed committee on location.
This committee, In August 1919,
mot in Bristol to receive md consider
bids for the college. Some seven OF
oight South West Virginia cities
wanted il md made ovortures for it.
Among them wns Bluohcld. Since tho
college could not be located outside
of Virginia and this being rccogniz-
cd by Blucfleld, she offered loca-
tion and $4,000 in addition IL tho
college, would bo located in Tnzewell
County between tho cities of Gra-
ham nnd Blueheld. Scvcnty-two men
representing the Chamber of Com
mercc Of Dlucfield presented this Of
fer. These men were serious and de-
termined. This region being an un-
Occupied one in so far ms college
was concerned and tho offer from
Blueields no mean offer the commit
tee on location decided to accept the
offer Of Blueneld. All agree that tho
dccision was wisely made.
1t should be stated that ut this
juncture no one imagined that the
college would start off MS million
dollar proposition. This came IA q
subsequent development. The Board
of Trustees having been elected and
commissioned to build and operate
Bluoicld College met In Bluefield.
They believed tho college should be
the best; and be worthy Of tho peo-
pie of these mountains. They believ-
cd tho buildings should be fire-proof
and in every respect adaptable and
modern. Hence tho Board readily and
unanimously decided $226,000 in ad-
dition to the grounds was wholly in
adequate with which to build worth
while institution.
Million Dollars Needed.
So having been charged with the
affairs of tho college they canvassed
the whole situation and decided to
construct plans on basis OF 900
students. This was done. It was dis
covered that altogether eighteen build
ings would be required. AS best they
could they went into the cost of con-
struction and saw that no less than
one million dollars would be requir-
ed. The main problem, OF course,
was finances. 1t was finally decided
TO take all their findings to the Bap-
lists of Virginia and ask for q CAM
paign for one million dollars. This
was done last November in Rich
mond when the Baptists of Virginia
met in their annual meeting. AS Is
known by many all the recomIncnda-
tiohs Of the Board Of Trustees were
accepted by Virginia Baptsts.
Two architectural firms ara now at
work and the actual work Of construc-
tion will beginin the early summer.
Thus runs the story Of the origen
and development of Bluefield College.
R. ADDISON LANDSDELL,
President.