Greenbrier College was a women's college in Lewisburg, West Virginia in the United States from 1812 to 1972. It started as Lewisburg Academy and when the school closed during the US Civil War, it reopened in 1875 it split into two schools: the Greenbrier College for Women and the Greenbrier Military School. The Greenbrier College also went by the Lewisburg Female Institute and Lewisburg Female Seminary.

History

Greenbrier College started as the Lewisburg Academy. Lewisburg Academy was established by Reverend John McElhenney in 1812 as the first school in Greenbrier County. The school closed during the Civil War and when it reopened in 1875 it split into two schools: the Greenbrier College for Women and the Greenbrier Military School. Much of the school burned down in 1901. It was rebuilt in 1902. The school again burned in 1921. This is a view up close of the main building of the former Greenbrier College

This is a view up close of the main building of the former Greenbrier College

List of known presidents

*John McElhenney (1812-) *Dr. Matthew Lyle Lacy (1882-) *Reverend John C. Brown (-1892) *Rev. Robert L. Telford (1892-1911) *Robert C. Sommerville (1911-1916) *Robert H. Adams (1916-1919) *Dora T. M. Biggs (1919-1920) *John I. Armstrong (1920-1924) *J. Marian Moore (1924-1925) *French W. Thompson (1925-1952) *Ralph Murray (1952-1954) *John F. Montgomery (1954-1973) Telford, Armstrong, Thompson, and Murray all lived in the

John A. North House The John A. North House is a historic house museum and archives located in Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Currently, the North House is Greenbrier County's only historic house museum. Since 1976, The Greenbrier Historical Societ ...

when they served as presidents. Carnegie Hall was built as the music hall and department for the women's college with support from Andrew Carnegie. Many notable people, including

Helen F. Holt Helen Louise Froelich Holt (August 16, 1913 – July 12, 2015) was an American scientist, educator, and politician. She served as the Secretary of State of West Virginia from 1957 to 1959 and also served in the West Virginia House of Delegates fr ...

, taught at the school. The school shut down in 1972 and sold it to the West Virginia State Department of Mental Health and became the Greenbrier Center. The North House museum was given to the Greenbrier Historical Society forming the Greenbrier Historical Society.

Carnegie Hall, Inc. Carnegie Hall, Inc. is a regional cultural center located in Lewisburg, West Virginia, United States. It is within the Allegheny Mountains. Monroe, Greenbrier, Pocahontas and Summers Counties are included in Carnegie Hall, Inc.’s primary ser ...

was formed in 1983 to save the building from destruction and continues to serve the community. The main school buildings eventually became the

New River Community and Technical College New River Community and Technical College (New River) is a public community college in Beaver, West Virginia. It was founded in 2003 and is West Virginia's newest college. The college was independently accredited in 2005 by the Higher Learning C ...

References

{{reflist Former women's universities and colleges in the United States Defunct universities and colleges in West Virginia Lewisburg, West Virginia