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CLINTON, PC, AND THORNWELL (Continued From Page 1) Tiad determined that the College should not be moved. They were surprised that anybody for a moment would think that one could find a better place for PC than Clinton. On September 13, 1905 (a year later) the trus tees assembled in Columbia to receive bids from five cities for the college . . . Bennettsville, Chester, Clinton, Yorkville and Sumter. The Clinton, Newberry & Laurens Railroad furnished a special car which carried 30 Clinton citizens to this meet ing of the trustees. None of them had slept the night before, because they had just heard that another city was offering $20,000 while Clinton’s bid was only $12,000. Throughout the night they had called on one another and urged all subscribers to double their subscription. The next morning they left for Columbia with $20,000. On the afternoon of the 14th . . . after two days of hearing, the Board voted twelve for Clinton, six for Chester and one for Bennettsville. The Clinton delegation was elated and celebrated all the way home. When the train pulled into Clinton at 8:00 P.M. that night, they were surprised to hear the sound of fire bells all over town. There was a fire indeed . . the fire of enthusiasm. The whole town had turned out to welcome the con quering heroes . . . and the streets were filled with the sound of college bells, orphanage bells, fire bells and scores of cow bells. That night Dr. Jacobs wrote . . . “Our college is now the Synod’s college and I am proud. God bless and prosper the college.” For the next 25 years, PC enjoyed a period of expansion and construction. Neville Hall was built in 1907, and the old Recitation Hall was sold to Thornwell. (It served as their high school until it burned in the late 30’s.) Laurens Dormitory, Judd Dining Hall, and Spencer Dorm were completed next. In 1915 Jacobs Science Hall was erected (the ROTC Building). Smyth Dormitory and Springs Gym nasium were built in the 20’s. In 1923, as a result of an increase in endowment, Presbyterian College received accreditation from the Southern Association. Unfortunately construction moved faster than money could be raised in the 20’s and the college found itself in need of several hundred thousand dollars to finish payment on its new buildings. Bonds totaling $400,000 were issued, and a special synod-wide campaign was planned to repay the bonds. The campaign began in September, 1929 .. . and the stock market crashed one month later. With an indebtedness greater than its endowment, PC was insolvent. By cutting salaries and pinching pennies the administration managed to hold body and soul tog^her for the first few years of the depression. In 1935 accreditation was withdrawn from the College due to its continued indebtedness. About this time, when PC had $137 in the bank, and owed more than $400,000, a group of merchants in Clin ton to whom large accounts were owed met to see if they should force payment. After studying the situation they all realized that to do this would be to bankrupt the College . . . and no one in Clinton was willing to close PC. Finally, a banker was found who would lend the College money, provided the president gave his word to work tirelessly to pay it back, and pro vided the college insured the president’s life as security for the bank. The college doors stayed open. . Enough cannot b£ said about the faithfulness of the faculty during these days. Each month when pay checks were issued, those who could wait a little longer were asked to step aside so others who were more in need could be paid in full. In one twelve month period, nine faculty members received offers of jobs paying as much as 50% more, and only one of them left. Many students paid for tuition with promissory notes, and few could afford to pay the full charges. Gradually, the College began to lift itself by its own bootstraps. The only new building erected in these 20 years was the present library and ad ministration building which was constructed by the Works Progress Administration in the early 40’s as a means of giving employment to local victims of the depression. Since government funds could not be spent on private colleges, this build ing and the land it stands on were deeded to the City of Clinton. The city still shares in its mainte nance cost. In 1946 PC had regained its feet sufficiently to hold another capital funds campaign in South Carolina and in the Georgia Synod, which had joined in support of the College in 1928. This one was successful. Endowment was assured and once again the college was accredited by the Southern Association after being off the list for financial reasons (not academic) for 14 years. The other buildings on the campus were erected in recent years, and came as a result of four cam paigns which netted a total of $4 1 / 2 million. The citizens of Clinton contributed almost half of this amount. So, you see, Presbyterian College and Clinton have shared the ups and downs of life. The College is the result of a full century of praying and planning, sacrifice sharpened by tears and heart ache, and dreams which were fulfilled with joy and thanksgiving. We have a great college here. We also have a wonderful heritage, as we look back upon the close relationship between Clinton and PC, and upon those unselfish men who have served and are still serving here. Men of great faith . . . men who, in the truest sense of the word, were pioneers, whose vision and foresight looked far into the future . . . who were never satisfied with today because they could see the overwhelming possibilities of tomorrow . . . who had determination and a willingness to work with persistence . . . Dependable men who stepped forward to accept responsibilities which weaker men would have refused. Thank God for these men! JACOBS FAMILY — Dr. William P. Jacobs, founder of Thornwell and Presbyterian College, is shown above at left on second row with mem bers of his family. Shown above, front row, left to right: William Jacobs, Thornwell Jacobs. Mrs. Carrie Lee Jacobs (stepmother of Dr. Jacobs), 2—THE CHRONICLE, Clinton, S. C., Nov. 12, 1970 Mrs Charles E. Little, (half-sister,) Dr. Dillard Jacobs and Cyrus Bailey second row: Dr. Jacobs, Mrs. J. F. Jacobs, J. F. Jacobs, II, Mrs. William S. Jacobs, Dr. Charles Little and Mrs. W. J. Bai ley; top row: J. F. Jacobs, W. S. Jacobs, and Wil liam J. Bailey. Thornwell Had Humble Beginning PC SCENE—Shown at water trough on PC cam pus are, left to right: Jane Kennedy, Allie Gar vin, Gene Power and Essie Young. SERVING CLINTON SINCE 1932 ADAIR'S MEN’S SHOP I \ THORNWELL SEMINARY — The Thornwell seminary shown above al so was used by Presbyterian College for commnecement exercises until the building was destroyed by fire about 1903. The building was con structed in 1886. The Rev. William P. Jacobs was a man of great foresight, as is evidenced by his founding of Presbyterian College, one of the outstanding liberal arts col leges in South Carolina. But he was also a man of great com passion, and he felt a great concern for children who were alone in the world without par ents. In order to provide care and Christian instruction for these children, he founded Thornwell Orphanage in 1875. Thornwell had very humble beginnings. For several years, there was only one building on the campus, the “Home of Peace.* This original building is still in use and will soon be remodeled at a cost of some $35,000. Today, the Orphanage is situated on a 450 acre camp us that Includes 20 cottages, a swimming pool, a youth center, an accredited high school, and recreational facilities that in clude tennis courts and horse back riding. Thornwell is supported by the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Other sources of Income in clude contributions from inter ested friends, income from Limited Endowment Funds, contributions from relatives of Thornwell students, and the Duke Foundation. Also, Thom- well receives some assistance from Social Security benefits from deceased parents and also some V. A. assistance. Thornwell is not a true ‘Orphanage* in the literal sense of the word. That is, a child does not have to be with out both parents to be admitt ed. These children are given first consideration, but child ren with one or both parents living can also be admitted. " \ Dr. Jacobs Served As Pastor Of Clinton First Presbyterian Church For 47 Years For All Of Your Men's Wear Needs 1932*37—Partnership • Hipp and Adair 1937- 1970 - ADAIR'S MEN'S SHOP 1938- Present Location Was Altered For Our Store. Remodeled 1948 As Appears In Picture. Vernon Trammell loined Us In 1939 And Has Been With Us Continuously Except During His Service In World War H Dr. William P. Jacobs did a great deal to transform Clin ton from a country crossroads with only a few stores to a bustling city with an eye on the future growth and develop ment of the town. Dr. Jacobs was a Presbyterian minister born on March 15, 1842. He joined the church on Feb. 8, 1858, and his seventy years of service to the spiritual and physical needs of the people of South Carolina, and particu larly in the Clinton area had begun. Dr. Jacobs served the Clin ton area as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church for 47 years. In recognition of this service, a plaque was unveiled in his honor at the Presbyterian Church on September 30, 1923. According to the September 27, 1923 edition of the Chronicle, the plaque was unveiled by Wil liam P. Jacobs, great-grand son of the Presbyterian Mini ster and educator and the ad dress was delivered by Dr. Dudley Jones, former pastor of the church. Dr. Jacobs lived through very turbulent times during his service to God and man. The Chronicle reported that the marker listed some of the ac complishments of the minister. He was graduated from the Col lege of Charleston in 1860. While in Charleston, he cov ered the dramatic Secession Convention in December of 1860 for a Charleston newspaper. In 1861, he entered the Colum bia Seminary in Atlanta in 1862. After graduating from the Seminary, he received his first church appointment at Bethany in Laurens County in May of 1862. He preached his first sermon in Clinton on July 16, 1862, when he substituted for Rev. Zelotes Holmes. Jacobs was assigned to his first regular charge at Shady Grove and Duncan Creek in upper Laurens County. In 1864 he accepted a call to preach twice a month in Clinton while preaching once a month at Shady Grove and Duncan Creek. He began work in Clinton on May 5, 1864. He organized a Sun day School on May 22, 1864 with some 80 members. He was installed as the first pastor of the Clinton Presbyterian Church in May of 1864. He was ordained on May 20, 1864, by Rev. Holmes. He married Mary Jane Dillard on April 20, 1865, and his first child was born on April 11, 1866. Dr. Jacobs ’Iso founded the first paper in Clinton with the first printing press in the town. The name of the paper was the True Witness, a re ligious publication. He also started the Phonographic Magazine in 1869. During these years, Clinton, like the rest of the South, was ravaged by the Civil War and the RadicaJ Reconstruction that followed Appomatox. There were only 176 white people in Clinton in the midst of all the trouble and blood shed. Dr. Jacobs did his best to help his congregation through these troubled times. In 1871, he founded the Clinton High School Association. In order to further educational oppor tunities and spirtual training for the children of Clinton and the surrounding, he made plans to establish Thornwell Orphan age in October of 1872. His dreams became a reality when the Orphanage opened on May 28, 1874. Tragedy struck the aging minister when his beloved wife died on i-ebruary 15, 1887. He resolved on June 21, 1887, to build a Presbyterian College in Clinton, ‘If it takes always to d'' it.* The college opened on March 15, 1866. Dr. Jacobs took a trip abroad in 1887 and retired from active service to the Clinton Church in 1911. He died on September 10, 1917 * * * First Female Nominee The first woman nominated for the office of president of the United States was Vic toria Claflin Woodhull, who was nominated by the Equal Rights party in 1872. Thornwell formerly admitted children of all denominations, with Presbyterians getting first consideration. However, due to the tremendous Increase in the number of applications for ad mittance to Thornwell, those admitted must be from a Pres byterian background. As a religiously oriented in stitution, Thornwell strives to provide a Christian background for the residents. A child must be recommended by a Presby terian minister before he can be admitted. A beautiful new church has recently been con structed to aid in tbls religious training. In order to provide practical experience for Thornwell stu dents and to help relieve some of the staggering economic bur dens of running an instututlon like this, every child twelve years of age or older is as signed a Job in the printing, dairy, farming, poultry, elec trical, serving, dishwashing, sewing, kitchen, office, infir mary or electronics depart ment In fact, this has been so successful that the Thornwell Farm under the direction of Robert L. Wickham produces all of the food required on the campus. The educational facilities at Thornwell are excellent. The orphanage provides educa tional training from kindergar ten through high school. As an example of its excellence, the elementary school was among the first four to be accredit ed by the Southern Association and has remained in good stand ings every since. Thornwell of ficials announced last summer that Thornwell will accept stu dents who are not residents of Thornwell and began operating as a private school this fall. Thus Thornwell provides re ligious, vocational and educa tional training for students who might otherwise be deprived of the chance for such instruction. The orphanage also works closely with Presbyterian Col lege to provide college scholar ships for graduates of the Thornwell High School. In fact, the college was originally founded to provide further in struction of Thornwell gradu ates. The High School also has an excellent sports program, and their teams participate in inner-scholastic competition with other high schools of its size in South Carolina. The dream of William P. Ja cobs to create an orphanage has come true in a way that this pioneer in the field of religious and educational in struction probably never dream ed possible. Jacobs headed the Orphanage as its President from 1875-1917. Dr. L. Ross Lynn headed the Orphanage for some 25 years, from 1918-1943. Dr. M. A. McDonald became President of Thornwell in 1944 and has headed the institution for the last 26 years.