The Morgantown Schools, Monongalia County, West Virginia This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The Morgantown Schools Source: History of Education in West Virginia Prepared under the direction of the State Superintendent of Free Schools 1904, Charleston: The Tribune Printing Company, 1904 pgs. 129 - 131 The Morgantown Schools BY WILLIAM H. GALLUP, SUPERINTENDENT The history of education in Morgantown is somewhat unique. From the founding of the town in 1795 to the present time the chief interest of Morgantown's citizens has been centered in the cause of education. Few towns have been so rich in men and women of culture and refinement. A roster of her great names would be too long to publish in this brief paper. Monongalia Academy was established on the 29th of November, 1814, and for fifty-three years did excellent work. Under the administration of Rev. J. R. Moore it experienced its greatest prosperity. Fourteen States were represented by the students upon Its rolls and it was recognized as the very best of western academies. Woodburn Seminary was opened in 1858 and from the first was very successful. The trustees of Woodburn were ever interested in advancing the cause of learning and in 1867 offered the State their entire plant and money amounting to $50,000, if the Agricultural College should be located on the site of Woodburn. The State accepted the offer and West Virginia University was established at Morgantown. On the 22nd of December, 1838, the trustees of Monongalia Academy, which educated males only, petitioned the Legislature to grant a charter tor an institution to be called Morgantown Female Academy. The petition was granted and the institution was later known as Whitehall Female- Seminary, on account of the buildings being painted white. This Institu- tion was successfully conducted until sold in June, 1869. Morgantown Female Seminary was another educational institution that opened its doors to ambitious girls in 1856. For years it did excellent service, but after the State University admitted girls there seemed no longer a need for an exclusively woman's school. Ald Monongalia Academy was purchased from the trustees of the Agricultural College in 1868 for public school purposes for $13,000. This building continued to be occupied by the public schools until It was de- stroyed by fire in 1897. The first principal, Mr. Adam Staggers, had two assistant teachers. Mr. Alexander L. Wade was the next principal and gave the schools his en- thusiastic service. Mr. Henry L. Cox, the next principal, was given three assistants and under his efficient leadership the schools made excellent progress. After a few years Mr. Cox resigned and the administration of the schools passed into the hands of Mr. Benjamin S. Morgan, who proved a worthy successor to the able men who preceded him. Five teachers were now employed. Professor Thos. E. Hodges was the next principal. He reorganized the school thoroughly, extended the course of study and had the honor of graduating the first class from the high school. Prof. Hodges had six as- sistants. Mr. Nacy McGee Waters succeeded Prof. Hodges. Mr. Waters was an untiring worker, enterprising and scholarly. Frank Snyder followed Mr. Waters and six teachers were employed as assistants. The school continued to prosper. Harvey Brand, the next principal served for seven years as principal and for one year as superintendent. The number of teachers increased from year to year till twelve teachers were hired. Mr. Brand was active and earnest in his efforts to keep the Morgantown schools in the front ranks. The destruction of the school building and the consequent disad- vantages of having the pupils scattered about town in unsuitable rooms made the duties of the superintendent very arduous for the last two years of his term. With the opening of the new building in September, 1899, William H. Gallup took charge of the schools. The high school course was increased to four years by the addition of new studies. Additional teachers were employed till now in 1904 twenty-two are on the pay rolls. The central building with its furnishings cost about $65,000. It is ad- mirably adapted to public school purposes. Four musical Instruments, a piano and three organs, greatly assist in the devotional and special music for the schools. Last year a collection of pictures costing nearly $400 was placed on the walls. An excellent library has been installed and an earnest effort is being made by the school board to advance every worthy line of education. A fine school building, costing about $20,000 is nearly finished and no pains is being spared to make it complete in all its appointments. The building is located in the Fourth Ward and will accommodate three hundred pupils. From the installation of the public school to the present day Morgan- town has been fortunate in its school boards. Men of the highest social and professional standing have given their untiring devotion to the In- terests of the schools. Conspicuous among these men were Col. A. Fair- child, who served on the board for twenty-eight years, and Mr. Thornton Pickenpaugh, whose term of office was nearly as long. Nothing else is so helpful to the cause of public school advancement as the earnest super- vision of intelligent school boards.