Page 109 - History of UB Church by A. Funkhouser Ver 1
P. 109
CHAPTER XXV
THE VIRGINIA CONFERENCE SCHOOL
The country about Dayton, Virginia was settled long before there was any village at this point.
The little stone building on the east border, between the Harrisonburg pike and Cook's creek, was
built as a fortified house, and was surrounded by a stockade. It is supposed there was a covered
way leading to the stream, and a condition in the crown patent to the land on which the lower mill
stands is that the Burtner fort shall have enough water for its use. Even before the Revolution
there was an Episcopal chapel adjacent to the town cemetery. On the ground now occupied by
artificial Silver Lake was a Presbyterian church. The early population of the vicinity was Scotch-Irish
and English and not German. As a hamlet, Dayton was first known as Rifetown or Rifeville. In
1833, Dayton was made a town by an Act of Assembly. The first dwelling within the town site was
the Rife house, a rough-coat building that stood on the Institute campus. Previous to its being torn
down by Dr. Funkhouser, the occupant kept a wagon yard. The Harrisonburg pike was built in 1833,
and in 1840 there were 26 houses in the village. The union brick church now owned by the Church
of the Brethren was built about 1858. Prior to this the only preaching place was a long shop
building. Bachtel had a steel triangle made, and this was beaten with a hammer to give notice of
the preaching hour. The discovery of gold in California made money plentiful, and Dayton was on
somewhat of a boom. Property was in demand, houses were built, and in 1852 the place was
incorporated.
Shenandoah Seminary was founded in 1875 and incorporated one year later. In 1879 it was
named Shenandoah Institute. Its first habitation was the building on Main street near the entrance
to the street leading to the railway station. It is at present the store and residence of Mr.
Stinespring. The next home of the school was the building since known as Ladies' Dormitory
Number One and Dining Hall. Until then this was a store and dwelling house. In 1885 an annex was
attached to this building. In the same year the campus was purchased and maple trees planted on
it. In 1901 the Howe Memorial Building was erected on the campus, and in 1912 the Administration
Building, opposite the Boarding Hall, was completed. Including two residences, occupied by the
manager and Professor W. H. Ruebush, there are now six distinct buildings on the lands owned by
the institution, and the total value of the plant is about $60,000.
The school began with 20 students, and there were many recitations in private homes. A
primary school was at first connected with Shenandoah Academy. The manager, the instructor of
the primary department, and a teacher of music made up the original faculty. The following persons
have successively been at the head of the school: A. P. Funkhouser (1875-1885); J. N. Fries
(1885-1887); G. P. Hott (1887-1895); E. U. Hoenshel (1895-1910); J. H. Ruebush, since 1910.
In 1902 the institution took the name of Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of Music,
and by this title it has since been known.
There are now ten members of the academic faculty, and eight of the department of music.
The curriculum embraces Bible study, English, History, Mathematics, Natural Science,
Agriculture, Latin, German, French, Elocution, Domestic Science, and the Fine Arts, in addition to
the work of the Shenandoah Business College. Music has always been a strong adjunct. In the
school year, 1918-19, there were 115 students studying music, 101 were taking Bible study, 94
literature, 35 expression, 18 art, and 2 domestic science. There were 44 in the commercial
courses.
The school year, divided into two semesters, continues 36 weeks.
Tuition is $50 in each music course, and $50 to $75 in the academic courses.
In 42 years over 6,000 students have had partial training in this institution.
Jay N. Fries was born at White Hall, Virginia, December 13, 1850. His early life was spent on his
father's farm. In the fall of 1869 he began teaching, and in 1876 was graduated from Otterbein
University with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He had already been licensed to preach in 1871. In
the year of his graduation he opened a high school at Dayton, Virginia, teaching it four years, and
then teaching in Bridgewater and Harrisonburg. For 12 years Prof. Fries was at the head of
Shenandoah Institute, and his term was marked by thorough, conscientious, and successful work.
Chapter XXV 109 The Virginia Conference School
THE VIRGINIA CONFERENCE SCHOOL
The country about Dayton, Virginia was settled long before there was any village at this point.
The little stone building on the east border, between the Harrisonburg pike and Cook's creek, was
built as a fortified house, and was surrounded by a stockade. It is supposed there was a covered
way leading to the stream, and a condition in the crown patent to the land on which the lower mill
stands is that the Burtner fort shall have enough water for its use. Even before the Revolution
there was an Episcopal chapel adjacent to the town cemetery. On the ground now occupied by
artificial Silver Lake was a Presbyterian church. The early population of the vicinity was Scotch-Irish
and English and not German. As a hamlet, Dayton was first known as Rifetown or Rifeville. In
1833, Dayton was made a town by an Act of Assembly. The first dwelling within the town site was
the Rife house, a rough-coat building that stood on the Institute campus. Previous to its being torn
down by Dr. Funkhouser, the occupant kept a wagon yard. The Harrisonburg pike was built in 1833,
and in 1840 there were 26 houses in the village. The union brick church now owned by the Church
of the Brethren was built about 1858. Prior to this the only preaching place was a long shop
building. Bachtel had a steel triangle made, and this was beaten with a hammer to give notice of
the preaching hour. The discovery of gold in California made money plentiful, and Dayton was on
somewhat of a boom. Property was in demand, houses were built, and in 1852 the place was
incorporated.
Shenandoah Seminary was founded in 1875 and incorporated one year later. In 1879 it was
named Shenandoah Institute. Its first habitation was the building on Main street near the entrance
to the street leading to the railway station. It is at present the store and residence of Mr.
Stinespring. The next home of the school was the building since known as Ladies' Dormitory
Number One and Dining Hall. Until then this was a store and dwelling house. In 1885 an annex was
attached to this building. In the same year the campus was purchased and maple trees planted on
it. In 1901 the Howe Memorial Building was erected on the campus, and in 1912 the Administration
Building, opposite the Boarding Hall, was completed. Including two residences, occupied by the
manager and Professor W. H. Ruebush, there are now six distinct buildings on the lands owned by
the institution, and the total value of the plant is about $60,000.
The school began with 20 students, and there were many recitations in private homes. A
primary school was at first connected with Shenandoah Academy. The manager, the instructor of
the primary department, and a teacher of music made up the original faculty. The following persons
have successively been at the head of the school: A. P. Funkhouser (1875-1885); J. N. Fries
(1885-1887); G. P. Hott (1887-1895); E. U. Hoenshel (1895-1910); J. H. Ruebush, since 1910.
In 1902 the institution took the name of Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of Music,
and by this title it has since been known.
There are now ten members of the academic faculty, and eight of the department of music.
The curriculum embraces Bible study, English, History, Mathematics, Natural Science,
Agriculture, Latin, German, French, Elocution, Domestic Science, and the Fine Arts, in addition to
the work of the Shenandoah Business College. Music has always been a strong adjunct. In the
school year, 1918-19, there were 115 students studying music, 101 were taking Bible study, 94
literature, 35 expression, 18 art, and 2 domestic science. There were 44 in the commercial
courses.
The school year, divided into two semesters, continues 36 weeks.
Tuition is $50 in each music course, and $50 to $75 in the academic courses.
In 42 years over 6,000 students have had partial training in this institution.
Jay N. Fries was born at White Hall, Virginia, December 13, 1850. His early life was spent on his
father's farm. In the fall of 1869 he began teaching, and in 1876 was graduated from Otterbein
University with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He had already been licensed to preach in 1871. In
the year of his graduation he opened a high school at Dayton, Virginia, teaching it four years, and
then teaching in Bridgewater and Harrisonburg. For 12 years Prof. Fries was at the head of
Shenandoah Institute, and his term was marked by thorough, conscientious, and successful work.
Chapter XXV 109 The Virginia Conference School
