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Fauquier Institute

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Fauquier Institute
illustration of school building, surrounded by trees
Fauquier Institute, pre 1908
Address
194 East Lee Street

Warrenton
,
Fauquier
,
Virginia

United States
Information
Other namesFauquier Female Institute Fauquier Institute for Girls
School typePrivate
Religious affiliation(s)None
OpenedOctober 1860
Closedc. 1929
PrincipalJ. S. Bacon
PrincipalGeorge A. Bulter
PrincipalNellie V. Butler
Grades1-12, College
Campus size10 acres
Color(s)Red and White
AffiliationAssociation of Colleges and Schools for Girls

The Fauquier Institute or Fauquier Female Institute was a small private school in Warrenton, Fauquier County, Virginia.[1] It operated from 1860 through the late 1920s. It was a boarding school and a day school, teaching primary, preparatory, and collegiate female students. It advertised "elegant accommodations, excellent advantages, reliable terms."[2]

Students at Fauquier Institute, July 1917

History

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In 1857, a group of investors purchased seven acres with a house in Warrenton, Virginia, from William F. Phipps, to establish a girls' school, the tentatively called the Fauquier Female Seminary.[3] Rather than using the existing brick house, they hired John R. Spilman of Warrenton to build a new, large school house.[3]

Fauquier Female Institute opened in October 1860.[4] It claimed to provide a "quiet, retired, and healtful situation" to educate women in "these agitating times".[1] It was a boarding school and a day school for local students.[5] Its original principals were J. S. Bacon, DD and R. P. Latham, A.M.[4][1] In July 1866, the school property was purchased by Rev. H. H. Wyer of Louisa County, Virginia.[6][7][8] He moved to the Institute and oversaw its operation with Bacon.[6][7]

In August 1868, the school was operated by Wyer and J. B. Budwell, Esq.[5] It was sold to John A. Spilman and Dr. Robert Frazer in 1871.[3] Frazer was in charge of the institute.[3] In 1875, Mr. Averett who had been the institute's principal, left to start a school for boys in Culpepper.[9] Miss A. Taylor of Baltimore, Maryland rented the school in July 1875, with plans to open it in September.[10] In September, a newspaper reported that a Prof. Dowdy from Louden County, Virginia was now in charge of the school.[11]

Frazier became the sole owner of the institute in 1877 and was its principal.[2][3] He left in 1882 to become the president of the Judson Female Institute in Alabama and was, later, president of Longwood College in Virginia.[12][13] (Later, he was president of Longwood College). In August 1882, Rev. Dr. J. A. Chambliss, pastor of the Citadel Square Baptist Church of Charleston, South Carolina became the president of the institute.[14] Rev. Alexander Fleet, previously the pastor of the Broad Run Baptist Church, became the institute's principal in 1886.[15][16][17][3]

In February 1887, the institute was purchased for $10,000 by Prof. Ayres of Marion, Alabama.[18][19] Fleet returned to his prior home in Essex County, Virginia.[17] George A. Bulter, A.M. was the school's principal in 1887; he previously had a private boarding school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.[20][3] Major Robert P. Barry purchase the Fauquier Female Institute for $8,000 in July 1888.[21][3] Barry leased the institute to Butler who operated the school with his wife, Adelaide, and their daughters Nellie and Edith.[22][3] Butler remained principal of the institute until his death on August 7, 1908 at the age of 86 years.[23]

In 1890, the school began opening as a summer resort for private boarding during the summer months.[24][25][26] This was an attempt to balance the institute's budget.[3] The Richmond Dispatch reported that the school had applicants for students from Puerto Rico and other distant locations in 1902.[27] That year, the institute had its highest number of students in its history and had to turn away qualified students due to a lack of space.[28]

Miss Nellie V. Butler became the institute's principal after the death of her father, George Butler, operating it along with her sisters Alice and Edith.[29][30][31][32][3] By 1912, the institute was a member of the Association of Colleges and Schools for Girls.[33] The institute was purchased from Barry by local businessmen Joseph and Herman Ullman in 1915.[34][3] Nellie and Alice Butler retired in 1923.[32] Three teachers stayed and attempted to keep the school open.[3] In 1923, Miss May Strother and Mrs. Katherine D. Carr took over the institute.[35][36][37] In 1926, ads called the school the Fauquier Institute for Girls.[38]

Although sources suggest that the institute closed in either 1923 or 1925, it was advertised for the 65th session in the fall of 1926.[39][38][34][3] In addition, the Virginia Division's Committee for Education of the United Daughters of the Confederacy gave a $100 scholarship for a student in the preparatory school or college for the 1927–28, 1928–29, and 1929–30 school years.[40][41][42] Mrs. R. L. Kenner was institute's principal in the spring of 1928 and the director of a summer school at the institute in 1928.[43][44]

After it closed, the institute building was turned into a boarding house and apartments.[45] The Ullman brother sold the property and nine acres to Vincent O. Jacobs in October 1945.[45][34][3]

Campus

[edit]

The campus was located on ten acres in Fauquier County, Virginia (now 139 Culpeper Street in Warrenton).[20][34][46] It included a three-story brick building constructed for the school and to board the students.[4][34] The Italiante style building features four central interior chimneys, a hipped roof, and corbelled brickwork, along with gabled pavilions.[3] It was described as "a handsome building surrounded by beautiful grounds".[16]

It was near Fauquier White Sulphur Springs and was fifty miles from Washington, D.C.[1][20] The campus had an elevation of 700 feet and had views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.[47] It was accessible by railroad, being on a branch of Richmond and Danville Railroad.[4][22]

Students and faculty

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The school included up to 26 boarding students, about 40 day students, and eleven faculty members.[47][48]

Academics

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The school included primary, preparatory, and collegiate levels.[4] Students learned reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, French, Latin, psychology, and poetry.[3]

When the school first opened, tuition was $25 for the primary school, $30 or $40 for the preparatory school, and $50 for the collegiate school.[4] In addition to the curriculum, students could pay $20 extra for instruction in an ancient or modern language; $50 for, music lessons with harp, guitar, or piano (it was $10 extra for use of the piano); and $20 each for classes in embroidery, drawing or painting.[4] Boarding, including lights and fuel, was $150 per session, with $15 for washing. The school year consisted of one session that started in October and ended in the first week of July.[4] In 1879, tuition and boarding were $200, with classes starting in September.[2] Commencement was held in May.[12]

In 1904, the commencement exercises included a performance of a chorus, a display of calisthenics to music, and a demonstration of the use of dumbbells.[49] In 1907 and 1908, the student demonstrations at graduation included a performance by the violin class, elocution presentations, and demonstrations of tennis, a drill with the Indian clubs by the physical culture class.[50][51]

In 1925, the institute offered secretarial sources in addition to French, music, and outdoor sports.[52]

Student life

[edit]

Students participated in activities such as chorus and theater.[53][49][54] Its music students also gave concerts for the community and the school's patrons.[55] In 1906, its number of boarding students was limited to 26.[47][37] The King’s Daughters of Warrenton established a Good Will Circle at the institute in 1889; it operated there until the school closed.[3][56] The institute also had the Epsilon chapter for Alpha Sigma Alpha from 1905 to 1907.[39][57]

The school's colors were red and white.[49]

Notable alumnae

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Educational". Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, Virginia. 1861-04-23. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Educational". Weekly Virginian and Carolinian. Norfolk, Virginia. 1879-09-11. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Toler, John (2020-02-16). "Lee Street Mansion was formerly the Fauquier Female Institute, 1857 to 1925". Fauquier Times. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Fauquier Female Institute, Warrenton, VA". Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, Virginia. 1860-08-28. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Fauquier County". Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, Virginia. 1868-08-07. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "Fauquier County". Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, Virginia. 1866-07-30. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "The Title of the Propet of the Fauquier Female Institute". Richmond Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1866-08-06. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Personal". The New Orleans Crescent. New Orleans, Louisiana. 1866-08-10. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Virginia News". Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, Virginia. 1875-07-05. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Fauquier County Items". Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, Virginia. 1875-07-05. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Letter from Fauquier". Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, Virginia. 1875-09-29. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b "Warrenton. Closing Exercises at Fauquier Female Institute". Richmond Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1882-05-31. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Prof. Robert Frazier's Decision". The Marion Times-Standard. Marion, Alabama. 1882-06-07. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "General Notes". The New York Times. 1882-08-30. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Fauquier Female Institute". Weekly Virginian and Carolinian. Norfolk, Virginia. 1886-07-15. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b "Commencement Exercises". Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, Virginia. 1886-06-15. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "Virginia News". Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, Virginia. 1887-07-06. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Virginia News". Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, Virginia. 1887-02-19. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Virginia Twinkles". The Norfolk Virginian. Norfolk, Virginia. 1887-02-22. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b c "Fauquier Female Institute". The Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. 1887-08-04. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Interesting School Notes". Staunton Vindicator. Staunton, Virginia. 1888-07-27. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b "Fauquier Female Institute". The Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. 1888-08-01. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "George G. Butler". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1908-08-08. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Guest at the Institute". Richmond Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1901-07-21. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Summer Resorts". The Norfolk Virginian. Norfolk, Virginia. 1893-05-17. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "In Rural Nooks. Cool Places Where One Can Spend the Summer in Comfort". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. 1890-06-27. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "In Warrenton Society". Richmond Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1902-07-27. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "The Attendance at the Fauquier Female Institute". Richmond Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1902-10-07. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Fauquier Institute". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1910-07-10. p. 15. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Miss Nellie Butler". Staunton Daily Leader. 1912-09-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  31. ^ "Head of Fauquier School is Dead". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1922-02-26. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ a b "Funeral of Miss Nellie V Boiler". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1925-01-07. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Miss Nellie Butler". Staunton Daily Leader. Staunton, Virginia. 1912-09-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ a b c d e "Fauqier Institute in Warrenton is Sold". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. 1945-10-20. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Luiz, Earle (1924-03-30). "Fauquier County is Famous for Sport of Kings". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. p. 66. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Summer Board". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1924-06-03. p. 15. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ a b "Fauquier Institute for Young Ladies". Fauquier Democrat. 4 August 1923. p. 6 – via Virginia Chronicle | Library of Virginia.
  38. ^ a b "Educational". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1926-08-11. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ a b Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (August 5, 2023) "Fauquier Female Institute". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed December 20, 2023.
  40. ^ "U.D.C. Offer Many State Scholarships". The Daily News Leader. Staunton, Virginia. 1928-07-12. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ "U.D.C. Announces Va. Scholarships for Coming Year". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. 1929-05-14. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "Va. U.D.C. Offers 24 Scholarships". The Daily News Leader. Staunton, Virginia. 1927-03-11. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "Fauquier Institute". Fauquier Democrat. 5 May 1928. p. 3. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Virginia Chronicle | Library of Virginia.
  44. ^ "Virginian's Enter Oratory Contest". Fauquier Democrat. 7 March 1928. p. 2. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Virginia Chronicle | Library of Virginia.
  45. ^ a b "Fauquier Institute Bought by Jacobs". The Richmond News Leader. 1945-10-17. p. 28. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  46. ^ Wilson, Richard Guy (2002). Buildings of Virginia: Tidewater and Piedmont, Richard Guy Wilson and contributors. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 116. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via SAH Archipedia.
  47. ^ a b c "Farquier Institute School for Young Ladies at Warrington, Va". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. 1906-08-19. p. 61. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ A Handbook of American Private Schools (7th ed.). Boston: Porter Sargent. 1922. p. 204 – via Google Books.
  49. ^ a b c "Fauquier Institute. Entertaining Calisthenics a Feature of Closing Exercises". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1904-06-03. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ "Fauquier Female Institute Finals". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1907-06-07. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ "Fauquier Female Institute. Interesting Program at the Close of Successful Session". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1908-06-05. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ "Farquier Institute for Girls". The Kansas City Star. 1925-08-01. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ "Girls' School Presents Play". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1925-02-22. p. 22. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ "The Senior and Junior English Classes of Fauquier Institute". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1924-03-09. p. 44. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ "Evening of Music". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. 1926-01-23. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-12-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ "Mrs. Vose Reelected". Fauquier Democrat. 22 January 1959. p. 5. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Virginia Chronicle | Library of Virginia.
  57. ^ "Timeline 1900". Alpha Sigma Alpha. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
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