The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-03-30
VISIONINC FRUITLAND JUNlOR
COLLEGE

u
Some of the forward looking BaptlStS OF
Henderson county have seen vision OF
flourishing Junior college located at Fruit
land Institute. Friends Of the institution
are hoping that members Of the denomlna-
ton i'm this and other mountain counties
may get the vision and that the Baptlsts OF
a large area of the western section OF the
State may be soldly arrayed in support OF
the movement which has been started to
extend the scope and influence of the edu-
cation work which has been done at Fruit
land for the past Sc years.
As a Baptist institution, plans for the
expansion of Fruitland must necessarily be
made and the details must be worked out
!. by that denomination; but it is certain
ssthat as far as Henderson county is con-
cerned, a movement for the development
of Fruitland will have the hearty interest
and support of people Of all denominations
and many other citizens of the county. A
movement to transform Fruitland into a
successful Junior college will be regarded
as a county educational enterprise, worthy
: of the support of all citizens who are con-
cerned about Christian education.
Fruitland has an honorable record of SER
vice in educational work It's influence has
been extensive, through the work done
with a student body that has numbered
young men and women from distant places
as we'll as residents of this and other noun
tain counties. The spirit of the institution,
of both faculty and students, has been fine
and impressive through the years; and
graduates of the institution have gone out
through the nation leaving the impress OF
Christian character and Christian living
which has been, in large measure, the
fruitage of the years spent at Fruitland
Henderson county has profted greatly
through the educational work of Fruitland
Institute. Some of this county's leading cit
zens have been numbered in its student
body in the past third of a century.
Fruitland Institute began its career when
there were no high schools in Henderson
county and it filled a large place in the
educational life of the county. The county
now has seven public high schoos-at one
time had ten high SchOols-and the need
for high school education in a denomina-
tional school is small compared with the
need 80 years ago. This is true in the
other mountain counties. As result, Fruit
land is now engaged in doing educational
work which is done in scores of communi-
ties in the public school system. This IS
certainly one of the primary reasons for
believing that the institution should DE
transformed into Junior college.
There is pressing demand for Junior
college work and facilities in the Carolinas.
1t is said that Mars Hill is unable to ac-
cOmmodate the students who press for adj
mittance to that institution; and it is known
that scores who could not be accepted an
piled when Brevard College was opened
last year. If Fruitland was provided with
the necessary buildings and equipment it
is not believed that any difficulty would be
experienced in bringing several hundred
junior college students to the institution
Fruitland has natural advantages of To-
cation which would make strong and
wide appeal for an educational institution
OF this character. If properly equipped
and financed, the institution would no doubt
take place of prominence in denomina-
tlonal work in the Carolinas. In its present
position, Fruitland faces an uncertain fu