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Searcy College and where it was apparently located. Late 1800's.

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

 

College Street Searcy AR aerial view

I've driven these streets so many times!  I knew that College Street sorta dead-ended at W. Race and then there was a small amount of North College off W. Academy.  But I am just now possibly understanding why.

These two buildings were probably located here at the end of N. College. 

 

Searcy College

Dr. Ray Muncy's book (Searcy, Arkansas: A Frontier Town Grows up With America) reports that a 1886-1887 catalog boasted two large buildings.  One was for men, one for women, and the sexes were not allowed to mingle.  It had been on the corner of Pine and Center but was relocated to the West end of Race Street.  The street running North to Race Street was appropriately named College Street because it led to the college.  In 1900 tragedy struck and both buildings burned.

It is amazing to think that these huge structures were located there almost in the middle, probably, of a cow pasture.  Wish we had a better picture of the buildings.   But considering this was around 1900 we are lucky to have a picture at all.  Wonder how long it took to build these structures!  And fire took them away rapidly.  Pages 112-114 in the book tell more about the school.

 

Anonymous
Harold Gene Sullivan

Yes,that is where the college was.  The house I grew up in (1212 W. Race) is located o that site now. that house was built in the early '30s.  i've wondered what went on between when the pictures were taken and the little frane house was built.  Whenever we would dig on the property we would run into debris from the old college buildings.

Apr 27, 2013 07:13 AM
#1
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Harold Gene, I think we did a blog on your house on W Race, didn't we?  It must have been exciting to dig in the yard or the area and turn up things from the old school.  My husband's dad's farm was just a block or two away and it was a cowpasture.  Did you find anything interesting like a fork or silverware when you dug around in the ruins?

Apr 27, 2013 12:27 PM
Anonymous
Harold Gene Sullivan

No, nothing, just building debris. Yes, we discussed my childhood home before.

Apr 28, 2013 01:41 AM
#3
Don Thompson
Donthomp Associates - Sunnyvale, CA

The blog about Harold's home can be found here. It was still located in a cow pasture when Harold lived there. =-))

 

Apr 28, 2013 07:53 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Harold Gene and Don, I am so glad you pointed out the old blog.  It was one of our best, in my opinion.  I knew it was back there somewhere but didn't have time to go find it.  I have put it on facebook, White County As I Remember It, so maybe others will enjoy it. 

Apr 28, 2013 09:02 PM