Page 52 - UB Church and Shen Univ
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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
At considerable expense and much publicity, the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of
Commerce launched a campaign to raise $250,000 to assist Shenandoah College in relocating in
Winchester. (In cash and pledges, the campaign by 1957 had gone beyond the objective; details
are provided in Section I.B.6, below.)
Summing Up. Shenandoah was looking for a location that needed a college and the Winchester-
Frederick County Chamber of Commerce was looking for a college that needed a town. Through the
vision of Dr. Troy Brady, President of Shenandoah, and the dedication of Rev. Racey and our
committees, we were able to accomplish our goals by combining our mutual objectives.
Shenandoah, even before the move to Winchester, had made a positive mark on the City and its
citizens. It became a cause. Its success would enhance the quality of life for all our people
educationally, economically, and culturally; and would create civic pride in our own College and
Conservatory of Music—the first since General Banks burned the Medical College of the Shenandoah
Valley of Virginia in 1862.
The College Project Committee pulled out all stops and promoted the project and fund campaign
by every possible means: the media, direct mail, radio, speakers at all civic clubs and church group
meetings, and by word of mouth. Many of our committee officials and members were also active
officers and directors in the Great Shenandoah Valley Apple Blossom Festival, Shenandoah Valley, Inc.,
Chamber of Commerce, and the Virginia EUB Conference, all of which used their bulletins and releases
to advertise the project.
4. Virginia Conference Acts To Save Shenandoah College, 1955-5640
Because the EUB Church had many churches and members in the Winchester-Frederick County
area, our Joint Planning and Building Committee agreed that the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber
of Commerce College Project Committee would not solicit any members of that Church for
contributions, as their financial campaigns would run concurrently with ours, but perhaps start a little
later. However, both groups agreed to assist each other to the fullest extent possible. We would also
assist the EUB Virginia Conference in arranging loans with local banks, if necessary, to cover current
financial needs to pay for their share of construction costs and other expenses.
The campaign by the EUB Virginia Conference encompassed all of Virginia and adjoining
counties of West Virginia and Maryland. Thus included all of the Shenandoah Valley and generally ran
from Roanoke on the south to Cumberland, Md., and Keyser, W.Va. on the north and west to Franklin
and Petersburg, W.Va., and east to the Northern Virginia counties in the Washington, D.C., area.
Most members were very loyal to Shenandoah and wanted to see their College and Conservatory
survive. They generally voted 70-90 percent in favor of the Winchester project. Accordingly, during
1956-58, they secured the necessary pledges to meet their goal of $250,000 and more; but, they had to
borrow a part of the needed funds from our Winchester banks because of the 3-year and, in some cases,
longer-period pledges. However, the Virginia Conference always met their obligations on time. They
were very dependable people.
The foregoing clearly shows the determination of the Virginia Conference representatives and
the Board of Trustees to save Shenandoah by moving to Winchester. Twice they opposed the Board of
Bishops and the General Council of Administration of the National EUB Church, and in January 1957
40 [Wilkins 1985]. 42
Wilkins on History of S.C., 1952-1960
At considerable expense and much publicity, the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of
Commerce launched a campaign to raise $250,000 to assist Shenandoah College in relocating in
Winchester. (In cash and pledges, the campaign by 1957 had gone beyond the objective; details
are provided in Section I.B.6, below.)
Summing Up. Shenandoah was looking for a location that needed a college and the Winchester-
Frederick County Chamber of Commerce was looking for a college that needed a town. Through the
vision of Dr. Troy Brady, President of Shenandoah, and the dedication of Rev. Racey and our
committees, we were able to accomplish our goals by combining our mutual objectives.
Shenandoah, even before the move to Winchester, had made a positive mark on the City and its
citizens. It became a cause. Its success would enhance the quality of life for all our people
educationally, economically, and culturally; and would create civic pride in our own College and
Conservatory of Music—the first since General Banks burned the Medical College of the Shenandoah
Valley of Virginia in 1862.
The College Project Committee pulled out all stops and promoted the project and fund campaign
by every possible means: the media, direct mail, radio, speakers at all civic clubs and church group
meetings, and by word of mouth. Many of our committee officials and members were also active
officers and directors in the Great Shenandoah Valley Apple Blossom Festival, Shenandoah Valley, Inc.,
Chamber of Commerce, and the Virginia EUB Conference, all of which used their bulletins and releases
to advertise the project.
4. Virginia Conference Acts To Save Shenandoah College, 1955-5640
Because the EUB Church had many churches and members in the Winchester-Frederick County
area, our Joint Planning and Building Committee agreed that the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber
of Commerce College Project Committee would not solicit any members of that Church for
contributions, as their financial campaigns would run concurrently with ours, but perhaps start a little
later. However, both groups agreed to assist each other to the fullest extent possible. We would also
assist the EUB Virginia Conference in arranging loans with local banks, if necessary, to cover current
financial needs to pay for their share of construction costs and other expenses.
The campaign by the EUB Virginia Conference encompassed all of Virginia and adjoining
counties of West Virginia and Maryland. Thus included all of the Shenandoah Valley and generally ran
from Roanoke on the south to Cumberland, Md., and Keyser, W.Va. on the north and west to Franklin
and Petersburg, W.Va., and east to the Northern Virginia counties in the Washington, D.C., area.
Most members were very loyal to Shenandoah and wanted to see their College and Conservatory
survive. They generally voted 70-90 percent in favor of the Winchester project. Accordingly, during
1956-58, they secured the necessary pledges to meet their goal of $250,000 and more; but, they had to
borrow a part of the needed funds from our Winchester banks because of the 3-year and, in some cases,
longer-period pledges. However, the Virginia Conference always met their obligations on time. They
were very dependable people.
The foregoing clearly shows the determination of the Virginia Conference representatives and
the Board of Trustees to save Shenandoah by moving to Winchester. Twice they opposed the Board of
Bishops and the General Council of Administration of the National EUB Church, and in January 1957
40 [Wilkins 1985]. 42
Wilkins on History of S.C., 1952-1960
