BUILDING 1.
The Frenchburg Presbyterian College is a former school and hospital operated by the United Presbyterian Church in Frenchburg, Kentucky. It was the only hospital between Lexington and Ashland for a period of time After consideration, the church opted to locate a school and church in the town on a five-acre plot. 5 Local citizens donated money and labor in developing the facility, and the West Lexington Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church deeded to the Women’s Board a small frame church house which had been abandoned several years prior.
In October 1909, the church was repaired and made suitable for a private day school and as a house of worship, educating twenty. 2 It featured a public reading room and had a yard for basketball and other athletics. 5 Students were either required to either pay tuition or be enrolled in a work-study program and were also required to study the Bible at least two hours per week. 2 Miss Bertha Houston was the pioneer teacher and missionary for nine years, laying the foundation for the church and school.A farm of sixty acres with some hillside was then acquired. 5
On September 19, 1910, a two-story brick building was completed to serve as the primary school building for grades one through eight and as a residence for eight teachers financed through the Women’s Missionary Thank Offering. It was formally dedicated on October 29 with Miss Houston as superintendent. Enrollment in the first year was 167, which increased to 180 and 189 in the subsequent two years.In 1914, the first class was ready to graduate
Between 1914 and 1917, students and teachers lived in the school building and in a small white cottage at the eastern end of campus, with living quarters becoming increasingly crowded as enrollment surged. 5 To accommodate additional students, a three-story brick dormitory for 70 was constructed and named after Elizabeth Brown. Male students relocated from the basement of the school building to the third floor of the new dormitory, while females were assigned to the second floor. The first floor was reserved for recreation, dining, and administrative offices. Space formerly occupied by students and teachers were remodeled to provide a library and home economics classrooms
In May 1957, the Frenchburg Presbyterian College was ordered closed by Presbyterian Church officials after serving 500 students and 30 staff due to the availability of nearby county facilities
Staffs quarters building |
Building 2 |