Page 51 - UB Church and Shen Univ
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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
help keep the School alive, the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce College Project
Committee and the Joint Planning and Building Committee received overwhelming support from our
citizens, business establishments, lay leaders, most trustees, and members of the EUB Virginia
Conference. We worked together to accomplish our goals. In spite of the cooperation from the great
majority of our citizens and members of the EUB Virginia Conference, some people felt that it was an
“Impossible Dream.” A small clique was still just cool to the idea. But, we did not let that stop us.
With Frank Armstrong, Jr., as our General Finance Chairman, we continued to secure pledges and
payments towards our $250,000 goal. At the same time, we encouraged the EUB Church members to
raise their share, so that the building construction could proceed.
Accreditation. Our committees and business community started to work, with the full support
of the Chamber of Commerce. Through the efforts of the College Project Committee, Forrest S. Racey,
and other School officials, the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools agreed in 1955
to continue Shenandoah’s accreditation on a probationary basis for 2 years. This encouragement was a
big help and really gave us a boost to work harder. Without this accreditation, we would have great
difficulty in recruiting students, faculty, and financial help.
Site Selection. The Site Committee was chaired by Hoye Riley, who was a member of the Lions
Club and the City Council. We went to work and searched all the nearby countryside to find a free site,
but to no avail. Finally, we asked the City of Winchester to give us approximately 30 acres of land in
the south end of the city park that was pretty much used as a dumping ground at that time for surplus
material, rock, debris, etc. After many meetings, long discussions, and a lot of hard work by Hoye Riley
and the Site Committee, the City agreed to give the land to the College-Conservatory. For technical
legal reasons, as previously reported, we later had to purchase the land.
It was a challenging site to prepare. We had to clean it up, get rid of the stumps, rocks, brush,
debris, and also take care of the swamp and water situation. The drainage problem was resolved by
creating a stream and ponds that contained the springs and some of the boggy land and by raising the
building elevations to a higher level. This enhanced the future beauty of the grounds. We also included
a lake in the master plan, just east, to be built when funds were available.
Commitments by City of Winchester and Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of
Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce of Winchester-Frederick County, according to a brochure
prepared for the campaign, endorsed and jointly adopted as a major project the transfer of Shenandoah
College to Winchester. To accomplish this transfer, a financial program was proposed. The campaign
for $250,000 from Winchester and community, under the College Project Committee of the Chamber of
Commerce, was launched in July 1956 and was over-subscribed. The campaign called for cash and
pledges payable in 30 months, and $90,000 in cash was collected by 1956. It should be observed that
the local campaign and funds derived therefrom are a part of a total financial program and predicated
upon the funds to be contributed by the College, Virginia Conference, and the General Church, as set
forth in this program. The following are the key commitments to move the process forward:
By Ordinance and Resolution, the Common Council of Winchester authorized the City Manager
to execute a deed granting 29.38045 acres of land to Shenandoah College in consideration of said
college relocation within the city limits of Winchester. The said deed is to be held in escrow until
Shenandoah College has erected one or more major educational buildings, at which time the
aforesaid deed will be delivered to Shenandoah College.
Wilkins on History of S.C., 1952-1960 41
help keep the School alive, the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce College Project
Committee and the Joint Planning and Building Committee received overwhelming support from our
citizens, business establishments, lay leaders, most trustees, and members of the EUB Virginia
Conference. We worked together to accomplish our goals. In spite of the cooperation from the great
majority of our citizens and members of the EUB Virginia Conference, some people felt that it was an
“Impossible Dream.” A small clique was still just cool to the idea. But, we did not let that stop us.
With Frank Armstrong, Jr., as our General Finance Chairman, we continued to secure pledges and
payments towards our $250,000 goal. At the same time, we encouraged the EUB Church members to
raise their share, so that the building construction could proceed.
Accreditation. Our committees and business community started to work, with the full support
of the Chamber of Commerce. Through the efforts of the College Project Committee, Forrest S. Racey,
and other School officials, the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools agreed in 1955
to continue Shenandoah’s accreditation on a probationary basis for 2 years. This encouragement was a
big help and really gave us a boost to work harder. Without this accreditation, we would have great
difficulty in recruiting students, faculty, and financial help.
Site Selection. The Site Committee was chaired by Hoye Riley, who was a member of the Lions
Club and the City Council. We went to work and searched all the nearby countryside to find a free site,
but to no avail. Finally, we asked the City of Winchester to give us approximately 30 acres of land in
the south end of the city park that was pretty much used as a dumping ground at that time for surplus
material, rock, debris, etc. After many meetings, long discussions, and a lot of hard work by Hoye Riley
and the Site Committee, the City agreed to give the land to the College-Conservatory. For technical
legal reasons, as previously reported, we later had to purchase the land.
It was a challenging site to prepare. We had to clean it up, get rid of the stumps, rocks, brush,
debris, and also take care of the swamp and water situation. The drainage problem was resolved by
creating a stream and ponds that contained the springs and some of the boggy land and by raising the
building elevations to a higher level. This enhanced the future beauty of the grounds. We also included
a lake in the master plan, just east, to be built when funds were available.
Commitments by City of Winchester and Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of
Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce of Winchester-Frederick County, according to a brochure
prepared for the campaign, endorsed and jointly adopted as a major project the transfer of Shenandoah
College to Winchester. To accomplish this transfer, a financial program was proposed. The campaign
for $250,000 from Winchester and community, under the College Project Committee of the Chamber of
Commerce, was launched in July 1956 and was over-subscribed. The campaign called for cash and
pledges payable in 30 months, and $90,000 in cash was collected by 1956. It should be observed that
the local campaign and funds derived therefrom are a part of a total financial program and predicated
upon the funds to be contributed by the College, Virginia Conference, and the General Church, as set
forth in this program. The following are the key commitments to move the process forward:
By Ordinance and Resolution, the Common Council of Winchester authorized the City Manager
to execute a deed granting 29.38045 acres of land to Shenandoah College in consideration of said
college relocation within the city limits of Winchester. The said deed is to be held in escrow until
Shenandoah College has erected one or more major educational buildings, at which time the
aforesaid deed will be delivered to Shenandoah College.
Wilkins on History of S.C., 1952-1960 41
