City Directories and History: The Furman University campus was originally begun in Fairfield County, S.C. and moved here. Enjoy seeing its early history at History Threads (right)!
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on June 26, 1889 – “Furman University closed the most prosperous year in its history last week. There were 133 students enrolled, the largest number since the war.”
Academy Spring was a favorite spot on the campus of the Female Academy, later to become the Greenville Female Academy, then Greenville Women’s College, and lastly Furman University. Here the young ladies could stroll with their dates without getting off the campus. The spring was behind the old building, and its waters flowed down a small branch which increased in size as other tributaries joined h, David P. Verner, a Greenville attorney, lived in 1883 on the left-hand side of Old Buncombe Road just beyond the American Spinning Company. This was the location of Verner Springs, a favorite resort for picnics in the old days. This area was also known as Verner Springs Heights. David Verner
bottled and sold water from this spring. In 1907, evidently after Mr. Verner died, C. C. Good operated Verner Springs Water Company. Later it was sold to Charles Ellis, owner of the Coca-Cola Company, which produced here carbonated drinks of several flavors. Another name connected with David Verner is the Verner Springs Road, a two-block- long street running west from 2901 Buncombe Road. There is also a Sulphur Springs Drive, running west from 1204 Buncombe Road, but I have been unable to locate this spring. until it was known as Academy Creek. Flowing into the creek was water from several springs emerging from the hillside up to Stone and Earle Streets. One of these springs was just below Earle Street in the vicinity of the old Middleton Home, built before 1813.
The Newberry Herald contained an ad on July 25, 1877 for the Greenville Female College which was scheduled to open it’s 23rd session on Sept. 12. J.H. Judson –
Greenville Male and Female Academies—Greenville—1821—Built on tract of land donated by Vardry McBee and by public subscription of citizens. Two brick buildings cost about $5,000. Among the instructors were: Dr. W. B. Johnson, Robert McKay, Rev. Hodges, Mr. Leary, Mr. Hallenquist, and Miss Charlotte Paine. Graduates of these schools included: Ben F. Perry, later Governor of the state; George Townes and the Croft brothers, who were to become famous citizens of nineteenth-century South Carolina. The Male Academy ceased operation about 1852 after Furman University was established with its preparatory department. The Female Academy continued until 1854, at which time the trustees deeded the land to the South Carolina Baptists to establish a Female College on the site which became Greenville Female College, now merged with Furman University.
Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC
Bradshaw, Sidney Forest, college professor ; born near Covington, Tipton County, Tennessee, August 10, 1869 ; son of Sidney Johns and Mollie (Hambleton) Bradshaw. B. A. (Valedictorian) Bethel College, Russellville, Ky., 1891; M. A. 1899; Ph. D., Univ. of Virginia, 1900; studied at Universities of Chicago, Berlin and Leipzig. Instructor of English Bardstown Male and Female Institute, 1891-2; Prof, of English Bethel College five years; professor English and German, Manual Training High School, Louisville, Ky., 1902-3; in Europe 1903-4; professor of Modern Languages since 1904; chairman faculty Furman University, Greenville, S. C., since 1912; acting president 1918-19; trustee Greenville County Library five years; director Norwood National Bank, Greenville ; member Modern Language Association America; Sigma Nu, Lambda Pi, Phi Beta Kappa, club of 39 (ex-president). Delivered presentation ad- dress at unveiling of Edgar Allan Poe bust at University of Virginia, 1899, awarded Poe centenary medal 1909. Baptist, author: On Southern Poetry prior to 1860, 1900, in Library of Southern Literature, many editorials and addresses. Address, Greenville, S. C. Courtesy of Who’s Who in S.C. – 1921
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IMAGE GALLERY – FURMAN AND THE GREENVILLE WOMAN’S COLLEGE (Courtesy of the Willis Postcard Collection, 2016)