Rutherford College in Burke County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Rutherford College

Photographed by Stanley and Terrie Howard, June 28, 2009

1. Rutherford College Marker

Inscription. Evolved from private school opened c. 1853 by R.L. Abernethy. Operated 1900-1933 by Methodist Church. Closed 1935. The original site 1.3 mi N.

Erected 1954 by Archives, Conservation and Highway Departments. (Marker Number N-29.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Division of Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 35° 45.03′ N, 81° 31.5′ W. Marker is in Rutherford College, North Carolina, in Burke County. It is on Malcolm Boulevard (County Route 1001) just north of Campus Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 950 Malcolm Blvd, Connelly Springs NC 28612, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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

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Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rutherford College Town Hall (a few steps from this marker); Rutherford College Water Corporation Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Stump Institute (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church (about 300 feet away); Lovelady Volunteer Fire Department (about 400 feet away); Black Lantern Tea Room (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Rutherford College (approx. 0.2 miles away); History of Bocce (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rutherford College.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. A similar NC marker N-29 erected in 1958.

Also see . . . Rutherford College History. Town website entry

The Town of Rutherford College was named for the college that was located here years ago, in the area where Valdese General Hospital now resides... Owl
Photographed by Stanley and Terrie Howard, June 28, 2009

2. Rutherford College Marker
Hollow School in the community of Rutherford College was operated by Reverend Basil Gaither Jones until 1850, when Reverend R.L. Abernethy, a preacher, a teacher, and a Lincoln County native residing in Lenoir, North Carolina, was asked to take over the school. The school expanded in 1853 and was renamed Rutherford Academy due to the financial help provided by John T. Rutherford, one of the richest men in Burke County... In 1868, R.L. Abernethy returned to the school and reopened it as Rutherford Seminary, a four-year college, and the small community around the school incorporated as Excelsior. Three years later the town was renamed Rutherford College. In 1888 Rutherford Seminary had ten professors and 200 students. In 1891, the college burned at its original site (where the First Baptist Church now stands), but was rebuilt in 1893 at the present site of Valdese General Hospital. In 1894 R.L. Abernethy died due to a fall from a horse. His son, "Will," became the president and held the position until 1899 when the school was sold to the Western North Carolina Conference of the Methodist/Episcopalian Church-South. The school operated
Photographed by Stanley and Terrie Howard, June 16, 2009

3. Rutherford College Incorporated - June 1, 1977
until 1933, when the Methodist Conference was forced to consolidate its schools due to the great depression; thus, Rutherford College merged with Weaver College in Buncombe County and Brevard Institute in Brevard, North Carolina, becoming Brevard College, which still operates in Brevard, North Carolina.

(Submitted on September 17, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. Distance to original site incorrect
The distance of 1.3 mi. N to the original site is incorrect. Based on the information provided by the Rutherford College History page, the approximate distance is 0.6 miles north of here.

— Submitted September 17, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.

Photographed by Brenda Frye Grimes, March 20, 2018

4. Rutherford College Marker

Photo of Cemetery located at original site.

First Baptist Church Rutherford College image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 17, 2024

5. First Baptist Church Rutherford College

Original site of Rutherford College

Obelisk for Robert Laban Abernethy, Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 17, 2024

6. Obelisk for Robert Laban Abernethy, Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church cemetery

Inscription:
R. L. Abernethy, D.D.
1822-1894
Founder of Rutherford College
1853
Erected by Old Students

Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2009, by Stanley and Terrie Howard of Greer, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,186 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 30, 2009, by Stanley and Terrie Howard of Greer, South Carolina. 4. submitted on March 27, 2018, by Brenda Frye Grimes of Connelly Springs, North Carolina. 5, 6. submitted on September 17, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.