Schools, DeSoto Parish, La - Keatchie College (Baptist struggle) Submitted by: Courtney Tompkins Email: tompkin@c2i2.com Source: The Baptist Messenger, March 14, 1957, p. 6-7 Keatchie College -- Insights into early Baptist struggle for higher education - some strange customs revealed. By Grady Sparkman --------------------------------- ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ---------------------------------------------------- Keatchie College -- Insights into early Baptist struggle for higher education - some strange customs revealed. By Grady Sparkman In 1833 the Federal government commissioned Henry Miller Shreve to clear Red River of amass of snags, roots and sunken logs that sealed the stream above Campti. With the aid of his newly invented "snagboat" Shreve removed the "great raft" in seven years, opening the river to navigation and northwestern Louisiana to settlement. Keatchie, located 35 miles south of Shreveport, was typical of the scores of villages that sprung up about the middle of the century. Many of the pioneers who settled around Keatchie had been wealthy land owners back east. They brought slaves, herds of cattle and elegant household furnishings with them. But more important is history, they brought Anglo-Saxon culture and the Baptist faith to north Louisiana. One of the first buildings erected at Keatchie by these devout people was a Baptist church. New Hope, as church was first named, was constituted by 18 members in 1852 just a few years after the first settlers arrived. New Hope church was immediately admitted to the infant Grand Cane association which had been formed in 1849 by five churches who boasted of 115 members. Keatchie left little to be desired in 1851 when Rev. A. N. Backus arrived. Behind the stately columns of the colonial homes an elegant almost artificial way of life was carried on by the planters and their families. Strife and violence was practically unknown and the church was off to a good start. Only a school was needed to make the community complete. T. M. Gatlin Finding his work cut out for him, Backus began talking up the idea of establishing a Christian college in Keatchie. One of his most enthusiastic supporters was Mr. T. M. Gatlin, a wealthy planter who offered to give land for a college. With Gatlin's gift of land and financial backing, construction was started in 1853. However, Backus' dream was shattered before the building was completed by the death of his wife and child and he returned, heartbroken to his native Kentucky. Gatlin kept his promise and Keatchie Female College opened its doors on a limited scale in 1856. It was formally opened and incorporated in 1857, just a century ago, as the Baptist Union Male and Female College, under the sponsorship of Grand Cane association. When Dr. J. S. Bacon resigned as president in 1859 the trustees, headed by Mr. Gatlin, elected Rev. J. H. Tucker to succeed him. Under Tucker's leadership enrollment climbed to 121 in 1860, an all-time high. Indeed the future seemed bright for the Baptist school when the Civil War broke in 1862: the 125 young ladies at the college were from the best homes in Louisiana and Grand Cane Baptists were ... like Mt. Lebanon University, were forced to close when students and teachers alike joined the army. However, in March 1864, Tucker stepped out of his academic gown to don the gray uniform of the Confederacy. President Tucker became Lieutenant Tucker. His absence was felt keenly at the college and in a short time only a day school was maintained on the hill. After the battle of Mansfield in April 1864, the college was used as a hospital for the Confederate wounded. Neat rows of headboards in a nearby pine grove still mark the final resting place of many who died while patients at the temporary hospital. From that time on, pupils at the college thought a room on the second floor was haunted because it was used as a temporary morgue. Bloodstains on the walls and floor added credulity to the myth. The college was also used during the war as headquarters for the medical department of the trans-Mississippi area. As such, it was a depot for medical supplies shipped overland from Mexico. POSTWAR STRUGGLE Tucker, returning from the war broken in health and spirit, declined an offer to resume the presidency, instead he bought a nearby farm, hoping the fresh air would restore his health. The trustees then turned to Rev. Peter Crawford, an outstanding educator who had founded Judson College in Marlon, Ala., and served as president of Clinton Female College, Clinton, Miss. Crawford's plans for reviving the dormant institution included an ambitious campaign to recruit students. One of his ads boasted that "Prices may be higher - but we give them more." He added, "We teach a full day and give the some things other do not." Board was offered for $15 a month, payable in gold or United States currency. Reconstruction times were difficult for everyone in the South. The college was no exception. The wealthy planters who had been so generous in antebellum days now found difficulty in providing food for their tables. So the college was forced to depend entirely upon tuition and fees for its support. The strain of the times took its toll on Crawford was forced to resign in 1871 because of failing health. Two years later he died at Keatchie, Tucker, much improved from the outdoor life, was again called to the presidency. COEDUCATIONAL An academy was opened near the college in the early seventies for the first time. The arrival of boys on the traditionally female campus posed as a major problem to the administration. Rules were hastily drafted which forbid the sexes to attend classes together. In effect, two separate schools till existed on the same campus. This regulation was relaxed later permitting both sexes to attend classes and chapel together. However, no communication, written or spoken was permitted between the boys and girls. Anyone caught passing notes or fraternizing in any way was punished severely. Mrs. William V. Costello, a former teacher at Keatchie and chairman of the history department at Louisiana College, tells how the boys and girls circumvented these rules in her unpublished manuscript on Keatchie College. "Walking was the ladylike exercise generally offered to female boarding students, and was almost the only time they were allowed off the campus," Mrs. Costello said, "The girls, dressed in their uniforms, marched two by two in and out and around and about the streets and out into the country, led in front by one or two teachers, with another bringing up the rear. These walks took place almost every week day afternoon and sometimes on Sunday. "For many of the girls the most enjoyable part of the walk was generally that leading through the main village streets where younger element of the male population was wont to display itself collectively in two compact lines between which ladies to match. Many smiles and sidewise glances and more notes than one would have though possible would be exchanged at this time. "The opportunities to see the one of your choice would probably seem very remote to the present generation, but not to those students of the gay nineties. Ways and means were found to communicate regardless of the watchful eyes of the matrons and chaperons. OTHER RULES These rules were designed, the catalog said, "To inculcate manly virtues, preserve order, require sobriety and morality, protect and encourage good students and not to allow the vicious and incorrigible to remain where they can injure others. In addition to smoking, boys were not allowed to chew tobacco or dip snuff. Obesity was discouraged by a regulation which "earnestly requested that parents not send eatables to their daughters, unless it be good ripe fruit" ... If regulations were somewhat complex, the courses of study were relatively simple. Students took Latin, Greek, and English for four years in addition to biology, philosophy, geology, chemistry, German and French. Among the popular electives were elocution, art, voice, piano, violin and ornamental needlework. DISASTER OF 1880 It was unusually warm for November on the fateful morning in 1880 when a tornado swept across the campus. Many students, returning from the daily chapel period, were caught in the halls and on the grounds when the twister hit. When the nightmare had passed one of the teachers lay dead among the debris and President Tucker was suffering an injury that claimed his life a few weeks later. Before the term was over, two other faculty members were stricken with yellow fever. CONTROVERSY Mr. T. N. Coleman, who succeeded Tucker soon took steps to erase all evidence of the disaster which had blown away part of the main building damaged others. Coleman's next objective was to sell both himself and the college to Louisiana Baptists, so the college could gain financial support from the Convention. Feeling that the time was right, a committee from the association was before the Convention in 1882 and offered to give the college to Louisiana Baptists. For two years the issue was debated. Objectives came largely from supporters of Mt. Lebannon College near Concord Institute at Shiloh and Mississippi College at Clinton. The controversy no doubt seemed very serious to the people of that day, but viewed from the perspective of history it was only a milestone in the progress of Christian education. At any rate the offer was withdrawn in 1884 "for the sake of harmony" and both the College and Louisiana Baptists forgot their differences in a period of unpredictable growth. In 1886, Rev C. P. Fountain was installed as president. Under his leadership old buildings were renovated and a boys dormitory built across the street next door to Keatchie church. Fountain served the college well until ill health forced him to resign in 1889. He was succeeded by C. W. Tomkies who resigned as the Convention's first executive secretary to accept the academic post. Under Tomkies' leadership many ministerial students were attracted to the college. Enrollment had climbed to a record 217 in 1891. In 1899 the Convention assumed control of the school. Keatchie was made the denominations female college and Mt. Lebanon became the male college. Tomkies resigned that year and was replaced by Prof. G. W. Thigpen. DEATH STRUGGLE The coming of state colleges at Ruston and Natchitoches and Louisiana College at Pineville led a gradual decline at the Keatchie institution after the turn of the century. In 1908 the school closed because of a debt of $3, 770 could not be paid. The college was opened again in 1909 after a financial drive had netted enough to pay the debt and renovate the buildings. The new president, Oscar J. Peterson was welcomed by 34 students when the college opened in 1909 ... B. Moss, Caspiana, president; J. T. Fisher, Keatchie, vice president; Rev. J. H. Alford, financial agent; and Rev. J. B. Herndon, Grand Cane, secretary. Peterson served for only a few months before being succeeded by Dr. W. C. Friley. Forty-two were enrolled for the college's final fall term in 1910-11. Hattie Bumgardner, Nelwyn Talbert, Laura Giggs and Mildred Talbert were the last to receive degrees from the college which was closed forever in the middle of the first semester in 1912. Today no physical evidence of the college can be found in Keatchie. Time has taken its toll, and lacking an active alumni association no one has seen fit to erect a marker. As they say, Baptists are to busy making history to bother with preserving it. But it does seem that some remembrance should be made on the hundredth birthday of the college that tuned out so many of our first Louisiana born and Baptist educated leaders. The year is still young - who knows? ________________________________________________________________________ PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS IN ARTICLE THE MAIN BUILDING begun, in 1853, contained dormitory space and class rooms. The building was torn down in the thirties so that a new brick high school could be built by the parish. (Photo of building included in original article) REV. PETER BAPTIST CRAWFORD was president of the college after the civil war. This picture was reproduced from an oil painting owned by his granddaughter - Mrs. Patty Marshall. (Photo included in original article) KEATCHIE CHURCH as it looks today. The church constituted in 1852 with 18 charter members was a leader in the movement to establish a college in the village. The church and the college faced each other on opposite sides of the street. (Photo of church included in original article) COL. J. V. Tinnin, U. S. Army, retired, is the present pastor. (Photo included in original article) PROF. G. W. THIGPEN became president of Keatchie College in 1899 when the Convention assumed control of the institution. (Photo of Thigpen included in original article) THIS PICTURE was lifted from the 1904-05 annual of the college. It was labeled "Physical Culture Class." Anyone recognize their grandmother here? (Photo of included in original article) NAMES OF GRADUATES For the benefit of old friends and former school mates, the Baptist Message will publish the names of all living persons who attended Keatchie College. Names of former students sent us before March 24 will be published in the April 4 issue. Ladies should send their maiden as well as their married names. Present address and years at the college should also be furnished. ________________________________________________________________________ This sketch on Keatchie College is the first in a series of articles on old Baptist schools which have existed in the state. This article would have been impossible without the help of many friends who loaned pictures and supplied information. Those who helped with this story include: Mrs. William V. Costello - Pineville Dr. Courtney Gatlin - Keatchie Mrs. Mattie Petton - Keatchie Mrs. Howard Thigpen - Shreveport Mrs. James Smitherman - Shreveport Mrs. Patty Marshall - Stonewall