DuBose Rectory (burnt)
"This cottage was built on a location south of the Chapel. Dr. DuBose was made Chaplain the summer of 1871. He spent the rest of the year rounding up students in South Carolina dn bringing them back with him to Sewanee. In March, 1872, he built the Rectory and a large boarding house next door for his sister-in-law to run.
He was Chaplain for eleven years, and the "Rectory" was a center for the students, especially the ones from South Carolina. "Ice cream, games, and fireside conversations were the attractions." The Choir dance was held in the big west dining room. New students stayed there until they could be placed. Sick students were often moved there, and musical ones often used the piano,
The Rev. William A. Guerry became Chaplain in 1893, and he and his family lived in the Rectory until he became Bihsop Coadjustor of South Caolina in 1907. Alexander Guerry, his son and later Vice-Chancellor of the University, grew up there.
Dr. DuBose helped found Fairmount School at Monteagle in 1893 and married one of its principals as his second wife. His two daughters later ran the school and continued to use this house during their summer vacation renting it to various people the rest of the year. After their retirement they lived in the DuBose Rectory he year rund until it burned in November, 1939."
March 1872
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architecture
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Palmetto House
This large frame house was one of the early licensed boarding houses for students. Boarding houses like this precluded the need for University dormitories initially. The house was built by Dr. DuBose for his sister-in-law Mrs. McNeely (Mattice) DuBose and named “Palmetto” to commemorate South Carolina. It housed 30 students which was a significant amount as Otey, the next largest boarding house, held only 26. In 1874, a student wrote of Palmetto, "We have splendid fare, turkey twice a week and dessert three times."
Mrs. Sessums, mother of Bishop Sessums, and her sister, Mrs. Tucker, acquired Palmetto in 1880. For many years Mrs. Tucker ran it as a combined boarding house for summer visitors and dormitory for students. When Mrs. Tucker died in 1909, Palmetto was obtained by the University. It then had a wild life. Reportedly, the matron had very little control and students used to shoot through the ceiling, playing a game called “Corners.” Freshmen were expected to dash towards the walls of the second floor while upperclassmen would shoot the center of the ceiling. However, Arthur Ben Chitty noted this was probably an exaggeration as other sources only go as far as saying a student would shoot the ceiling to wake up the house. It was likely this happened only once or twice.
Palmetto was razed in 1931. When it was being demolished, a championship ball marked "C.B. Ames, 1884" won by the Hardee Second Nine (baseball team) was found in the wall.
1872
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DuBose-Haskell House
This house was built by the University for Dr. Theodore DuBose in 1888. He was the University’s health officer until 1891. In 1906, the house was passed to Dr. DuBose’s uncle Rev. William Porcher DuBose for his organization, the St. Luke’s Brotherhood for the Increase of the Ministry. Formed in Nov. of 1892, the Brotherhood’s function was to foster interest in the ministry and provide assistance to candidates in the School of Theology. Rev. DuBose was the president of this organization and dean of the theological department.
The house was later acquired by his son, Rev. William Haskell DuBose. He was a professor in the School of Theology and ministered churches in Tracy City and Monteagle. After Rev. DuBose’s death in 1936, the house was rented to various theologues. It was razed to make way for Bishop’s Common.
1888
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DuBose-Haskell House
This house was built by the University for Dr. Theodore DuBose in 1888. He was the University’s health officer until 1891. In 1906, the house was passed to Dr. DuBose’s uncle Rev. William Porcher DuBose for his organization, the St. Luke’s Brotherhood for the Increase of the Ministry. Formed in Nov. of 1892, the Brotherhood’s function was to foster interest in the ministry and provide assistance to candidates in the School of Theology. Rev. DuBose was the president of this organization and dean of the theological department.
The house was later acquired by his son, Rev. William Haskell DuBose. He was a professor in the School of Theology and ministered churches in Tracy City and Monteagle. After Rev. DuBose’s death in 1936, the house was rented to various theologues. It was razed to make way for Bishop’s Common.
1888
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