This marker points out the original location of Catawba College (well, a half mile away from it) and is located at an intersection in Newton North Carolina. The marker is in good condition and there is space nearby to stop.
The marker reads, "Catawba College. Coeducational, liberal arts. Affiliated with Evangelical & Reformed Church. Opened 1/2 mi. N., 1851. Moved to Salisbury, 1925, & enlarged." It is the same on both sides.
Online, there is more information. "Catawba College, the sixth oldest college in North Carolina was founded in Newton by Matthew L. McCorkle in 1851. Prior to its establishment, there was no institution of higher education in Catawba County. In 1834, the German Reformed Church in the area had created the Education Society in order to send young men to northern schools to be educated in ministry. At an 1848 meeting, the Education Society was called upon to establish a college in their midst to train ministers. Members of the German Reformed Church and Newton merchants provided the land and capital for the school, leading to its opening in 1851."
"World War I and the 1921 recession, however, crippled its growth. Unable to recover, the college closed in 1923. Much to the displeasure of Newton citizens, the Reformed Church relocated the college to Salisbury, which had promised $50,000 to help with its establishment. Catawba College reopened in Rowan County in 1925. "
Salisbury is about an hour east of here and it's very likely that the Yelp moderators will move the location of this business to there. That would be wrong.
[Review 15901 overall - 3117 in North Carolina - 1406 of 2021.] read more