The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-28

spnblv authorized citizens OF
Murfreesboro to conduct a lot
terv for the maintenance of
these two schools.
In 1948 both the Baptist and
Methodist religions had grown
considerably in the Roanoke
Chowan area and their need for
school caused both TO open Ia
cljties in Murfreesboro.
The Baptist school w A Z; first
called Chowan Female Institute
and it was operated ~ the old
building in which Mrs. Banks
had conducted her school for
girls. This school was under the
direction and pa'-' - . &c all
Baptist Churches in the Abe
marie.
Rev. Martin Rudoipn Torey. a
graduate of Madison uNiversity,
was the first president and he
was succeeded by DR.. William
Hooper, grandson of the William
Hooper who signed the Decla-
ration Of Independence.
The Methodists So esiey-
an Female college under the pa
tronage of John Southall of Muir
treesboro. who conceived the
school so his daughter. Mrs. SIZE
Lawrence. could a'-@.-@ '-leth-
odist school at home.
Dr.. Goodwin Gotten Moore, the
trustees of Chowan college and
trustees of hoWan co4;e and
the father of Major john Wheel
er Moore. State historian and
famous author, also had the
same thing in mind W h n he
called the gentry of the c ,untry
to his palatial home. Mulberry
Grove" between Ah?sll'e and
Rich Square and drew up plans
for the opening of Chowan col
lege 80 his d3u i'd
have the benefits of a Christian
education"
The Methodist school in Muir
freesboro suffered the bad luck
Of crumbling in ashes twice in
Is years; the first time in 1877
and the last time in 1893. 1t was
never rebuilt after that.
Just prior to the last burning
Of the Methodist school. Muir
freesboro reached the acme Of
its educational leadership. u tn
the four schools operating there
and bringing students in from
every part of Northeastern
North Carolina and Southeastern
Virginia.
In 1911 the name O. I
was charged to Chowan college
and 20 years later in 1881 the
school was made coeducational.
through wars, d e pressions and
prosperity the old ~c'o~~7 "r:e'
on, turning out hundreds of fine
citizens, who today are = ~
bone Of the reopening that will
be held next fall on the cele-
oratlon Of the eaut eul old
schoops Tooth anniversary.
The present drive is the result
OF many things. The faith of
lew. The work of many. The
flnal realization of the pressing
need. The removal of Wake
Forest to Winston Salem. The
expensiveness of an "av-av from
nome" education. TIE ~0N1raph-
zeal remoteness of all 9th r Bap-
nst schools in tn state. insofar
ss Northeastern North Carolina
Is concerned. The loss of more
and more of the &C. ~T'or"
Of the Albemarle ard ~ . ~'-n
Ohowan, which leaves to enter
schools 200 miles awav and nev-
ef returns in body and seldom
IN spirit. The great need for
more trained men and women to
ueVelop and exterA A. "ichness
ol their home lands. The desire
IN the hearts and minds ~ m any
10 renew the broken CULTURAL
chain that has no+ hoon e''1o@
since the closing of Chowan in
1912.
Another s1OO,00o will be raised
by opening time next fall and
Stll another $500 900 will be
raised in the next few years for
'ne expansion of the proud and
historical educational conter;
since the men and wor~oo who
are reopening Chowan college do
not D'an to merely ""or~e''.'
HeV plan m 90 fo'-wo~d With a