A Former Publication Of Alderson High School “Alderson’s Longest Running News Media”

Allegheny Collegiate Institute (A.C.I.) From The Journal Of The Greenbrier Historical Society On  Alderson, West Virginia Written by Kenneth D. Swope - Compiled and Transcribed by Barry Worrell

The   Aldersonian   has   collected   information   on   the   school   for several   years   and   it’s   time   to   put   it   together   for   a   more   complete story. There has been recent interest in the school building. The   first   large   private   school   established   in Alderson   was   under the   auspices   of   the   Methodist   Church,   namely   The   Allegheny Collegiate Institute. It opened in 1888. (Shown   at   the   left   from   left   to   right:   The   Methodist   Church,   The A.C.I.    school    building,    and    the    residents    for    boarders    that attended A.C.I.) (Click on photo for larger view)

The   Methodists   were   much   interested   in   Christian   education   and   in   the   establishment   of   a   "District   High School." Allegheny   Collegiate   Institute   evidently   was   conceived   by   three   men   of Alderson,   the   Reverend   J. H.   Light,   Chase   Bare,   and   Frank   Follansbee.   The   Reverend   Light   was   the   Methodist   pastor   in Alderson   for two   years,   I888-1890.   Mr.   Bare   was   a   leading   man   in Alderson   for   many   years,   and   Mr.   Follansbee   a   well known druggist. The   school   opened   for   the   fall   term   in   1888   and   was   the   property   of   the   Lewisburg   District   of   the   Methodist Church   and   depended   upon   the   District   for   financial   support. A   joint   stock   company   was   formed   and,   along with   several   other   schools   and   colleges   in   the   South, Allegheny   Collegiate   Institute   became   a   member   of   a "family"   of   Methodist   educational   institutions. The   first   Board   of Trustees   of   fifteen   men   had   but   one   trustee from   Alderson,   Dr.   J.   B.   Spicer.   At   that   time,   the   Methodist   Church   in   Alderson   was   located   on   Church Street   in   South Alderson.   (After   examining   maps,   there   is   no   church   street   in Alderson,   at   least   today.)   The school    was    located    at    the    base    of    the    mountain    in    three    buildings    which    were    designed    by    Frank Follansbee.   The   first   year   there   were   fifty   students   and   the   school   was   a   success.   The   District   Conference of 1889 referred to it as "our District High School" The first principal was J. C. Dolly. I n   1906   A.C.I.   was   having   financial   difficulties,   a   common   ailment   of   small   church   schools,   and   it   was   for sale.   The   Trustees   had   authority   to   consolidate   the   school   with   any   other   type   school,   or   to   sell   it.   It   was purchased   in   1908   by   the   Reverend   E.   H.   Rowe   and   the   Reverend   J.   IS.   Engle.   Mr.   Rowe   was   President of    Southern    Female    Seminary,    and    continued    in    that    capacity.   The    Reverend    L.    S.    Shires    became principal.   In   1909   A.C.I.   reported   its   most   successful   year   and   the   Methodist   Conference   still   had   keen interest   in   it.   This   success   continued   but   Messrs.   Rowe   and   Engle   in   1912   reported   to   the   Conference   that they   had   lost   money. A   Conference   committee   was   appointed   which   reported   Rowe   and   Engle   lost   money because   of   their   "non-residence   in   Alderson".   So   the   Reverend   Engle   became   principal   in   1912,   and   in 1915   there   were   86   students   in A.C.I.,   three-fourths   Methodists.   This   was   less   than   the   1911-1912   year   of 121 enrollment. The   last   school   term   of   Allegheny   Collegiate   Institute   was   the   1924-1925   term,   after   thirty-six   years   of existence.   The   school   was   sold   to   L.   W.   Johnson,   J.   W.   Johnson,   James   H.   George,   Miss   Ida   Johnson, and   Miss   Mary   Johnson,   August   25,   1925.   The   buildings   still   stand   except   the   gymnasium   (As   of   1964). One   building   was   used   for   a   time   as   a   small   hospital   by   Drs.   Roy   and   L.   H.   McClung,   and   C.   F.   Mahood. The   same   building   was   later   remodeled   into   apartments.   The   old   drill   ground   is   a   vacant   lot   except   for   the home   of   Mr.   and   Mrs.   Fred   Patton,   and   a   flower   garden   belonging   to   the   Misses   Pauline   and   Ellen   Langley Johnson. (Click on photos for larger view and captions. Much more information of Alderson in many areas, here .)

Across   from   the   school   was   a   vacant   lot   that   was   use   as   a   drill   ground.   I   have   seen   a   photo   of   young   men in   uniforms,   marching   on   the   field,   but   I’m   not   sure   if   the   school   had   a   military   type   of   program.   (Similar   to R.   O. T.   C)   Below   is   what   the   old   boarding   house   looks   like   today.   It   now   serves   as   the Alderson   Hospitality House.   You   can   read   about   them   at   this   link .   Also   the   old   drill   ground   now   serves   as   the   Alderson Community   Food   Hub   Garden. You   will   note   the   old   boarding   house   in   the   background. As   boys,   we   use   to play foot ball on that lot, and play in the creek. Much better looking today.