Looking Back: A Journey Through the Pages of the Keowee Courier for the Years 1889, 1899, 1909, 1949, 1989 and 1999

By John Ashton Hester

This book consists of six sections highlighting the years 1889, 1899, 1909, 1949, 1989, and 1999. It is the eighth book in the Looking Back series, with each highlighting different years and containing different news, feature, and sports stories. It is the author’s hope that these books will bring back some nostalgic memories for longtime residents and provide some historical insight for younger people and newcomers to the area. The Keowee Courier was founded in 1849. Sadly, it was closed down shortly before this book was published, with the final issue coming out on March 27, 2019. Thus, it had been in continuous publication for 170 years, except for two or three years during the Civil War.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796032994

John Ashton Hester

Early in his career as a reporter, photographer, and editor for the Keowee Courier, ASHTON HESTER became fascinated by the volumes containing issues from past years of the paper, which was founded in 1849. He began compiling a weekly column containing news highlights from the corresponding dates 10, 20, 30, 40, etc., years ago. He first titled the column From the Past but eventually changed it to Looking Back, which is also the title of this book and six previous books which highlighted different years and contained different stories.

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Copyright © 2019 by John Ashton Hester.

ISBN:                Hardcover                            978-1-7960-3301-4

                          Softcover                             978-1-7960-3300-7

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Rev. date: 05/14/2019

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CONTENTS

I 1889 January 3, 1889

Courier Carrier Laments College Burning

Westminster Store Destroyed By Fire

January 10, 1889

Article Spotlights Walhalla’s Progress

January 17, 1889

Township School Trustees Appointed

Editor Advocates Closing Adger College

January 24, 1889

County Teachers’ Association Organized

Republican Claims Voter Suppression

January 31, 1889

Letter Writer Defends Adger College

February 7, 1889

New Editors Take Over ‘Seneca Free Press’

Papers Disagree On Oconee Prohibition Vote

February 21, 1889

Courier Principal Editor, Col. W.c. Keith, Dies

February 28, 1889

Little River School Denied Public Funds

March 7, 1889

Number Of Pupils In Districts Reported

March 14, 1889

March 21, 1889

Thiefs Steal Food From Out Buildings

Oconee Teachers’ Association Has Meeting

March 28, 1889

First Issue Of Westminster Banner Printed

Pioneer Railroad Engineer Dies In Walhalla

April 4, 1889

Teachers Paid 5, 4 Or 3 Cents Per Day Per Pupil

April 11, 1889

Oconee County Farmers’ Alliance Meets

School Of Telegraphy Staying Busy

April 18, 1889

April 25, 1889

New Walhalla Town Clock Arrives

Democrat Mail Agent Ousted By Republican

May 2, 1889

Richland To Build New School House

Walhalla Firemen’s Pic Nic Scheduled

Teachers’ Convention Held At Tomassee

May 9, 1889

‘No License’ Wins Oconee Liquor Vote

May 16, 1889

May 23, 1889

Agricultural College At Fort Hill Assured

Fire Department Holds Annual Maroon

May 30, 1889

‘Lost Boy’ Gets On Wrong Train During Trip

Clemson Ruling Is Victory For State’s Farmers

Tomassee High School Has Closing Exercises

June 6, 1889

Conveyance To Mountain Resorts Offered

June 13, 1889

Long Creek Church Burns; Arson Suspected

Citizen Laments Walhalla’s Sanitary Condition

Editor Laments Condition Of Walhalla Colleges

June 20, 1889

Wagener Academy Has Closing Exercises

Richland Pupils Enjoy Picnic At The Tunnel

Commissioner Reports On School Visits

June 27, 1889

Association Building Large Distillery

July 4, 1889

Old Records Of Nazareth Church Provided

Seneca Schools Hold Closing Exercise

July 11, 1889

Farmers’ Alliance Holds Big Picnic

July 18, 1889

Oconee County Alliance Meets At Oakway

July 25, 1889

Well Accident Causes Serious Injury

August 1, 1889

August 8, 1889

Mysterious Loss Of Seneca Chickens Solved

August 15, 1889

Westminster Banner Gets A New Editor

August 22, 1889

More Schools Visited By Superintendent

August 29, 1889

Elaborate Hotel Planned In Walhalla

September 5, 1889

More Schools Visited By Superintendent

September 12, 1889

‘Young Bloods’ Disrupt Peace In Westminster

September 19, 1889

More Schools Visited By Superintendent

September 26, 1889

Walhalla Has Three Cotton Buyers This Year

Horse Shipment Arrives From Montana

More Schools Visited By Superintendent

October 10, 1889

Louis Brandt Is A Model Farmer

October 17, 1889

Dr. Fahnestock Named Deputy Collector

October 24, 1889

Gospel Tent Sought For Protracted Meeting

More Schools Visited By Superintendent

October 31, 1889

Train Tickets To State Fair On Sale

More Schools Visited By Superintendent

Surplus School Funds Should Go To Teachers

November 7, 1889

November 14, 1889

November 21, 1889

Tax On Dogs Debated In Legislature

November 28, 1889

December 5, 1889

December 12, 1889

Richland Academy Nearing Completion

December 19, 1889

Big Gospel Tent Meeting Closes

County Expenses For Year Were $8,467.91

County Treasurer’s Office Broken Into

December 26, 1889

New Norman Park Hotel To Open

II 1899 January 5, 1899

January 12, 1899

January 19, 1899

January 26, 1899

Return Getting Modern Farm Equipment

February 2, 1899

Keowee Courier Getting New Building

Suspect In 1879 Murder Of Republican Dies

February 9, 1899

Shuttle And Bobbin Company Staying Busy

February 16, 1899

Oconee News Swiped Courier’s Story

February 23, 1899

Storm Ravages Seneca And Old Pickens

March 2, 1899

March 9, 1899

Storm Destroys New Walhalla Church

Oconee County’s 74 School Districts Listed

Contracts To Work Public Roads Awarded

March 16, 1899

March 23, 1899

March 30, 1899

Long Creek School Has Closing Exercises

April 6, 1899

April 13, 1899

April 20, 1899

Oconee News Gets A New Owner/Editor

April 27, 1899

May 4, 1899

Oconee News Moving To Seneca

Business Is Booming In Walhalla

Walhallans Have Choice Of Soda Fountains

May 11, 1899

May 18, 1899

May 25, 1899

Westminster High School Has Closing Exercises

Seneca And Westminster Base Ball Teams Meet

Walhalla Dispensary Gets Whitewashed

June 1, 1899

Keowee Courier Moves Into New Building

Deputy Marshals Make A Big Haul

June 8, 1899

Press Moved Into New Courier Building

Old Pickens Survivors’ Association Meets

June 15, 1899

Black Diamond Railroad Route Scouted

Keowee Courier Prints A Photograph

June 22, 1899

June 29, 1899

‘Event Of The Season’ Set At Pitchford’s Hall

Visiting Minister Impressed By Walhalla

July 6, 1899

‘Glorious Fourth’ Event Drew Large Crowd

Livery Business Expanding To Seneca

Teachers Urged To Attend Summer School

July 13, 1899

July 20, 1899

Work Done At Shuttle And Bobbin Factory

Carrier Pigeons Released At Westminster

July 27, 1899

August 3, 1899

Walhalla High School Seeks Pupils

August 10, 1899

Flood Refugees Walk Through Fair Play

August 17, 1899

Auditor Lists County’s Property Value

August 24, 1899

Seneca To Get New Correspondent

August 31, 1899

September 7, 1899

Lavonia Hands Westminster First Loss

September 14, 1899

‘Missing Link’ Railroad Contemplated

Walhalla Would Become Railroad Center

September 21, 1899

‘Black Diamond’ Surveyors In Whetstone

Cotton Mill Good News For Westminster

Visitor Recalls Walhalla Of Years Gone By

September 28, 1899

Removal Of Black Locust Trees Urged

October 5, 1899

October 12, 1899

October 19, 1899

Near-By Cotton Mills Benefit Cotton Farmer

Revenue Officers And Moonshiners ‘Skirmish’

October 26, 1899

‘Oconeeans’ Used To Be ‘Oconeeites’

Closing Of Whetstone School Described

G.w. Pratt Family Moves To Atlanta

November 2, 1899

November 9, 1899

Walhalla Cotton Mill Gets New Manager

Two Proposed Railroads In Conflict

November 16, 1899

Vandals Smash New Walhalla Street Lamps

Comedy Company Presents ‘Jerry, The Tramp’

Using Dynamite To Secure Fish Decried

November 23, 1899

Colonel’s Fork Creek Crossing Dangerous

November 30, 1899

Seneca Cotton Mills Gets Commission

December 7, 1899

‘Traveling Libraries’ Made Available

December 14, 1899

Cheswell Cotton Mill Organized Into Company

December 21, 1899

December 28, 1899

Site For Cheswell Cotton Mills Located

III 1909 January 6, 1909

Seneca Lights And Water Hopes Diminish

Kaufmann Opera House Partly Torn Down

January 13, 1909

Retiring Coroner Had 32 Years In Government

January 20, 1909

Walhalla-To-Seneca Trolley Line Proposed

January 27, 1909

Westminster Steam Laundry Near Completion

February 3, 1909

Moonshiners Warned, Corbin Will Get You!

‘Base Ball’ Star, Ty Cobb, Visits Westminster

Knitting Mill Increases Its Capital Stock

Editors Debate Need For Trolley Line

Revenuers Surprise Moonshining Children

February 10, 1909

New Home For Seneca Library Sought

February 17, 1909

Horse Goes To Walhalla Without Mail

Seneca Closes Deal For Electric Lights

February 24, 1909

Engineer Killed In Passenger Train Wreck

March 3, 1909

March 10, 1909

Corbins Gunned Down Making An Arrest

March 17, 1909

83-Year-Old Lady Recalls Area In The Past

March 24, 1909

‘Old Time Working’ Set At St. John’s Church

March 31, 1909

April 7, 1909

Westminster Boys Hold Relay Race

The ‘Poor Man’s Friend’ Dies Suddenly

April 14, 1909

April 21, 1909

Walhalla Gets Ford Model T Agency

Laundry Cleans 100-Year-Old Spread

Issaquena Literary Society Has Contests

April 28, 1909

Westminster Track Team Awarded Medals

May 5, 1909

May 12, 1909

Westminster High School Pupils To Debate

May 19, 1909

Local Residents Hope To Get Highway

New Seneca High School Dedicated

Walhalla ‘Weavers’ Top Salem ‘Mountaineers’

May 26, 1909

Westminster School Has Graduation Events

June 2, 1909

Automobiles Gaining In Popularity

‘Y’ Nearing Completion At West Union

Old-Time Rat Killing Held On Little River

June 9, 1909

Westminster To Get Newspaper

June 16, 1909

June 23, 1909

June 30, 1909

‘Tugaloo Tribune’ Prepares For First Issue

Hetrick Hosiery Mills Comes To Walhalla

July 7, 1909

‘Calhoun’s Dream’ May Be Realized

July 14, 1909

July 21, 1909

Oconee County Gets Fifth Newspaper

July 28, 1909

August 4, 1909

August 11, 1909

‘Electric Theatre’ Opens In Walhalla

August 18, 1909

Moving Picture Show Opens In Seneca

August 25, 1909

September 1, 1909

Walhalla Needs Municipal Light Plant

September 8, 1909

September 15, 1909

September 22, 1909

Foot Ball Game Set In Westminster

September 29, 1909

Westminster Has First Foot Ball Game

October 6, 1909

October 13, 1909

Horse Racer And Horses In Train Wreck

Circulating Library Adds New Books

Richland Is A Thriving Community

October 20, 1909

Westminster Outclasses Clemson Freshmen

Trial Balloon Passes Over Local Area

October 27, 1909

November 3, 1909

‘The Ghosts Of Hallowe’en’ Assemble

Night Filled With Sounds In Bounty Land

November 10, 1909

Automobiles Pass Through Fair Play

November 17, 1909

Oconee To Lose Clemson?

Seneca Needs Insurance Against Autos

November 24, 1909

December 1, 1909

December 8, 1909

Editor Decries Illegal Sellers Of Liquor

December 15, 1909

December 22, 1909

December 29, 1909

IV 1949 January 6, 1949

January 13, 1949

January 20, 1949

‘Granny’ Adams Pulls For Marv Rackley

January 27, 1949

February 3, 1949

Many Schools Requesting Consolidation

February 10, 1949

February 17, 1949

February 24, 1949

March 3, 1949

Wsnw’s 230-Foot Antenna Tower Goes Up

March 10, 1949

Vault-Cracking At Seneca High Investigated

Walhalla Skaters Get North College Street

March 17, 1949

Walhalla Softball Leagues Being Organized

March 24, 1949

March 31, 1949

Avid Baseball Fan Will Be Missed This Season

April 7, 1949

April 14, 1949

April 21, 1949

Oconeean Granted State’s First Divorce

April 28, 1949

May 5, 1949

May 12, 1949

May 19, 1949

May 26, 1949

Walhallan Earns College Pole Vault Honor

June 2, 1949

Roy Ward Top Razorback Hitter

June 9, 1949

June 16, 1949

Wsnw Announces Program Schedule

June 23, 1949

June 30, 1949

Second ‘Last Man’s Club’ Organized

Californian To Attend Centennial Celebration

July 7, 1949

July 14, 1949

July 21, 1949

July 28, 1949

August 4, 1949

Local Pigeon Raiser Featured In Article

August 11, 1949

August 18, 1949

August 25, 1949

September 1, 1949

‘Doc’ And Dog Provide Music

September 8, 1949

September 15, 1949

September 22, 1949

September 29, 1949

October 6, 1949

October 13, 1949

October 20, 1949

October 27, 1949

Oconee Orchestra Performs For First Time

November 3, 1949

Oconee County May Get New Town

November 10, 1949

Charter Sought To Incorporate Town

November 17, 1949

November 24, 1949

December 1, 1949

Blocked Kicks Key As Walhalla Beats Seneca

December 8, 1949

Guard Voted Razorback Most Valuable Player

December 15, 1949

Walhalla Switches To Dial Telephones

December 22, 1949

December 29, 1949

V 1989

January 1989

February 1989

March 1989

April 1989

May 1989

June 1989

July 1989

August 1989

September 1989

October 1989

November 1989

December 1989

VI 1999

January 1999

February 1999

March 1999

April 1999

May 1999

June 1999

July 1999

August 1999

September 1999

October 1999

November 1999

December 1999

I

1889

JANUARY 3, 1889

The KEOWEE COURIER enters upon its fortieth volume this week.

Adger College. The work of the next session will begin on Thursday, the 13th instant, under control of the undersigned, aided by competent assistants.—Del. Kemper, M.A., President.

The Walhalla Female College opened on Tuesday, 1st instant, with a large increase of new students. This institution, under Prof. Reed, is doing a good work.

The New Year’s Hop, given on Tuesday night last, proved to be one of the most enjoyable features of the holidays. Seneca and Richland were both well represented.

Economy ought to be the order of the day with all classes. We cannot see any good reason why every family in Oconee should not have a spinning wheel, and use it too.

Capt. N.A. Burley killed two hogs last week, which weighed respectively 420 and 250 pounds net.

During Christmas week Mr. John C. Mickler received a painful wound in one of his hands by the bursting of a Roman candle which he was firing off.

All the counties in the State have volunteer military companies, with the exception of Oconee, Lexington and Chesterfield. We do not believe any military company is needed in Oconee, especially when, as is the case in the other counties, these military companies are a constant expense to the State.

Mr. Newton Fitzgerald was shot through the foot last week by the accidental discharge of a pistol in the hands of Mr. Robert S. Rutledge.

An act to submit the question of license or no license to retail spirituous liquors, &c., to the voters of Oconee has become law.

(Items from Westminster Correspondence. by P.): Another year has gone. 1888 with its joys and sorrows has passed away. It will no doubt go down in history as the year in which money triumphed over right, and oppression over freedom. . .Dr. W.W. Cornog, a promising young M.D., who has spent the last year with us, has moved to Fair Play for the purpose of practicing his chosen profession. . .The I.T. Literary Club had quite a pleasant time on the night of the 22d at the college. . .Senator Mason and Representative Zimmerman got home in time to enjoy Christmas with their families. . .The Westminster school opened on yesterday with a good attendance.

Courier Carrier Laments College Burning

(Book editor’s note):

There was a lengthy poem in this issue of the Courier titled Carrier’s Address, apparently written by Josie Fischesser. An Introduction, apparently written by a Courier editor, read:

"Our Carrier, Josie Fischesser

"Brings the COURIER every week

"And being a well wisher,

"A word for him we’ll speak.

"We know he’s always good and true,

"Our faithful Carrier Joe,

"And if he knows a thing or two,

We guess he’ll tell you so.

Following is one of the verses of Josie Fischesser’s poem:

"We know that many hearts were sad,

"When Adger College burned,

"Some losing every book they had,

"With lessons yet unlearned.

"We trust another edifice,

"May from the ashes grow,

"May Phoenix-like arise from this,

And flourish, don’t you know.

(Book editor’s note: Another edifice did indeed arise; it was the Walhalla Graded School which in later years became the Walhalla Civic Auditorium/Walhalla Performing Arts Center.)

Hair Work Done to Order: Watch Guards, Breast-Pins, Necklaces, &c. Beautiful Mementos of Friends, Dead or Living. Mounting Furnished if Desired. Also, Jewelry, Clocks and Sewing Machines repaired at prices suited to hard times. Mrs. J.B. Puckett, Westminster, S.C. Produce taken in payment for work.

Westminster Store Destroyed by Fire

(The following report was included in Westminster Correspondence. by P.):

On the morning of the 29th our citizens were called from their beds by the awful cry of fire! fire! which originated in the store house owned by J.D.M. Dillard and occupied by Smithson Bros. C.A. Smithson and A.L. Dillard were sleeping in the store and were only awakened in time to save their lives, coming out of the back door with their hair singed and their clothes in their hands. The cause of the fire is unknown. The house and contents were a total loss.

Mr. Mathewson’s Hotel was saved by the heroic efforts of our citizens, Col. Mason leading the van, proving to the world that he knows how to fight fire in its natural as well as in its singed state.

JANUARY 10, 1889

The cross-tie business is one of the leading industries of this vicinity. Mr. John C. Mickler, who has the contract for furnishing cross-ties to the railroad, puts his mark on many of those sticks per day. The timbers of Oconee county are being rapidly diminished by the saw mill men and cross-tie gatherers.

We are indebted to our County Treasurer for the following information: Up to 10 o’clock A.M., on Wednesday, 3038 taxpayers had paid their taxes, amounting in the aggregate to $19,523.00. 812 taxpayers had not paid, and the amount due by them and not collected is $9,727.00. This is a bad showing for Oconee, as there are but six more working days till the books close.

The Walhalla Female College now numbers seventy-five students, a large number having been added since the holidays.

Divine services will be conducted by the Rev. J.E. Fogartie at Old Pickens church Sunday at 11 A.M.

(Item from Teachers’ Column, which contained a notice at the beginning: All communications intended for this column should be addressed to S.P. Stribling, School Commissioner, Walhalla, S.C.): There will be a meeting of the teachers in the Court House on Saturday, the 19th instant, 11 o’clock for the purpose of organizing themselves into an association. We hope every teacher in the county will attend, male and female.

(Items from Flat Rock Locals. by D.): DEAR COURIER: The eighteenth century is fast drawing to a close and none of your readers have ever heard anything about what we are doing at old Flat Rock muster ground. There have been many changes made around here since our fathers mustered at this place. . .We have built a school house and have had a school every year for the last twelve years, and a Sunday school that is well attended both summer and winter. We are building a good church and hope to have it completed in the early spring. . . Messrs. Stribling and Dalton have been running their saw mill in this neighborhood for nearly three years. They inform us that they have sawed about 2,000,000 feet of lumber since they have been here. We understand they have dissolved co-partnership, but Lem has energy enough to run a mill by himself. They say Robert is going to get married, or go West.

(Item from Seneca Items. (taken from the Greenville News)): Several families have recently moved into town, among them: R.M. Richardson, R.W. Shelor, John Kennedy, J.V. Stribling and Jack Hopkins. Most of them come to avail themselves of the advantages offered by our graded school for educating their children.

Article Spotlights Walhalla’s Progress

(Book editor’s note: This issue of the Courier contained a lengthy article titled Carolina’s German City - A Thriving Capital of the County of Oconee, which was reprinted from the Charleston News and Courier. Following are some exceprts from the article):

*Walhalla has an efficient fire department, of which Mr. O.H. Schumacher is chief, C.B. Oehmig assistant chief, and F.E. Harrison clerk of the board of firemasters. The department has a hand engine and a hook and ladder company.

*Distilling is one of Walhalla’s chief industries, and Uncle Sam derives a handsome revenue from the eight stills in operation at or near this point. Six of these are owned by H.D.A. Biemann and two by M.H. Bryce. Thousands of bushels of corn are used in this industry. The grain must be of the finest quality, and, as the white corn grown in this neighborhood is of extra fine grade, there is a ready market for it here for distilling purposes.

*Another important industry is the lumber business. There is good pine and admirable hard wood timber in the mountains hereabouts, and within a mile or so of the railway depot here there are half a dozen saw mills in operation. The timber is manufactured into lumber of all sizes and qualities, and many carloads are shipped away daily. Mr. H.D.A. Biemann, one of the heaviest shippers, is now filling an order of upwards of a million feet of heavy lumber for the new factories at Piedmont and Pelzer.

*Walhalla’s educational institutions are excellent. Gen. Del Kemper is president of Adger College, Mr. H.G. Reid is principal of the Walhalla Female College, and Mrs. Julia M. Johnson is principal of the Wagener Academy.

*There are two potteries at Walhalla manufacturing extensively Majolica Rockingham ware, which is shipped to all parts of the country.

*Granite pops up everywhere around Walhalla. Within the town limits, but a few hundred yards from the railway depot, there is a splendid bed of gray granite, which splits beautifully and is quarried in a rude way by the townspeople for door steps, fence posts, &c.

JANUARY 17, 1889

The Walhalla Comedy Company will give an entertainment at Kaufmann’s Opera House on next Friday night, 18th instant. The programme will consist of laughable farces, original songs, &c.

Mr. C.L. Reid and Drs. Williams and Darby compose the Board of Health of Walhalla.

(Items from Westminster Dots. by Veritas): Dr. Cornog has made himself conspicuously absent about Westminster, and Dr. Mitchell has resumed practice. For the physicians, however, we think Westminster is distressingly healthy. . .Would it not pay some of the citizens to invest their money, some of it at least, in building dwelling houses in Westminster? There is not a vacant dwelling in town. The newcomers are compelled to board or build. . .Why are our merchants, mechanics, teachers and people generally so prosperous and happy? While other things contribute to their success, is it not due largely to our prohibition sentiments? Our town is dry as a bone and cursing and drinking are not witnessed on our streets. And just here let me ask every citizen of Oconee county, in the name of humanity and in the name of God Almighty, to assert his right and duty in voting for the extermination of the abominable, murderous and soul-destroying liquor traffic. . .Prof. J.T. Smith, A.M., late of Dublin, Ga., has been filling his position in our high school to the satisfaction of his many patrons. There are three teachers now in the literary department, J.T. and H.T. Smith and Miss Lucy Stribling. The school needs a music teacher. Board for pupils can be obrtained cheap at the Mitchell house and elsewhere.

(Items from Westminster Correspondence. by P.): The Farmers’ County Alliance held an important meeting here on the 4th instant. As the meeting was held with closed doors, your correspondent is not able to report it. . .Our school is certainly a progressive one, Rev. H.T. Smith, the Principal, having secured the services of his brother, Rev. J.T. Smith, of Dublin, Ga., to assist him in the school. New pupils are being enrolled daily. . .Mr. John Carter, who has long been known as the flour drummer, has gone to Atlanta to sell dry goods for M.C. & J.F. Kiser & Co. …Dr. Burt Mitchell lost a valuable cow on yesterday. . .Mr. Joe Dickson informs us that they have a fine school at Clearmont Academy, two miles below here. Mr. John B. Dickson, the teacher, is giving universal satisfaction to his patrons and has 65 pupils on his roll. They hope soon to have a bell for their school house. Around Clearmont are found some of the best farmers in the county.

Township School Trustees Appointed

(Item from Teachers’ Column by S.P. Stribling, School Commissioner):

The following gentlemen are the Township Trustees, who were appointed by the Board of County Examiners: Center: M.H. McJunkin, J.W. Bearden and J.H. McLeskey. Seneca: W.H. Hughes, J.B. Pickett and W.M. Campbell. Tugaloo: J.H. Sullivan, B.H. Cross and W.P. Anderson. Wagener: R.A. Thompson, W.A. Strother and Wm. Suttles. Keowee: Edward Boyd, E.A. Barron and J.B. Grant. Pulaski: D.F. Carter, Barton Rothell and J.B. Phillips. Chattuga: A.P. Crisp, B.F. Douthit and Wm. Land. Whitewater: W.B.F. Corbin, H.M. Whitmire and Charles Ridley.

Editor Advocates Closing Adger College

(Book editor’s note: The following is the beginning of a lengthy editorial titled Adger College. The college, which was located at the present site of the Walhalla Performing Arts Center, had been destroyed by fire in October 1888 and was now being housed in temporary quarters.)

No journal could advocate more zealously and constantly the interest of any institution than the COURIER has done that of Adger College in the past. But now we stop. The college, as such, is a failure and no one can reasonably gainsay it. The pupils number about forty boys, a few of whom are hammering at Caesar, but the great bulk ranging in studies from the alphabet to geography, &c. The studies pursued do not give it the rank of a high school, and the patronage is purely local. Why longer deceive ourselves with the fancy of a college which has no substance of reality.

There was a time when the college, under Professors Riley and Strong and their colleagues, had vitality and the promise of success. The students, many from other counties, numbered as high as 140