National Register Listing

Whitescarver Hall

Circle Dr. on the Alderson-Broaddus College campus, Philippi, WV

Whitescarver Hall is significant under Criterion c because it is one of Barbour County's best remaining examples of classical Revival architecture. The building is significant under Criterion D because, as Alderson-Broaddus College's oldest campus landmark, it served for much of the early 20th century as the college's only residence hall for men. As an important link to the college's formative years, Whitescarver has served a significant role in the education of men at West Virginia's only American Baptist College which has traditionally served a wide constituency in the mid-Atlantic region.

The decision to build the boys' dormitory was made at the annual meeting of the Broaddus Institute Board on June 13, 1911. The building was originally to be 50 feet by 110 feet and was to accommodate 60 to 75 young men. The trustees voted to name the building "Whitescarver Hall" in honor of George M. Whitescarver of Grafton whose "large and liberal gift" made the building possible. On Thursday, August 17, 1911, Whitescarver laid the cornerstone at a spot near the location of Union Colonel Ebenezer Dumont's headquarters during the June 1861 Battle of Philippi.

In the fall of 1912, twenty young men moved into the building, and the dedication and housewarming ceremonies were held on Friday, December 13, 1912. Although in failing health "Uncle George" Whitescarver (as he was affectionately known to the Broaddus students) was the guest of honor at the festivities.

Whitescarver Hall was one of the three original academic buildings on the A-B campus, and it is the oldest surviving one. Its classical Revival architecture is an excellent example of early twentieth-century architecture, and one of the few remaining buildings of this style in the Philippi and Barbour County area. Between 1912 and the early 1950sit served Alderson-Broaddus college as its only resident hall for male students. Alderson-Broaddus is the only American Baptist college in West Virginia and serves the constituency of West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, as well as other states and many foreign countries. Although the exterior was marred by an intrusion on the southeast corner and the addition of fire escapes on each end, careful rehabilitation can preserve it as an important part of the state's educational heritage.

From the early 1950s until 1975 Whitescarver Hall served Alderson-Broaddus College as a student residence hall. Between 1975 and 1980 it was used for administrative offices until New Main was completed. Over the years it has facilitated outstanding young men and women who have gone on to achieve recognition in both the public and private sectors.

George M. Whitescarver was born in Rappahannock County, Virginia, on December 18, 1831. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Griffin) Whitescarver. His paternal grandmother was a cousin of President Zachary Taylor. He spent his younger years in his native county, attending both "the common and private schools." At the age of 15, he entered Rector college at Permutation, Taylor County, Virginia. He became a carpenter and was soon manager of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad line between Grafton and Philippi. He was responsible for building the extension to Belington, some 12 miles south of Philippi. He also became involved in building the railroad between Morgantown and Kingwood.

By this time his entrepreneurship included a lumbering business at Valley Falls in Taylor County and a vitrified brick business. In 1891, he, along with several other investors, purchased a large tract of land in Randolph County and founded the town of Pickens. Here they built several plaining mills and a sawmill that had a capacity of ten million feet per year. His vitrified brick business prospered also, winning the premium award at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. He also successfully invested in real estate and the coal industry.

In 1854 he married Henriette A. Sinclair of Taylor County. On the eve of the first land battle of the Civil War, Whitescarver, not yet 30 years old, joined Colonel George A. Porterfield's Confederate force at Philippi as a private. Meanwhile, his young wife reconnoitered the Union forces advancing through Grafton and reported to Porterfield that the Yankees were preparing to attack the morning of June 3. Although her warning included the complete Federal plan of battle, it went unheeded.

Whitescarver was a stockholder and a member of the Board of Directors of the First National Banks in both Parkersburg and Grafton. A life-long Baptist, he served continuously as a member of the Board of Trustees of Broaddus Institute from its foundation in 1873 until his death on November 6, 1914.

Whitescarver Hall will continue to serve useful educational purposes as plans are considered for its adaptive reuse.

The period of significance, 1912-1939, derives from the date of the building's construction (1912) through 1939, the final year in which the property meets the 50-year criterion. This period coincides with the prominence of the building as the only male dorm on campus when maximum occupancy was traditional.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1990.