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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
The office of principal was discontinued in 1910, and the office of general manager was
introduced. Prof. J. H. Ruebush became the first General Manager, an executive leadership position he
continue to hold throughout the decade. In his first report to Conference, he announced that the
enrollment was 250 students from 20 states, representing 10 different denominations.
1910 Administrative Building. The Trustees, observing the crowded conditions of the School,
decided to erect a building to cost about $10,000.
They decided to pay for it by issuing bonds bearing
6 percent interest.30 A lot was purchased across
from the Ladies’ Dormitory, and the house that
stood there was moved to the rear of the Dormitory
and used as a laundry and bake shop. The
Administration Building (shown at the right) was
erected in 1910. It was a large, four-story, brick
structure that housed the physical and chemical
laboratories, large classrooms, art studio, and
business college rooms, with hot and cold running
water on every floor. A few years later, the third
floor was arranged into rooms for men students and was still used for that purpose in 1950. Prof. J. H.
Ruebush and Prof. C. A. Funkhouser each donated $1,500 to help erect this building. When it was
completed, Howe Memorial Building was used exclusively for the School of Music.
There were 17 faculty members employed in 1910, and the School received word that it had been
granted accredited standing with the University of Virginia—thus, a graduate of SCI would be admitted
without examination to any department, except Medicine, of that University.
The School of Music was fast becoming one of the best of its kind in the State, and it was even
claimed by some to be the best in the South. A letter from H. C. Stuart, Governor of Virginia, states that
he considered SCI and School of Music the “most unique” school in Virginia. R. C. Stearnes, State
Superintendent of Public Instruction, reported that SCI was the school in Virginia offering adequate
advantages in public school music. SCI’s General Manager reported that all of the graduates who made
application for State certificates were granted them upon graduation, thus showing State recognition of
the value of the School.
A fine addition to the School of Music was a Möller pipe organ built by M. P. Möller Organ
Company of Hagerstown, Md. It had two manuals of 61 keys each, from C to D. A Piano Tuning
course was offered and proved to be very popular, especially with those who expected to become vocal
and instrumental teachers of music.
The enrollment for 1913 rose to 275 pupils. In this year, the Board of Trustees decided to fulfill
the desires of the Virginia Conference and take full charge of the School and thus have all the profits
that arose. There had been some criticism of the lease plan previously in use because some folks
believed that under that plan the School was run by individuals for individual gain.31
30 Since the SCI was still leasing the campus from the Virginia Conference and was spending almost all of its income from
students, the ultimate party responsible for paying off these bonds was, of course, the Conference. —The Editor.
31 It is not clear from the records whether SCI accepted responsibility for the outstanding debt (and its payment), or
whether this item remained with the Virginia Conference (from later actions, apparently the latter was the case). —The
Editor.
Miller, et al., on History of S.C., 1875-1950 22
The office of principal was discontinued in 1910, and the office of general manager was
introduced. Prof. J. H. Ruebush became the first General Manager, an executive leadership position he
continue to hold throughout the decade. In his first report to Conference, he announced that the
enrollment was 250 students from 20 states, representing 10 different denominations.
1910 Administrative Building. The Trustees, observing the crowded conditions of the School,
decided to erect a building to cost about $10,000.
They decided to pay for it by issuing bonds bearing
6 percent interest.30 A lot was purchased across
from the Ladies’ Dormitory, and the house that
stood there was moved to the rear of the Dormitory
and used as a laundry and bake shop. The
Administration Building (shown at the right) was
erected in 1910. It was a large, four-story, brick
structure that housed the physical and chemical
laboratories, large classrooms, art studio, and
business college rooms, with hot and cold running
water on every floor. A few years later, the third
floor was arranged into rooms for men students and was still used for that purpose in 1950. Prof. J. H.
Ruebush and Prof. C. A. Funkhouser each donated $1,500 to help erect this building. When it was
completed, Howe Memorial Building was used exclusively for the School of Music.
There were 17 faculty members employed in 1910, and the School received word that it had been
granted accredited standing with the University of Virginia—thus, a graduate of SCI would be admitted
without examination to any department, except Medicine, of that University.
The School of Music was fast becoming one of the best of its kind in the State, and it was even
claimed by some to be the best in the South. A letter from H. C. Stuart, Governor of Virginia, states that
he considered SCI and School of Music the “most unique” school in Virginia. R. C. Stearnes, State
Superintendent of Public Instruction, reported that SCI was the school in Virginia offering adequate
advantages in public school music. SCI’s General Manager reported that all of the graduates who made
application for State certificates were granted them upon graduation, thus showing State recognition of
the value of the School.
A fine addition to the School of Music was a Möller pipe organ built by M. P. Möller Organ
Company of Hagerstown, Md. It had two manuals of 61 keys each, from C to D. A Piano Tuning
course was offered and proved to be very popular, especially with those who expected to become vocal
and instrumental teachers of music.
The enrollment for 1913 rose to 275 pupils. In this year, the Board of Trustees decided to fulfill
the desires of the Virginia Conference and take full charge of the School and thus have all the profits
that arose. There had been some criticism of the lease plan previously in use because some folks
believed that under that plan the School was run by individuals for individual gain.31
30 Since the SCI was still leasing the campus from the Virginia Conference and was spending almost all of its income from
students, the ultimate party responsible for paying off these bonds was, of course, the Conference. —The Editor.
31 It is not clear from the records whether SCI accepted responsibility for the outstanding debt (and its payment), or
whether this item remained with the Virginia Conference (from later actions, apparently the latter was the case). —The
Editor.
Miller, et al., on History of S.C., 1875-1950 22
