First Dormitory for Women

The first CSNS dormitory for women was built in 1891 on land donated by William Holroyd on North State Street. The three-story frame building was large enough to accommodate sixty girls and featured long verandas surrounding two sides of the building at each story so that the windows of each room opened upon them. In addition to the bedroom suites, the rooms were carpeted and completely furnished to accommodate two girls, and the bathrooms were all located on the second floor. The lawn was graded to provide a playground for tennis, basketball and croquet.

The story began on April 21, 1875, when Captain John A. Douglass and Honorable William M. Reynolds appeared before the Board of Regents of the normal schools and presented the Deed made by Mr. & Mrs. W. H. Martin to the State of West Virginia. The Board accepted it in compliance with the Act of the Legislature.

The Regents ordered that Concord Normal School should begin May 10, 1875, continue twenty weeks, and then take an intermission until after the first Monday in March 1876. The Concord Normal School Executive Committee met and elected its officers on May 8, 1875 and formally opened the school on May 10, 1875 with Captain James Harvey French serving as the new school’s first Principal.

Although the First CSNS Building opened as mandated on May 10, 1875 it was not completely finished and furnished and the surrounding grounds were not cleared and fenced until 1876. It was used for classes until Commencement on July 2, 1886 and afterward was used for several years as a barn.