Hi, I am Jim, I love Kentucky, and traveling in and around Kentucky! I also love the entire country, and all of the beautiful and strange places here and there! This blog covers the overlooked, forgotten, and underrated places, people, and moments in history in America, with a focus on Kentucky!
It will cover great tourists stops, books about people and history, and include photos and postcard scans.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Columbia College, Owensboro, KY
Anyone have info on Columbia College? I can't find much else, besides this postcard, about it!
I got an email from Bill recently, giving some info on this one-
On your blog page "Kentucky Travels", you posted a picture post card of Columbia College in Owensboro and asked (Monday, April 9, 2012) in anyone had info.
In 1895, my great grand uncle, Charles L Reynolds, taught art (painting) at the college. In researching it, I learned it was founded in 1886 and existed until 1917, with J M Cooney, President. That's all I have. I'd be interested in whatever else you learn about this school.
My grandfather, Andrew Oberst invested in Columbia College, where two of his nine sons attended - Joe who graduated around 1913, and Frank who enlisted to fight in World War I. After the college failed, Andrew acquired some of the colleges assets including text books and sporting equipment, including some indian clubs, which my father, Gene, used to fasion braces for his deformed feet. After Gene graduated from Owensboro High, using the braces, he became a starter for the Notre Dame football squad, blocking for the four horsemen and acquired a bronze medal in the '24 Olympics.
HEY! There is some more great info! I JUST looked Gene Oberst up...... Looks like he also spent some time in my old stompin' grounds of Cleveland! Thanks for sharing this!
The "Columbia College" was originally the Richard Monarch house (one of the 4 "Distillers Row" homes) and was later sold due to prohibition. I'm not sure when it became or stopped being the "Columbia College" but it was later bought by the school system in 1927, became Daviess County High School, eventually being torn down and the current DC Middle School being built here.
If you're on Facebook, you may be interested in the "History of Owensboro, KY" group...
Looking for any information about Columbia College as I think My grandfather taught music there in the early 1900's. His brother in law was J M Cooney so it makes sense that he might have gotten a postion there. My grandfather, Joseph Willim Wuerth would have moved there from St. Mary's college in marian county KY. Any info about the school would be interesting.
I know I'm late, but here's everything I know: The house on the postcard was originally called "Monarchdale" by its builder Richard Monarch. He built it in 1893 at the height of his career distilling whiskey. (At that time the college was apparently located at "the old McHenry house" on West 4th Street). However, the whiskey crop was overproduced that year, so Richard Monarch declared bankruptcy a few years later. In June of 1902, it was sold to the Rose family for just $20,500 (as opposed to the $100,000 it cost to build the house). Columbia College bought the home from the Rose family in August of 1909, but financial issues caused them to sell it to the Evans Family in 1912. In 1926, the property was bought by Daviess County Public Schools to use for a high school (which later became Daviess County Middle School), and added a classroom and gym. The building was completely razed in 1960 to make room for more classrooms.
I got an email from Bill recently, giving some info on this one-
ReplyDeleteOn your blog page "Kentucky Travels", you posted a picture post card of Columbia College in Owensboro and asked (Monday, April 9, 2012) in anyone had info.
In 1895, my great grand uncle, Charles L Reynolds, taught art (painting) at the college. In researching it, I learned it was founded in 1886 and existed until 1917, with J M Cooney, President. That's all I have. I'd be interested in whatever else you learn about this school.
My grandfather, Andrew Oberst invested in Columbia College, where two of his nine sons attended - Joe who graduated around 1913, and Frank who enlisted to fight in World War I. After the college failed, Andrew acquired some of the colleges assets including text books and sporting equipment, including some indian clubs, which my father, Gene, used to fasion braces for his deformed feet. After Gene graduated from Owensboro High, using the braces, he became a starter for the Notre Dame football squad, blocking for the four horsemen and acquired a bronze medal in the '24 Olympics.
ReplyDeleteHEY! There is some more great info! I JUST looked Gene Oberst up...... Looks like he also spent some time in my old stompin' grounds of Cleveland! Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteThe "Columbia College" was originally the Richard Monarch house (one of the 4 "Distillers Row" homes) and was later sold due to prohibition. I'm not sure when it became or stopped being the "Columbia College" but it was later bought by the school system in 1927, became Daviess County High School, eventually being torn down and the current DC Middle School being built here.
ReplyDeleteIf you're on Facebook, you may be interested in the "History of Owensboro, KY" group...
Hey Adam, thanks for the info! I had no idea about the DC Middle School connection!
ReplyDeleteI will check out the FB group! Thanks!
Looking for any information about Columbia College as I think My grandfather taught music there in the early 1900's. His brother in law was J M Cooney so it makes sense that he might have gotten a postion there. My grandfather, Joseph Willim Wuerth would have moved there from St. Mary's college in marian county KY. Any info about the school would be interesting.
ReplyDeleteHey Unknown... thanks for stopping by! Check out Adams comments above. Thats a great group on facebook, and that should be a good resource for ya!
ReplyDeleteI know I'm late, but here's everything I know: The house on the postcard was originally called "Monarchdale" by its builder Richard Monarch. He built it in 1893 at the height of his career distilling whiskey. (At that time the college was apparently located at "the old McHenry house" on West 4th Street). However, the whiskey crop was overproduced that year, so Richard Monarch declared bankruptcy a few years later. In June of 1902, it was sold to the Rose family for just $20,500 (as opposed to the $100,000 it cost to build the house). Columbia College bought the home from the Rose family in August of 1909, but financial issues caused them to sell it to the Evans Family in 1912. In 1926, the property was bought by Daviess County Public Schools to use for a high school (which later became Daviess County Middle School), and added a classroom and gym. The building was completely razed in 1960 to make room for more classrooms.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Thats a very nice history there! I sure appreciate that! Thanks!
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