Administration Building

After the third Concord State Normal School building burned in 1910, specific language in an act of the state legislature made funding for a new building contingent upon a requirement that “the citizens of Athens shall cause to be conveyed to the state in fee by the holders of the legal title thereof, by proper deed with general warranty of title and without expense to the state, a tract of twenty-six and four-tenths of acres of land adjoining said town of Athens known as the ‘Vermillion tract’, a blueprint with description being on file in the office of the state board of control, which board is hereby authorized to receive and accept the deed for said land.” 

Stephen T. and Rhoda A. Vermillion, owners and holders of legal title to the 26.4-acre ‘Vermillion tract’ conveyed ownership and title directly to the State of West Virginia, at no cost to the State. With the laying of the cornerstone with full Masonic honors on August 5, 1911 and the completion of the first new building “Old Main” on the new campus in Spring of 1912, a modern era on the new campus began, bringing to a close the initial 40-year chapter in the history of the Concord College.

When completed in Spring of 1912, the 1912-1913 catalog described it as follows: “The new building, on the new grounds, is a modern two story brick building with thirteen recitation rooms, each 24 x 30, and seated with new and modern seats. Besides the thirteen recitation rooms, the Principal’s office is on the first floor. Besides the fine heating plant in the basement there are also seven large rooms, two of which are used for toilet rooms, and the other five, when finished, will be used for society rooms for the following societies: Young Women’s Christian Association, Young Men’s Christian Association, the Philomathean Literary Society, and the American Literary Society. This building is very convenient and one of the best for Normal School purposes in this part of the country.” Over the years, various additions as well as internal and external renovations to the building have been made, including a facelift to the front with the addition of a brick veneer to match the flanking library and Science Hall and the elimination of the “cheesework” on top of the building to bring it to a straight line appearance.