City Directories and History: Saint John’s college, which was located on the present site of Converse college, was built largely through the efforts of the Rev. John D. McCollough. A building was erected and the first sessions of the school were held in 1854.
The operation of the school, however, was not financially successful, and the property was sold to T.S. Arthur and William Irwin. The later purchased Arthur’s interest and opened a military school which he conducted until the opening of the Civil War.
Wagner Company of Charleston, bought the property with Confederate bonds at that time and donated it to the Episcopal diocese. It was used as a home for Mr. McCollough and sold to D.E. Converse and Company in 1889. During its existence, St. John’s college also served as a place of worship for Episcopalians in this section. RRF – 2021
Another source states that the Spartanburg Female College began in 1855 and ended in 1871.
The ca. 1892 Wilson Hall building at Converse College was constructed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style of architecture — designed by Alexander Campbell Bruce and Thomas H. Morgan.
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 6, 1892 – “Converse College was destroyed by fire last Saturday night. Fire broke out in the furnace room. The alarm was given out at once but due to a lack of water, the fire dept. was unable to check the flames until the main wing was destroyed. About one hundred students were asleep, but all were able to escape. They lost their trunks and could only save what they had on. The students were taken to nearby homes for shelter.”
The YV Enquirer reported on Jan. 27, 1892 – “Pres. W.F. Wilson of Converse College has made a statement on the fire that destroyed the main building that destroyed the building on Jan. 2nd. Bruce and Morgan of Atlanta, the architects of Clemson College have employed to plan a new building on an enlarged scale. An annex to the old building, housing recitation and music rooms was saved from the fire, as were the physical and chemical laboratory. Rebuilding will start at once and we hope to have a new fire proof building by next October.”
“Converse College is situated on a high hill, facing on Main Street, about one mile from the public square, and is surrounded by a beautiful oak grove covering forty acres. The main building of the college, containing 110 rooms and costing $50,000, will be completed by September 1st of this year. It contains a chapel, art studio, recitation rooms, infirmary, parlors, dining rooms, bath rooms, and student rooms. The latter are eighteen by sixteen feet and furnished with a marble-top washstand and dressing case, wardrobe, bed with wire woven springs, moss hair mattress, feather pillows, two rocking chairs, table, and carpeted floor.
The entire building is heated by steam. This part of the work was done by specialists at a cost of $5,000. A radiator is placed in each dormitory, so that the students can increase or diminish the temperature by simply turning a valve. The building is supplied with gas from the city gas factory and with water from the city reservoir. Fire escapes are also provided. Neither time, energy, nor money have been spared to make everything about the college as complete as possible.
The faculty is composed as follows: the Rev. B.F. Wilson, president, mental and moral science; Prof. D.A. DuPre of Wofford College, physical science; the Rev. A. Coke Smith of Wofford College, mental science; the Rev. T.D. Bratton, history and political science; Geo. Heintish, M.D., anatomy and mathematics; Miss Helen M. Albaugh, elocution and calisthenics; Miss Eleanor S. Long, art department; Miss Cora Steele, primary department; and Mrs. Lula Butler Thompson, matron. Stenography, telegraphy, and typewriting will be taught, and there will be complete gymnasium and calisthenic departments.” (Reprinted from South Carolina in the 1880s: A Gazetteer by J.H. Moore, Sandlapper Publishing Company – 1989)
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