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Terrell still has an opportunity to save parts of a historic building - DAVIS GRIFFITH COX
All of us who cherish the history and heritage of Terrell are deeply saddened by the loss of one of the city's architectural gems, in most recent time known as the Southwestern Christian College Administration Building. The building was recently destroyed by fire and all that remains is a shell of the former building.
Richardsonian Romanesque in style, and built in 1902, for several years it was the entire facility for Toone College, which had been established in 1897 on part of the original homestead of Robert A. Terrell.
W.B. Toone had married Lela, Mr. Terrell's daughter and even named a son, Terrell, after our town's namesake.
The main building became the central core of a college campus which quickly grew and evolved. It soon became known as Terrell University School.
Subsequently, the old octagon shaped house, in which the Terrells had lived for a short time, was moved over to the campus and initially converted to an administration building as the college expanded.
In 1905 the large brick building, affectionately known by some as “old red,” was purchased by the Methodist church and became North Texas University School. The name was officially changed in 1909 to Wesley College.
But it was World War I which indirectly played perhaps the most significant role in determining the long term direction of the school and the role for which many senior citizens of Terrell know it best.
In 1915 Col. Louis C. Perry purchased the campus and converted it into Texas Military College. As the war escalated in Europe, it was soon seen as a patriotic obligation to train and educate our youth for the inevitability of war. With a fine academic reputation and our entry into World War I, the school grew by leaps and bounds. Many of Terrell's leading citizens obtained a major part of their academic training at TMC.
The main building was given the addition of a third floor, while the old “round house” was gutted, remodeled into a single large room, and became the mess hall. Soon additional buildings were added to the campus including a two story brick home for the school's head master.
In 1949 affiliates of the Church of Christ purchased the school and for more than half a century it has been operated as Southwestern Christian College; with both a name and size which has exceeded any of its predecessors.
Family ties link my own heritage with the school and endear that stately old main structure on a more personal level. My great aunt, Netta G. Bedinger taught art there for many years; her class room and studio was on the north east corner of the second floor. My grandfather, L.E. Griffith was on the Board of Directors and a trustee of the college.
Mr. Toone, the school's original founder, had come here from Morrilton, Arkansas (founded and named for my great grandfather). He knew Miss Bedinger well, and it was he who persuaded her to come to Terrell to join his faculty. My uncles and numerous friends and relatives attended school in that hallowed old structure. I even own treasured works of art which were created there.
The structure itself was one of a half dozen of the most architecturally significant commercial buildings which until now remained in Terrell. It had carved acanthus leaf capitals, rusticated stone trim and expansive arches, so typical of the style developed by Henry Hobson Richardson, arguably America's best know architect of the 19th century.
As I stood in front of its soot stained walls recently I found it difficult to hold back tears. As I contemplated both its historic and former architecturally significant role in our town's cultural past my mind drifted backwards. I could not help but pray that some insightful architect, with a love of preservation and far more clever than I, might offer a way to incorporate those classic remains into a new building.
With camera in hand, an architectural restorationist and designer, frustrated and overwhelmed by the skeleton of a structure perhaps too late to save, I desperately wanted to visually capture any fragmentary remains. Then an idea came to me of a way to preserve its memory, its sophistication and the prominent role which it played in our city's history. A tower still stands tall, the main entry at the center of the building's former facade. With but minor alteration, this can and must be preserved, serving as a majestic monument and as a bell tower, perhaps even housing a clock.
The small interior area on the ground level of this tower would have a large slab mounted on its wall on which the history of the college would be engraved. Its window spaces, open to the breeze through which birds might easily fly, would symbolize all those who have passed trough its portals and have soared to greater heights.
It is my hope that the community will stand behind both the college and Dr. Jack Evans, its president and courageous leader, in a time when the college needs not only our prayers and condolences, but our support.
Symbolic of a phoenix rising from the ashes, this institution of higher learning will survive with our help.
Let this tower be a symbol and a permanent reminder of our extended heritage.
Davis Griffith Cox is a restoration specialist from Terrell.
Richardsonian Romanesque in style, and built in 1902, for several years it was the entire facility for Toone College, which had been established in 1897 on part of the original homestead of Robert A. Terrell.
W.B. Toone had married Lela, Mr. Terrell's daughter and even named a son, Terrell, after our town's namesake.
The main building became the central core of a college campus which quickly grew and evolved. It soon became known as Terrell University School.
Subsequently, the old octagon shaped house, in which the Terrells had lived for a short time, was moved over to the campus and initially converted to an administration building as the college expanded.
In 1905 the large brick building, affectionately known by some as “old red,” was purchased by the Methodist church and became North Texas University School. The name was officially changed in 1909 to Wesley College.
But it was World War I which indirectly played perhaps the most significant role in determining the long term direction of the school and the role for which many senior citizens of Terrell know it best.
In 1915 Col. Louis C. Perry purchased the campus and converted it into Texas Military College. As the war escalated in Europe, it was soon seen as a patriotic obligation to train and educate our youth for the inevitability of war. With a fine academic reputation and our entry into World War I, the school grew by leaps and bounds. Many of Terrell's leading citizens obtained a major part of their academic training at TMC.
The main building was given the addition of a third floor, while the old “round house” was gutted, remodeled into a single large room, and became the mess hall. Soon additional buildings were added to the campus including a two story brick home for the school's head master.
In 1949 affiliates of the Church of Christ purchased the school and for more than half a century it has been operated as Southwestern Christian College; with both a name and size which has exceeded any of its predecessors.
Family ties link my own heritage with the school and endear that stately old main structure on a more personal level. My great aunt, Netta G. Bedinger taught art there for many years; her class room and studio was on the north east corner of the second floor. My grandfather, L.E. Griffith was on the Board of Directors and a trustee of the college.
Mr. Toone, the school's original founder, had come here from Morrilton, Arkansas (founded and named for my great grandfather). He knew Miss Bedinger well, and it was he who persuaded her to come to Terrell to join his faculty. My uncles and numerous friends and relatives attended school in that hallowed old structure. I even own treasured works of art which were created there.
The structure itself was one of a half dozen of the most architecturally significant commercial buildings which until now remained in Terrell. It had carved acanthus leaf capitals, rusticated stone trim and expansive arches, so typical of the style developed by Henry Hobson Richardson, arguably America's best know architect of the 19th century.
As I stood in front of its soot stained walls recently I found it difficult to hold back tears. As I contemplated both its historic and former architecturally significant role in our town's cultural past my mind drifted backwards. I could not help but pray that some insightful architect, with a love of preservation and far more clever than I, might offer a way to incorporate those classic remains into a new building.
With camera in hand, an architectural restorationist and designer, frustrated and overwhelmed by the skeleton of a structure perhaps too late to save, I desperately wanted to visually capture any fragmentary remains. Then an idea came to me of a way to preserve its memory, its sophistication and the prominent role which it played in our city's history. A tower still stands tall, the main entry at the center of the building's former facade. With but minor alteration, this can and must be preserved, serving as a majestic monument and as a bell tower, perhaps even housing a clock.
The small interior area on the ground level of this tower would have a large slab mounted on its wall on which the history of the college would be engraved. Its window spaces, open to the breeze through which birds might easily fly, would symbolize all those who have passed trough its portals and have soared to greater heights.
It is my hope that the community will stand behind both the college and Dr. Jack Evans, its president and courageous leader, in a time when the college needs not only our prayers and condolences, but our support.
Symbolic of a phoenix rising from the ashes, this institution of higher learning will survive with our help.
Let this tower be a symbol and a permanent reminder of our extended heritage.
Davis Griffith Cox is a restoration specialist from Terrell.
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Over50 wrote on Feb 16, 2008 11:50 AM: