Powhatan College
Charles Town, West Virginia
1900-1914
E-Travel
Scans from the 1904 Powhatan College catalog were provided courtesy of the Alice Marshall Women's History Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Madlyn L. Hanes Library, Penn State Harrisburg, Penn State University Libraries. History of Education in West Virginia (1907) has a short profile of the college. Among newspapers that covered school events were the Martinsburg Herald, and the Shepherdstown Register. Powhatan College advertised widely in area newspapers with ads like that in the Culpeper (VA) News-Exponent (right,
History
Powhatan College began in fall 1900 when a group in Charles Town, headed by Col. R. P. Chew, opened “a first-class college for young women.” The college boasted of eighteen courses of study or departments. In addition to the regular Collegiate program, Powhatan offered a Preparatory program, Normal and Commercial courses of study, and a Fine Arts department featuring music, art, elocution, and physical culture. Of 29 graduates in 1912, only six received B.S., B.A., or B.L. degrees; of the rest, Normal graduated 11, Commercial 7, Piano and Expression 2 each, and one in Vocal Music. The students, seldom numbering more than 100, generally came from the four-state area visible from the school. Faculty numbered 17, including seven music teachers
A chorus of Powhatan students in a dramatic performance. Image from the catalog.
With co-educational Shepherd College just over ten miles away, Powhatan College was in a good location to attract female students. A museum photo shows eight Powhatan students on the school porch surrounded by twelve gentleman callers. So, it is not surprising that newspapers write accounts of entertainments, banquets, receptions, and “straw rides" at Powhatan. Half of the students were members of the Y.W.C.A. Musical and speech performances were always a part of commencement week. Students had two literary societies and a dramatics club. One of the last school functions in 1914 was a performance of “Queen Esther,” a play written by president J. R. Pentuff and performed by Powhatan students.
In December 1913 Newspapers reported that Powhatan College was bankrupt and would not reopen after Christmas. However, President Pentuff found funds to finish the school year in June 1914.
Bricks and Mortar
Charles Town, located in northeast West Virginia, 65 miles west of Washington, DC, had a population of 2356 in 1900. Its location amid the scenic beauties of the Shenandoah Valley figured prominently in school ads.
The Hotel Powhatan, built and owned by the Charles Town Mining, Manufacturing, and Improvement Company, opened in 1892. Two hundred feet in length, it contained 89 large guest rooms on three floors. Containing every luxury, it was heated by steam and lighted by electricity. From its fourth-floor tower, one could see a four-state area. A grand porch 24-feet deep extended the entire front and ends of the building.
By 1900 the boom era in Charles Town had ended, so the indebted hotel was first leased and later sold for a female college operated by Stewart P. Hatton. With its guest rooms, office, dining room, and ballroom, the Hotel Powhatan easily converted to Powhatan College, catering to young ladies from well-to-do families.
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When Powhatan College closed in 1914, the building became home to St. Hilda’s Hall, An Episcopalian school for young ladies. That school closed in 1931. The building burned in 1937.
Postcard image of Hotel Powhatan. Image courtesy of CardCow.com
Sports
School Colors: White and Purple
The Washington Post shows “field sports” as part of the 1905 commencement week. The Martinsburg Statesman lists “field day” as part of that of 1912, so these may have been annual events. Neither the Post nor the Statesman lists winners or even events involved.
Powhatan College had a basketball team as early as 1904. That year a team traveled to Hagerstown, Maryland and defeated Kee-Mar College 12-2. Since Powhatan did not have a gymnasium, the 1911 game with the Ingram Memorial Church team was played on an open field in a high wind before a large group of spectators. Despite missing most of their shots in the wind and being rattled by the spectators, Ingram won 7-4. Also that year, Powhatan defeated the Shepherd College coeds 11-6 in a game at Shepherdstown. In 1912 the Powhatan team played a return game at Ingram, losing 31-5.
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