Legacy Of The
Log College
How tliey saved David Caldwell's school
and honi€kplacck from commercial <l4kvcl-
opnicnt in busy Cireenshoro.
Hi/ HICK BVIID
David Caldwell would be proud of
them!
Greensboro preservationists have
saved from commercial development
the homesite and environs of the
Revolutionary hero of Guilford County
— minister, physician, active patriot,
farmer and founder of what is recog¬
nized as the forerunner of the Univer¬
sity of North Carolina.
Their energy is reminiscent of the
multi-talented Caldwell himself. Their
efforts, like his. have helped the entire
community.
A 20-acre site contains the founda¬
tions of the Rev. Caldwell's "Log Col¬
lege" and home, portions of his model
farm, site of a dam and grist mill. It is
an oasis in one of the city’s prestigious
residential neighborhoods, bounded by
busy thoroughfares.
Bicentennial Garden
On part of this land in 1976 the City
of Greensboro and Greensboro Beauti¬
ful. with support from the community¬
wide Council of Garden Clubs, devel¬
oped Bicentennial Garden, a jewel of
pleasant paths, colorful flowers, shrubs
and trees for year-round enjoyment. A
"fragrance garden" with herbs identi¬
fied in Braille makes these joys avail¬
able to the blind. The stream which
powered Caldwell’s grist mill flows
through the garden.
A life-size statue entitled "The Stu¬
dent" stands here, the youthful figure
in Colonial garb with books under his
arm. Sculptor Janos Parkas did the
work, describing it as "representative
of the young men who attended the
David Caldwell Academy located on
this land (who were) inspired by this
diligent educator. Their leadership was
influential in the development of
Greensboro. Guilford County. North
Carolina and beyond."
In 1935 Dr. Frank Porter Graham,
president of the University of North
t6
Carolina, dedicated an historic marker
nearby, referring to David Caldwell’s
Log College as "grandfather of the Uni¬
versity of North Carolina."
The “Grandfather of U.N.C.”
In his pictorial history "The First
State University" UNC Historian Wil¬
liam B. Powell confirmed the historic
significance of the man and his college:
"In 1766 or 1767 on the western fron¬
tier of Orange County within the limits
of what is now Greensboro, the Rever-
rend David Caldwell opened a school
that soon came to be known as the Log
College . . . his excellent school served
as a technological seminary, academy
and college . . . throughout the remain¬
ing years of the 18th century this insti¬
tution had an average attendance of
about 50. many of whom entered the
junior class at Princeton or. after 1795.
at the University of North Carolina."
Is Ihis Caldwell? Mrs Lottie P. Leonard, former art
teacher in the Greensboro schools, painted this por¬
trait ol David Caldwell trom written descriptions. No
contemporary likeness ol him eiists.
D/v
CAI DW4U
I77.fi -187.4
Fducatoi. Ministei & .‘‘I'/sk ian
Operated famous T ; Idwclll.oq
College” near here froi.i "<>7
till. 1874 Home site of Di t>.*ivi
and
Каст
Caldwell IOO yarn
Wiisti donated by Mr. *• 'V -
lid ward Benjamin to No; ih
Carotin» Society For rtir
Prescr At.^. of Antiquities.
Preservation first step was the donation in 1955 ol
the Log College site to the N.C. Society For Preser-
vation ot Antiquities by the Ed Benjamins ol Greens¬
boro.
Caldwell’s Log College produced at
least 50 ministers and five governors:
John Motley Morehead (North Caro¬
lina 1841-45); three consecutive gover¬
nors of Alabama (Israel Pickens.
1821-25. John Murphy. 1825-29. and
Gabriel Moore. 1829-31); and Newton
Connor, governor of Tennessee.
1835-39.
Of these, Morehead was the last to
study under Caidwell. who at that time
was about 80 years old. Though no
likeness of Caldwell exists. Morehead
left a personal recollection of Caldwell:
"In stature I suppose he must have
measured about five feet, eight or 10
inches ... he had a well formed head
and strong features ... an exceedingly
studious man ... a man of admirable
temper, fond of indulging in playful re¬
marks which he often pointed with a
moral."
Morehead added. "Caldwell often
made me recite from four to six hours
a day. Indeed, you could not get along
with him. with any comfort, without
knowing accurately and thoroughly
everything you passed over."
Missionary to N.C.
Caldwell was born March 22. 1725.
in Lancaster County. Pennsylvania and
was educated at Princeton. He was ap¬
pointed a missionary to North Carolina
in 1765 to serve the Alamance and
Buffalo Presbyterian churches. The fol¬
lowing year he married Rachel Craig¬
head of Mecklenburg County, daughter
of a Presbyterian minister. They reared
eight sons and one daughter.
Caldwell acquired 550 acres on the
headwaters of North Buffalo Creek,
along the Old Salisbury Road, and es¬
tablished what was viewed as a model
farm of its day. with crops, orchards,
livestock, dam and grist mill.
He realized early in his career that
the region had medical as well as
THE STATE. June 1986