By Beverly Woody
The Patrick Springs community owes much of its fascinating history to the healing springs, rich in iron and magnesium, that have bubbled up from the earth since a time before the Native Americans. According to a Danville Bee article, dated 13 March 1950, legend has it that braves carried their sick and injured to the springs and nursed them back to health. It was believed that healing was stimulated by the waters which were infused with a variety of chemicals needed by the human body. The narrative goes on to claim that hundreds of babies were saved by the springs during those days when medical science had not proved a match for the “second summer” when children’s complaints, so often fatal, yielded to the refreshing mineral water.
A large plantation home was built near the freestone and sulfur springs the year before Patrick was formed from Henry County; the date of 1790 was carved high on the chimney of the structure. About five years before the beginning of the War Between the States, wealthy Methodist minister Beverly A. Davis purchased the home and 200 acres from the Staples family. In the 1860 census, it looks like Reverend Davis was busy following his dream of starting the first female college in the South. In addition to his wife Mary and his four children, Edward, Phebe, Beverly Jr., and Lafayette, several craftsmen were living at the springs too. William H. Simpson, whose profession was listed as Master House Carpenter, Conrad Plasters, House Carpenter, John T. Bishop, Merchant and Clerk, and William J. Anderson, Farmer were all listed as dwelling with the Davis family.
Reverend Davis hired Reverend William Baumgardner McGilvray to be the headmaster of the Patrick Springs Female College. Reverend McGilvray was already running a school in Chatham, Virginia in 1860. In the census that year, in addition to his wife and three children, two teachers were boarding with the family-Mariah Burlingame, a twenty-year-old music teacher and Mary Cone, a thirty-year–old art teacher. Both ladies hailed from Massachusetts. One has to wonder if the teachers came to Patrick Springs or remained in Chatham?
In the September 1st, 1860 edition of the Greensboro Times, the following advertisement was placed in the newspaper. “Patrick Springs Female College – The institution commenced its first session on Thursday, July 19, 1860. The building formerly used for the accommodation of visitors to the “springs” are now devoted to college purposes, so that young ladies may here enjoy all the benefits of one of the best watering places while securing all the advantages of the best literary institutions, at less than one-third of the usual cost of boarding at such places. Although this is a Methodist college, and has a Methodist minister as its President, yet no sectarian views of any denomination will be inculcated-the only object being to build up a great literary institution upon an economical basis. Parents may rest assured that their daughters will here receive every attention that their comfort or happiness may need. Students are charged from date of entrance to close of session; but we have no extra charges and deductions are made in cases of protracted sickness. Bills payable half at entrance, the remainder at close of session.”
By March 16th of 1861, the college was growing. Reverend McGilvray reported the following to the Greensboro Times. “A great portion of the building has been remodeled and newly plastered since the opening of the present session. We are enlarging the campus and making important changes on the grounds, which will greatly add to the comfort, convenience, and beauty of the place. Our object being to render this institution as justly celebrated for developing and strengthening the mind, as the healing waters of the springs are for imparting health and vigor to the body; so that at no distant day, it may stand as the first female college of the South. Here young ladies, freed from the influence of the fashions and follies of town and city, may quietly pursue their studies, and secure those attainments which will fit them to adorn the highest circles of society. It is very desirable that young ladies attend the beginning of the next session.”
We know that Reverend McGilvray managed to keep the college afloat during the stressful and uncertain times of the War Between the States and for five years afterward. In 1870, the college was sold to William H. Werth, a former Colonel in the 45th Virginia Cavalry. Werth was a chemist, who had been sent to the Union Iron Works to assist in the iron production operation. The iron works were located at present day Fairy Stone State Park. Colonel Werth saw the college and fell in love with it. He operated the college until his death in 1872 and is buried on the grounds of the school.
So, what was the college’s fate? Return next week to find out what happened to the college; the story is far from over.
