History

Weaver College began as Weaverville School, a neighborhood school operated by the Sons of Temperance. In 1854 a new building, called Temperance Hall, was erected for the school.  When that building burned in 1872, local residents erected a brick building and had the school chartered as a four-year college.  In 1885, the school became the property of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

 

Weaver College described itself as an “ideal gateway to the responsibilities of university, business or home life.”  In 1912 it became a Junior college, and its curriculum was such that its graduates were admitted to the junior class at four-year universities without examination. 

 

The 1928 Mountaineer, the school yearbook, shows a very small student body—seventy academic students in the college, seven preparatory students, and fourteen commercial students.  The vast majority of students were from North Carolina.  Nevertheless, these students had opportunities for participation in a full range of college activities.  Almost all students were members of one of the four literary societies—Mnemosynean, Delphian, Euterpean or Cliosophic.  They also had a dramatics club, a debate council, and a regular student newspaper.  In some years, there was a full range of instrumental and vocal music available.  As a Methodist school, Weaver sponsored an Epworth League, a YMCA Cabinet, a Ministerial Board, and a Life Services Board to encourage spiritual growth and service.  In addition, students were divided into regional groups, with social clubs created for each group.

 

In 1934 the Methodists determined to combine three small junior colleges in western North Carolina, The result was that Weaver and Rutherford College, were combined with the Brevard Institute, the new entity to occupy the campus at Brevard.  This entity exists today as Brevard College.