Franklin Institutions STORY BY CLYDE PARKER
T
he Franklin Female Seminary, a boarding and day school for girls, was opened in 1894 and was located on Clay Street in Franklin on a lot that was later occupied by Franklin High School. (Now, Clay Court Apartments occupy that spot.) The Seminary came about following the closure of another school, dating back to 1886, that was located next to the old George Camp Farm just off Sedley Road. That school was for boys and girls. (In the present-day, a part of the Franklin High School property, on Crescent Drive, occupies that site.) The Franklin Female Seminary, originally, consisted of two large frame buildings. One of the buildings was a threestory dormitory and the other was the schoolhouse, which had two classrooms
on the first floor and an auditorium and stage on the second floor. Later the two buildings were connected by a third building, also of three stories, which provided more classrooms and residential quarters for boarding students and members of the faculty. On June 13, 1894, the circuit court of Southampton County chartered a company known as the Franklin Female Seminary Company, stock in which was held by 55 persons who paid in $5,445 for a total of 217 and 4/5 shares. Stockholders who paid in more than $200 each were six in number, namely: James L. Camp, Paul D. Camp, and Robert J. Camp at $900 each; Josiah P. Gay, $500; C. C. Vaughan, Jr., $325; and John C. Parker, $225. Trustees were: Josiah P. Gay, presi-
western tidewater living
looking back The Franklin Military Academy, located on Lee Street in Franklin, is shown circa 1890.
dent; John C. Parker, vice president; A. L. Gardner, secretary; Robert J. Camp, treasurer; Dr. J. F. Bryant; Paul D. Camp; Dr. R. H. Cobb; D. A. Holland; I. E. Howell; J. R. Knight; and W. T. Pace. Miss Eunice McDowell of Scotland Neck, North Carolina was appointed principal. Teachers were: Miss Annie E. Gay, Franklin; Miss Margaret D. Hargraves, Driver, and Miss Gertrude Norfleet, Franklin. Mrs. Bettie Claud was the housekeeper. After seven years as principal, Miss McDowell resigned her position to become lady principal of Baptist University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Succeeding her was Professor John B. Brewer of Wake Forest, North Carolina who for several years had been principal of the Baptist See SOUTHAMPTON, page 30
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