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.
Randolph County's First “College for Females”. 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 for operation of Cuthbert’s first Public School.
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 for operation of Cuthbert’s first Public School.
Erected 1958 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 120-12.)
Location. 31° 46.564′ N, 84° 48.114′ W. Marker is in Cuthbert, Georgia, in Randolph County. Marker 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.
2. Randolph County's First “College for Females” Marker
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 508 times since then and 11 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.
