Even though these particular ruins suggest otherwise, Randolph Macon College is the oldest college still in continuous operation today.
Located along the Virginia Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail, the old Randolph Macon College was built over the first documented oval racetrack in the United States when Alexander Boyd founded the nearby historic site of Boydton, Virginia in the late 1700’s.1
The college’s name is taken from politicians of the era, John Randolph of Virginia and Nathaniel Macon of North Carolina. Although neither of the men were Methodist, their names were adopted to send a message that students of all denominations were welcome.2
Founded by the Methodist Church in 1830, it opened its doors in 1832 as a one building school for men, originally known as The Boydton Institute. The contractors were William A. Howard and Dabney Crosby, both prominent builders in the area. Over time it grew to a 187’ wide structure that included a main central section with East and West wings, 70 rooms, administrative offices, dormitories (in the wings and upper floors), a chapel, and a library. Other facilities were added later such as the Preparatory School, Steward’s Hall (where meals were served), the headmaster’s home known as Helensha Cottage, a hotel, and faculty homes.
In 1853, it held its first graduation ceremony after over 20 years of operation, with a central goal focused on producing well educated teachers and preachers. There were only two graduates.
Most students enrolled from nearby towns in Virginia and North Carolina, although some traveled from Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The names of approximately 280 students have been identified through research, with hopes of identifying more in the future.3
The school struggled to remain in operation during the Civil War as student’s left to join the efforts. Classes continued in the Preparatory School Building, but the main building was converted to temporarily serve as a Confederate hospital. Recruitment banquets for the Boydton Cavalry and the Mecklenburg County militias were held here and a Department of Military Instruction began February 1862.
Railroads leading to the school were destroyed during the war, further contributing to low enrollment and forcing the college to close its doors in February 1863. It briefly re-opened in 1866, and then in 1868, Randolph Macon College moved to Ashland, Virginia to escape the ravages of the Civil War.
October 1, 1868
“…the rural location of the Boydton campus, not served by a railroad, did not attract the patronage for the college as it once had done. Furthermore, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia now had their own Methodist colleges and had withdrawn their support from Randolph-Macon. President Johnson recommended and the Trustees, at a meeting held on June 24, 1868, concurred in the recommendation that the college be moved to a more accessible location where it would draw more support from both the Virginia and the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Church.” – History by Simpson & Mabry, 1967 Yellow Jacket Annual4
After the war’s end, the original college housed the Union Provost Marshall’s office and the local Freedmen’s Bureau, an organization set up by the federal government to aid former enslaved people. In 1878, the Boydton Academic and Bible Institute for African Americans was established and remained in operation until 1935. Vernon Johns, often referred to as the “Father of the Civil Rights Movement,” was one of the school’s most notable students.
The brick ruins and the Helensha Cottage are both currently owned by the Old Brunswick Circuit Foundation. Per an articale I found online, “Local historians and advocates for the Boydton Institute have generously contributed to the historical archives accumulated about this institution. These archives include a number of class photos– some with and some without student names. With the use of online databases and sophisticated search tools, technology has provided us with the ability to quickly search millions of records. However, much information about the Boydton Institute was never put in writing and those who had firsthand knowledge of this school are no longer with us. The OBCF is hopeful that some stories have been passed down to the next generation…The OBCF seeks partnership with and participation from the community in creating a full, authentic and multidimensional story about and in appreciation of the Boydton Institute.” 5
- https://www.virginia.org/listing/original-randolph-macon-college-site/4359/ ↩︎
- https://www.rmc.edu/about-rmc/rmc-history/ ↩︎
- https://www.lakegastongazette-observer.com/news/article_b054e7da-66d7-11ee-a8ee-abe493c30a9b.html ↩︎
- https://rmctoashland.rmclibrary.reclaim.hosting/exhibits/show/timeline/timeline ↩︎
- https://www.emporiaindependentmessenger.com/community/article_64b79024-6dc2-11ee-8434-ffaa5017ef18.html ↩︎
