Cuthbert in Randolph County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Randolph County's First “College for Females”

1852 - 1907

Photographed by David Seibert, August 15, 2011

1. Randolph County's First “College for Females” Marker

Inscription. The Baptist Bethel Association, meeting in Benevolence in 1851, resolved to undertake “The Creation of an Educational Institution for Females, to be called THE BAPTIST FEMALE COLLEGE OF SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA.” This site, in the little village of Villa Nova, was chosen for its location. Rev. Thos. Muse served two years as Agent, raising funds, promoting plans, shaping policies. A handsome, colonnaded building was erected here and Rev. A. T. Holmes made first President. School opened in the Fall of 1852. The first Trustees were Jesse H. Campbell, James Clark, Francis Seig, William Janes, Ebenezer Warren, Roger Dickinson, John Wilson, William Wade, Joel Perry, Thomas Muse, William L. Crawford, Richard Thornton, John Fletcher, David Vason, Jesse Stallings. Closed by war, 1863, it served as the Hill Hospital of the Confederacy (1864-65). In 1880’s as a branch of Georgia’s University system, it became The Bethel Agricultural and Military College. Destroyed by fire in 1901, this property was sold, another site bought and a new building erected. In 1907, Bethel Association sold that second property to the City of Cuthbert

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for operation of Cuthbert’s first Public School.

Erected 1958 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 120-12.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.

Location. 31° 46.564′ N, 84° 48.114′ W. Marker is in Cuthbert, Georgia, in Randolph County. It is on Villa Nova Street 0 miles north of Randolph Street, on the left when traveling north. The marker is in the 400 block of Villa Nova Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cuthbert GA 39840, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States

Photographed by David Seibert, August 15, 2011

2. Randolph County's First “College for Females” Marker

of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Andrew College (approx. half a mile away); Hood Hospital (approx. half a mile away); The George McDonald House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Mother of Georgia's Pecan Industry (approx. 0.7 miles away); Confederate Dead and Hospitals (approx. 0.7 miles away); Old Carnegie Library (approx. 0.7 miles away); Frederick Davis Patterson, M.D. / Patterson Hospital (approx. ¾ mile away); Shady Grove (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cuthbert.

Photographed by David Seibert, August 15, 2011

3. Randolph County's First “College for Females” Marker

Looking south in the 400 block of Villa Nova Street toward College Street (US Highway 82)

Photographed by David Seibert, August 15, 2011

4. Randolph County's First “College for Females” Marker

Looking north in the 400 nlock of Villa Nova Street

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 665 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 24, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.