Statesboro in Bulloch County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
First District Agricultural and Mechanical School
Photographed By David Seibert, April 10, 2014
1. First District Agricultural and Mechanical School Marker
Inscription.
First District Agricultural and Mechanical School. . Georgia Southern University was founded as First District A&M in 1906. Bulloch County won a bidding war with Tattnall and Emanuel counties offering cash, 300 acres of land, and utilities worth $125,500. Often referred to locally as the “College or the Culture,” FDA&M was a boarding high school. The three buildings located at the top of the circle, an administration/classroom building flanked by a girls’ and a boys’ dormitory, constituted the original campus. On the first day of classes, February 5, 1908, there were 34 boys and 8 girls enrolled. Typically, half the day was spent in core subject classes and half was devoted to practical learning in the fields, shop, orchard and labs of the farm. By the 1920s, the region had established more high schools and FDA&M was converted into a teachers college named Georgia Normal School (1924-29), South Georgia Teachers College (1929-39) and Georgia Teachers College (1939-1959). It expanded its curriculum as Georgia Southern College in 1959 and as a University in 1990. Having survived skeptics, Depression, and politics the University reached out to the world, but remains grounded in its community origins.
Georgia Southern University was founded as First District A&M in 1906. Bulloch County won a bidding war with Tattnall and Emanuel counties offering cash, 300 acres of land, and utilities worth $125,500. Often referred to locally as the “College or the Culture,” FDA&M was a boarding high school. The three buildings located at the top of the circle, an administration/classroom building flanked by a girls’ and a boys’ dormitory, constituted the original campus. On the first day of classes, February 5, 1908, there were 34 boys and 8 girls enrolled. Typically, half the day was spent in core subject classes and half was devoted to practical learning in the fields, shop, orchard and labs of the farm. By the 1920s, the region had established more high schools and FDA&M was converted into a teachers college named Georgia Normal School (1924-29), South Georgia Teachers College (1929-39) and Georgia Teachers College (1939-1959). It expanded its curriculum as Georgia Southern College in 1959 and as a University in 1990. Having survived skeptics, Depression, and politics the University reached out to the world, but remains grounded in its community origins.
Erected by The Bulloch County Historical Society, sponsored by the Jack N. & Addie D. Averitt Foundation.
Location. 32° 25.567′ N, 81° 46.967′ W. Marker is in Statesboro, Georgia, in Bulloch County. Marker is on Southern Drive, also known as Sweetheart Circle, 0.3 miles east of Forest Drive, on the left when traveling east. The marker located on the Georgia Southern University Campus, across Southern Drive from the Marvin Pittman Administration Building. Southern Drive/Sweetheart Circle is one way counter-clockwise. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Statesboro GA 30460, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 8, 2022
2. First District Agricultural and Mechanical School Marker
Photographed By David Seibert, April 10, 2014
3. First District Agricultural and Mechanical School Marker
Photographed By David Seibert, April 10, 2014
4. First District Agricultural and Mechanical School Marker
The Marvin Pittman Administration Building is in the background.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 8, 2022
5. First District Agricultural and Mechanical School Marker
Featured marker is on the right.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 16, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2017, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 358 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on September 9, 2017, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 2. submitted on May 15, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3, 4. submitted on September 9, 2017, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 5. submitted on May 15, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.