History

LaGrange College 1830 – 1855

In the early 1820’s, LaGrange was established on the crest of a mountain near Leighton, AL. Initially there were about 400 inhabitants. In the late 1820s, the Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church solicited proposals for a site and subscription of $10,000. On December 4, 1828, the Methodist Church accepted the LaGrange proposition. Later that month, the Mississippi Conference joined in the efforts to establish a college. Representatives from the two conferences met at LaGrange on January 10, 1829, and selected a site for the college. On January 11, 1830, “LaGrange College” opened with an enrollment of 70 students, becoming the first state chartered college in Alabama. Rev. Robert Paine was the first president (1830-1846).
The enrollment peaked at 139 in 1845. Dr. Richard H. Rivers became president in 1854, when the college faced serious financial problems. In response to an offer of better support, Rivers moved the college to Florence, Alabama in January 1855. Over 150 graduates received degrees during its 25-year history. The establishment of LaGrange College in 1830 should be considered the birth of collegiate education in Alabama. The move to Florence was controversial, some students and faculty remained at the former campus, and the Florence institution was denied permission to use the name of LaGrange College. It was chartered as Florence Wesleyan University on February 14, 1856, and is known today as the University of North Alabama.

LaGrange Military Academy 1857-1862

After LaGrange College moved to Florence in January 1855, a group of LaGrange citizens reorganized the college in the vacant buildings under the old name. Rev. Felix Johnson was elected president. To increase the patronage, a military feature was introduced in 1857. Major J.W. Robertson became superintendent, and classes were suspended while a third major building was erected for the cadets. The college reopened in February 1858, as LaGrange College and Military Academy. The new institution’s financial situation was dismal until the State of Alabama provided military equipment and scholarships. The Academy soon flourished and became known as the “West Point of the South.” In 1860, the name was changed to LaGrange Military Academy. By 1861, the enrollment was almost 200 cadets. During its existence, 259 cadets from nine states attended the Academy.
In 1861, many LaGrange cadets left to join the Confederate Army. Consequently, the Academy was forced to suspend classes on March 1, 1862. Only two cadets had graduated. Major Robertson was authorized to organize the 35th Alabama Infantry Regiment, C.S.A. He was elected colonel and the remaining cadets formed part of one company. The regiment was mustered into the Confederate Army on March 12, 1862, for three years. On April 28, 1863, the 10th Missouri Calvary of the Union Army, known as the “Destroying Angels,” commanded by Col. Florence M. Cornyn, burned the Military Academy, the nearby La Fayette Female Academy, many businesses, and homes. The village of LaGrange dwindled away. In 1995, LaGrange Park was transferred from the Alabama Historical Commission to the LaGrange Living Historical Association. Thereafter, the site of Alabama’s first chartered college was enhanced and stands today as a historical landmark.

Listed on Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1976.

Since 1995 to 2015 the following log buildings have also been added:

Plantation Log Kitchen (listed on the National Register of Historic Places 1976)
Barber Shop
Black Smith Shop
Country Store
Post Office
Welcome Center/Museum
Bed & Breakfast Inn
Barn
Smoke House
Wedding Chapel/ School House
Out house (toilet)
“Dawson” log trot house (located on entrance to LaGrange College Road)

Additional buildings:

Caretaker’s House
3 storage buildings
Pavilion
Monument Markers
Tabernacle
Observatory

Listings:

LaGrange College Site Park (listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage 1976)
LaGrange Cemetery (listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage 1994)
LaGrange Rock Shelter (listed on the National Register of Historic Places 1994 )within walking distance of park
The Oaks Planation (listed on the National Register of Historic Places 1976) located at the foot of the mountain park. Note: this was the location of the log kitchen that we moved to the park

The History of LaGrange College

Written by: Robert S. Steen

The book is dedicated to LC Lenz and Louise Lenz.

Cover painting by Louise Lenz.

The book is a culmination of more than five years of research through family histories, and regional and state archives.

The book is a 210-page paper back book, including 160 pictures throughout the pages. A collection of this many photos compiled from the 1800’s is very unique in publication from that historic period.

Books will begin selling during mid-March for $19.95.