Cane Hill College
Encyclopedia
Cane Hill College, originally Cane Hill School, was the first institution of higher learning in Arkansas
. It operated in Canehill
, Arkansas from 1834 until 1891.
Trying to become the third four-year institution in the state (after St. John's and Arkansas College), Cane Hill College became official on December 15, 1852 when an act passed through the Arkansas Legislature. During this time, F. R. Earle took over the school until its demise in 1891.
closed the school in 1861. After a Union
November, 1862 victory at the Battle of Cane Hill
, the Union occupied the town, and in 1864 burned three of the four on-campus buildings. Only a dormitory survived. Upon resumption of classes, Cane Hill College admitted its first woman in 1875, and created a Female Department. The Female Department was assimilated by the rest of the college by 1877, and the college became coeducational.
Disaster struck the evening of October 10, 1885, when the entire college was burnt to the ground. Arson
was suspected, but never proven. Further crippling to the College was the chartering of the new state college, Arkansas Industrial University
in Fayetteville
. Cane Hill College closed its doors forever in 1891.
is now an unincorporated community in Northwest Arkansas. Only one building remains of Cane Hill College, the rebuilt school following the 1885 fire. After closing, the building was used by the Salem Congregation of the Cumerland Presbyterian Church for worship, then as a public school from 1919 to 1956. It is listed as Cane Hill College Building on the National Register of Historic Places
. The Bell House is also still located on the old campus grounds. The Presbyterians would convert Cane Hill College into Arkansas Cumberland College and later University of the Ozarks
, but college education would not return to Cane Hill.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. It operated in Canehill
Canehill, Arkansas
Canehill is an unincorporated community in Cane Hill Township, Washington County, Arkansas, United States. Canehill is on Arkansas Highway 45 about southwest of Fayetteville and east of the Oklahoma border....
, Arkansas from 1834 until 1891.
Cane Hill School (1834-1858)
The Arkansas territory was growing quickly, and the area needed a college. Cumberland Presbyterians met on October 28, 1834, and they decided to found a school in Canehill. Opened April 1835, the Cane Hill School served the Northwest Arkansas area until it was chartered and renamed Cane Hill Collegiate Institute.Trying to become the third four-year institution in the state (after St. John's and Arkansas College), Cane Hill College became official on December 15, 1852 when an act passed through the Arkansas Legislature. During this time, F. R. Earle took over the school until its demise in 1891.
Cane Hill College (1858-1891)
The American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
closed the school in 1861. After a Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
November, 1862 victory at the Battle of Cane Hill
Battle of Cane Hill
The Battle of Cane Hill was fought during the American Civil War on November 28, 1862 in Washington County, Arkansas. Union troops under Brig. Gen. James G. Blunt drove Confederates under Brig. Gen. John S...
, the Union occupied the town, and in 1864 burned three of the four on-campus buildings. Only a dormitory survived. Upon resumption of classes, Cane Hill College admitted its first woman in 1875, and created a Female Department. The Female Department was assimilated by the rest of the college by 1877, and the college became coeducational.
Disaster struck the evening of October 10, 1885, when the entire college was burnt to the ground. Arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
was suspected, but never proven. Further crippling to the College was the chartering of the new state college, Arkansas Industrial University
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
in Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
. Cane Hill College closed its doors forever in 1891.
Today
Canehill, ArkansasCanehill, Arkansas
Canehill is an unincorporated community in Cane Hill Township, Washington County, Arkansas, United States. Canehill is on Arkansas Highway 45 about southwest of Fayetteville and east of the Oklahoma border....
is now an unincorporated community in Northwest Arkansas. Only one building remains of Cane Hill College, the rebuilt school following the 1885 fire. After closing, the building was used by the Salem Congregation of the Cumerland Presbyterian Church for worship, then as a public school from 1919 to 1956. It is listed as Cane Hill College Building on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The Bell House is also still located on the old campus grounds. The Presbyterians would convert Cane Hill College into Arkansas Cumberland College and later University of the Ozarks
University of the Ozarks
The University of the Ozarks is a private, four-year liberal arts, comprehensive university located in Clarksville, Arkansas, a community of just over 9,000 people and the county seat of Johnson County. U of O is located at the foot of the Ozark Mountains, about west of Little Rock...
, but college education would not return to Cane Hill.
See also
- Earle HouseEarle House (Canehill, Arkansas)Earle House is a house in Canehill, Arkansas on Highway 45 built in 1859 to house Dr. Fountain R. Earle, the president of Cane Hill College. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places along with many other Canehill properties in November 1982.-History:Canehill was settled in...
, housed the president of Cane Hill College