Early post card view of the popular WTS building known as the Withers Building.
Even though Annie Bonham stayed in Columbia (where she conducted a school called Bon Air for many years), her “outdoor school” concept was modified and practiced at Rock Hill…. Pettus
“Rock Hill’s dream of a Presbyterian High School comes to fruition but fails. Winthrop’s Training School is born.”
City Directories and History: Pages of information and hundreds of images of Winthrop Training School’s (WTS) faculty and students could be easily posted on this page of Roots and Recall. However, most of the items are best secured at the WU Pettus Archives and we suggest looking at images and additional information there and enjoying the ones shared here on R&R.
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on April 15, 1891 – “At a meeting of Bethel Presbytery, First Pres. of Rock Hill made a proposal to establish a Presbyterian academy of a high grade to be under joint supervision of the church and Presbytery. Trustees elected were: Rev. T.R. English, Rev. George Summey, Rev. C.W. Humphries, and Mr. J.M. Beatty. The local church has subscribed $5,000. to support the high school.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on April 22, 1891 – “The trustees of the new high school have accepted the offer of the Rock Hill Town and Site Company of ten acres of land and a subscription of $2,000. The trustees expect to raise a total of $20,000.”
The YV Enquirer reported on June 24, 1891 – “The cornerstone will be laid on July 4th for the high school on the land donated by the Rock Hill Town and Site Company. The proposed buildings will cost $50,000. and the school is under the control of Bethel Presbytery.”
On July 29, 1891 the Enquirer reported, “The boys high school building is well underway and improvements are still going on in the park (Oakland Dev.).”
The Herald reported on March 16, 1892 – “A great deal of work has been done on the Presbyterian High School building during the past month. It is confidently expected the work will be completed by September 1, when the first session will commence.” On March 30, the paper reported, “Work on the Pres. High School in Oakland is progressing and the brick wall of the main building is almost to the second level.”
The Herald reported on Sept. 22, 1892 – “A large congregation was on hand for the dedication of the Presbyterian High School. The Rev. Alexander Sprunt preached, the school opened with thirty students.”
The Yorkville Enquirer of Dec. 7, 1892 reported, “The Presbyterian High School has adopted a school uniform for the students. It is navy blue with a cap with PHS on the front. The buttons have the same initials with the sleeve buttons also having Rock Hill, S.C. on the face.”
The Herald reported on Dec. 5, 1896 – “Prof. D.B. Johnson, Rev. O.G. Jones, and Dr. T. A. Crawford comprise a committee to raise funds to remove all the debt on the Pres. High School. They have raised $1,000. and need to raise an additional $1,000.
The Herald reported on Jan. 4, 1896 – “Monday is the date set for the sale of the Presbyterian High School property.” The paper also reported May 6, 1896 – the auction sale in York in Bankruptcy Court the, “Pres. High School was bid by W.B. Wilson for the mortgage.”
The Herald reported on June 6, 1896 – “There is a movement to re-open the Pres. High School. Some people are proposing the new school be under the control of Davidson College.”
The Herald also reported on June 17, 1896 – “A mass meeting will be held at First Pres. Church to consider re-opening the Pres. High School. Supporters are raising funds so it can re-open this fall.”
The Herald reported on July 1, 1896 – “Members of the executive committee of Davidson College and Pres., Dr. Shearer met in Rock Hill last Friday and agreed to reopen the Pres. High School under the direction of the college.”
The Herald reported on June 27, 1900 – “The RH High School will resume its term in Sept. under Prof. A.R. Banks and Prof. J.A. Boyd of Fort Mill. Mr. Boyd was head of the Fort Mill Academy following Mr. Banks. Mr. Boyd was born on Rocky Creek in Chester Co., and graduated from Davidson College in 1873. He has taught at Steele Creek, N.C., Yorkville, Clover, and Fort Mill. He, his wife, and seven children will occupy the high school dormitory.”
The Herald reported on June 26, 1901 – “That Professor J.A. Boyd, will leave Rock Hill and go to Huntersville. He has been conducting the Rock Hill High School with Prof. Banks. The school will reopen this fall.” (This is the former Presbyterian High School and was operated as Rock Hill High School for a few years.)
The Herald reported that Prof. A.R. Banks will leave Rock Hill to teach in Kershaw. On Aug. 20, 1902 the Herald reported that Rev. J.B. Shearer, V.P. of Davidson College, was in the City yesterday to complete negotiations for leasing the high school property in Oakland. Some renovations will be need, but they are confident the school will operate this year. It is proposed that Professor, A.N. Dickinson, of Va., a graduate of Hampden Sydney College and the Un. of Virginia will be the headmaster. He taught for five years in Shelbyville Tenn., and is coming from Lexington, Ga., also Professor Thomas G. Wilkinson of Bishopville, a graduate of S.C. College and Cornell will teach. He recently taught at Blacksburg, S.C. Both men are single. They hope the new school will come to fruition by September.
R&R HISTORY LINK: NATIONAL REGISTER IMAGES – WTS
R&R HISTORY LINK: NATIONAL REGISTER IMAGES – WU CAMPUS
August 23, 1902 – An ad was run for Rock Hill High School, a classical school for boys and young men, to open Sept. 16, 1902 with C.N. Dickinson as principal. (In the same issue the Herald reported that Mr. Dickinson has a lease from Davidson College on the High School building for three years.)
The Herald reported on Sept. 17, 1902 – “The high school has opened under Prof. Dickinson with an enrollment of 20 students. This is expected to double within the next week.”
The Herald reported on May 20, 1903 – “The encampment of the Citadel Academy will be on the campus of Rock Hill High School. Consent has been provided y the Davidson trustees for the two week camp on the high school grounds. The the students will have target practice at the site in the country and will have their dress parade in the baseball park.”
On May 30, 1903 – the Herald reported, “The current term at Rock Hill High School closed Thursday and from the present prospects it will not reopen next year. Mr. Dickinson, the Supt. and Ms. Cora Jarrell, his assistant are leaving on account of the lack of proper support. The pupils of the high school had a fine picnic at Jones Mill on the Catawba last Saturday.”
From the Rock Hill Herald, July 11, 1903 – “High School Leased”
The High School, which it was hoped would become the property of the City, has been leased by Rev. D. J. Brimm, D. D. of Columbia, and Prof. J. D. Cozby, a Citadel cadet, recently commandant of cadets in the university school in New Orleans and with nine years experience, with probably Prof. J. palmer Smith, as associate. Rev. Dr. Brimm has been professor in the Theological Seminary in Columbia for a number of years and is well known to all our people as a scholar and distinguished educator. The name of the school has been changed to “The Rock Hill Training School.”
The school will begin exercised the first of September and will be conducted as a training school for boys, preparing them for any college, with the stipulation that if a boy after taking the course here fails to enter Davidson, the South Carolina College, or other like institution, one year’s additional schooling will be given free of charge. The ambition of the lessees will be to make “The Rock Hill Training School” the best of its kind in the South. South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia will be canvassed at once for students, and arrangements will be made at once to put the main building in thorough repair and such improvements will be made on the dormitory as will render it attractive and comfortable for students.
If the tuition rates are put within the reach of our citizens, we feel assured that the lessees may expect a very hearty patronage of parents in Rock Hill having boys, for many who have been lukewarm before have begun to realize the high importance of having a school for boys and even young men in our midst.
The school we understand will be non-sectarian and will make military training a feature.
Dr. Brimm has a family consisting of his wife and three little children. Prof. Cozby has his wife and one child and they will move to Rock Hill within two weeks, while Prof. Smith, who is well known to our people, has his wife and one child. Prof. Cosby’s family upon moving to Rock Hill will move into the High School dormitory.
Dr. Brimm passed through Rock Hill yesterday on the way to Columbia, having been called there on account of the death of his wife’s mother. He had been to Davidson College, where he on Thursday signed the lease for the High School for a term of three years, with the privilege of purchase.
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Oct. 28, 1903 – “There are 47 students at the Catawba Male Academy, including eleven borders. The boys are drilled daily and professor Crosby (Cosby) is the drill master.”
The Rock Hill Record reported on April 4, 1904 – “That at a meeting of the Rock Hill Commercial Club, had a presentation on the Catawba Male (Military) Academy. The program reported on the first year of operation. The school had a successful start and they plan to enlarge the faculty and increase enrollment. Scholarship donations were requested from the club. The presentation was made by: D.J. Brimm, J.C. Smith, J.D. Cosby.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on July 12, 1904 – “The valuable property known as the Rock Hill High School, embracing the buildings and large campus for several years owned by Davidson College, was transferred yesterday to D.J. Brimm, J.P. Smith, and J.B. Cozby principles of the Catawba Male Academy for a price of $7,000. This insures the permanency of the Catawba Male Academy, which has been conducted so well over the past year.”
The Yorkville Enquirer of Nov 6, 1906 – “At a meeting of the stock holders of the Catawba Military Academy it was decoded to sell the property to the RH School District. Dr. D.J. Brimm had resigned as headmaster. The property is within the city limits almost opposite Winthrop College and it is said by engineers of the railroad to be on the highest point on the line from Charlotte to Augusta. The property contains a handsome school building, dormitory, and parade ground. It is probability that the building will be continued as a city high school. The price paid was $12,500. The Catawba Military Academy will end operations at the end of the term in June.”
Images courtesy of photographer Bill Segars – 2015
The Record reported on Jan. 21, 1907 – “A bill was passed by the S.C. House to provide a practice school building at Winthrop College. Also – “Dr. D. J. Brimm former supt. of the Catawba Military Academy was elected principal of the Yorkville Graded School.” (This is the end of the Catawba Military Academy)
The Record reported on March 18, 1907 – “The Catawba Military Academy will close its doors at the end of this session and Rock Hill will have no high school for boys or girls.”
One March 21st 1907 the Record had an editorial comment supporting the efforts of W.S. Cherry, Esq. to establish a new high school for Rock Hill.
The Rock Hill Record reported on May 16, 1907 – “J.M. Cherry has had work done on the road adjoining his farm back of the CMA Ground (Catawba Mil. Academy), he has had the street running between his farm and that place laid off and graded from the corner where the road enters his plantation down towards the home of W.B. Wilson, Esq. He is also putting in drains, the work is being done under the supervision of Frank Adams who is in charge of the Cherry farm.”
The Record for July 18, 1907 contained an advertisement for the RH High School – “Prof. George B. Pfeiffer is the principal and R.E. Griffen, a graduate of the Citadel is his assistant. The school will feature military discipline and is intended to prepare boys for college or a professional career. J.C. Cork is Supt., the school will open Sept. 11 and boarding in the dorm is available with the principal.”
The RH Record reported on Aug 8, 1907 – “The creation of Rock Hill High School was announced. The Rock Hill city school has recently purchased the handsome high school property, just across the street from Winthrop College. It will be a school for boys with military discipline.”
In 1908, the Rock Hill City Directory list George B. Pfeiffer as principal, listed at the West End of College Avenue. He was living at 824 College Avenue, Rock Hill, S.C.
The RH Record reported on May 26, 1910 – “On a controversy on the former sight of the Rock Hill High School. There is a court case and the property had already been sold to Winthrop College. However, the Rock Hill Land and Site Co., has the first right to purchase the property. It made an offer of $28,000. for the building and has offered $10,000. for the Oakland Ave., side of the property. These offers were signed by W.B. Wilson, Sr., On June 20th, 1910 – “Hearing at the Supreme Ct in Columbia will be held on the case of Winthrop College verses the Rock Hill Land and Site Company concerning this case.”
The Herald reported on Aug. 31, 1910 – “The long fight over the old High School property is finally settled. Winthrop has paid $20,000. for the property and has been presented with the deed.”
The Rock Hill Herald on Jan. 17, 1916 reported – “The School Board meet and the enrollment at WTS was 325 students.”
The Herald reported on Sept. 5, 1925 – “That WTS begins the year with 340 students. Dr. John H. Hoover, is Supt. and there are eighteen instructors.”
SEE ADDITIONAL NEWSPAPER DATA AT: WTS #2
WITHERS BUILDING HISTORY
Identifying common threads between the buildings and the cumulative history of midland South Carolina is one of the great strengths of the Roots And Recall web site. Following closely in the footsteps of infrastructure development, funded most often by government programs, comes shared public buildings including courthouses, churches, schools and libraries. Funding for these significant public resources come from many diverse sources including government, private, combination source (now known as Public-Private Partners) and in many instances through philanthropic sources.
Images of the Withers Building courtesy of photographer, Chris Lange – 2014
A number of American businessmen including the financiers J. Pierpont Morgan, George Peabody and the Scottish-American industrialist, Andrew Carnegie, donated money toward the design and construction of schools, libraries and other public buildings in the US between 1883 and 1929. In 1910, through the efforts of its President, D. B. Johnson, Winthrop College was the recipient of several grants to supplement a community fund drive to raise $125,000 for the construction of a new training school. The largest grant, $25,000, was made by J. Pierpont Morgan. Andrew Carnegie, who had funded the entire cost of the Winthrop Carnegie Library in 1906, contributed an additional $15,000.
The Winthrop Training School would be constructed on the highest ground in the new Winthrop campus and would include an existing masonry structure which had previously served as the Presbyterian Boys High School and more recently as general educational facilities for high school age boys. Planning and organization by President Johnson insured design and construction of the new building would be by the most prominent architects and builders of the period.
Design of the new sections and incorporation of the existing building was awarded to the prominent Atlanta architect, Edwards and Sayward. The design, a three story masonry and stone English Tudor Eclectic with an “E” shape speaks to the importance of education on the Winthrop campus. Building materials were masonry, granite, marble, copper and glazed brick.
The construction contract for the Winthrop Training School was awarded to the J. A. Jones Company. In 1910, through the efforts of its President, D. B. Johnson, Winthrop College was the recipient of several
1905 – Sanborn Map diagram showing the original layout of the Presbyterian “Boys’ High School” which was later incorporated into the current WTS complex. (The boys dorm became Catawba Hall and was demolished in ca. 1962 and the main building was sandwiched between the rear of WTS’s main building and the gym.)
grants to supplement a community fund drive to raise $125,000 for the construction of a new training school. of Charlotte, North Carolina. Construction was completed for the 1913 school year.
Sanborn Insurance Map 1926 – 1959. Courtesy of the Galloway Map Collection
In later years a new gym and significant modifications and improvements of the original building insured the success of the educational programs being developed and implemented at Winthrop College.
Prominent educators involved with the creation of the Winthrop Training School included Sarah Withers, James Kinard, Hetty Browne and Ida Dacus. One of the first students in the new building was the noted educator and writer, Marguerite Tolbert.
In 1952 the new WTS gym was added to the back of the East Wing. Designed by G. Thomas Harmon, Architect, of Columbia, the modern structure has masonry walls and pilasters and structural steel ceiling with a bow truss roof. Bleachers seat over 500 for the large, competition sized basketball floor. When the gym was added, the basement of the East Wing already had showers, locker rooms, and training facilities for males and females.
There have been many superficial alterations to the interiors of both wings of the Withers/W.T.S. Building, but they have not adversely affected its architectural integrity. Ceilings were sheet-rocked and fixed with suspended fluorescent lights, wood floors were covered with linoleum tile, and the heat system was modernized.
In 1972, after the building ceased to function as a model school in 1965, an office annex, designed by Paula Treder, Architect, of Rock Hill, was added connecting the East and West Wings. This modern masonry connector has a wide hall on each floor with small offices on each side. The halls connect with the original wood staircase landings on the East Wing and with the back wing corridors on the West Wing. The ground floor hall and steps leading up to the East Wing are laid with a fascinating square and diamond patterned brick tile.
Additionally Mary Leonard, Annie Bonham, Minnie MacFeat and Hetty S. Brown were hired as instructors for the newly established curriculum. For information on the educators passing through the halls of Withers/WTS we direct you to the writing of Ms. Louise Pettus. (Early Educators) Information on the Withers Building was written and contributed to R&R by John Withers in 2014.
Mrs. Kathryn Hoke, a third grade teacher at WTS often escorted her classes at graduation time to ride on the train from Rock Hill to Chester or vice versa. Pictured here is the 1952 class, on their way to Chester, S.C. by bus and returning via the train. Courtesy of the Mandy Blackman Collection – 2017 *** See listing for students’ names at home of either Mandy Blackman or Kathryn Hoke for details.
Click on the More Information > links found below the picture column for additional data and pictures.
The SC Architects: 1885 – 1935, Wells and Dalton, 1992 reported, “the Withers Building was constructed in 1910-11 and was designed by the firm of Edward and Walter; architects Frank C. Walter and William A. Edwards, at a cost of $125,000.”
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R&R HISTORY LINK: the Rock Hill Trolley Company….
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I remember walking from our home on McDow Dr to walk down Oakland Ave and slide down the fire escape (at WTS), why no one was watching and didn’t ran us off I don’t know, that was about 1950. We loved doing that and we didn’t mind walking cause that’s what we did in those days, just out for a good time.