This Month in Our History: September 2009

On September 15, 1909 – exactly a century ago this month in our history – Hargrave Military Academy opened to receive boys whose parents desired that they be educated in a Christian environment.  Actually, the school began under the name of the Chatham Training School; but in 1925 the trustees abandoned the reformatory-sounding name and honored their most generous early benefactor, J. Hunt Hargrave of Chatham. 

From its inception there was a Baptist flavor to the school in Chatham.  In the 1880s and 90s the Baptists in Pittsylvania County through their local association, then called the Roanoke, would express the need for a superior secondary school in their area.  In 1906 Charles Warren, a minister, did open a private school in Chatham; but it lacked a source of financial support and appeared destined to fold.  In 1908 a dynamic young pastor was called to the Chatham Baptist Church; and T. Ryland Sanford was the man of the hour when the time came to promote a new school.  He received some encouragement from the Hargraves, father and son, who were in his congregation.

The new school took the name of Chatham Training School with Charles Warren remaining as headmaster.  Sanford became the first president of the school in addition to serving as pastor of a field of churches in the county.  The Baptists of the local association urged “sincere and cordial support” for the new endeavor.

The school had a modest yet hopeful beginning.  It was not until 1912-13 that Virginia Baptists through their General Association began to make monetary contributions.  The first gift was $1,000.  When the Cooperative Program was born in 1925, Hargrave was among the state agencies and institutions to be included for a percentage of the state’s share of receipts from churches. 

Aubrey H. Camden became president in 1918 and he followed a wise course with those Baptist dollars.  He invested them in a special reserve fund called the Building Fund.  It was to be used only for building construction or repairs and equipment.  The school operated from tuition fees.  When there were sufficient dollars in the Building Fund to respond to needs of expansion, the trustees would approve the expenditure; and therefore, Camden always could tell Virginia Baptists that the bricks and mortar were the results of gifts from their offering plates.  These were visible signs of what had been done with Baptist money.

The school added the military feature not to train future warriors but to offer a respected form of self-discipline to the curriculum.  And throughout its history the school emphasized good study habits and excellence in teaching.  It also layered the entire school experience with a religious influence.  Bible courses were required and were given equal rank with academic subjects.  Chapel services were required and at times sprinkled throughout the school week.  Early in the history an individual was employed who acted in the role of chaplain, Bible teacher and religious advisor.  Throughout almost the entire century the school has set aside a week each year for religious or spiritual emphasis and invited some of the finest Virginia Baptist ministers to serve as guest preacher.  The school even saw itself as an extension of the mission field so dear to Baptist hearts.  After all, the reasoning goes, there are some boys (and now girls as day students) who receive their first exposure to the Christian message while Hargrave students.

The greatest test of Hargrave’s spirit came in February 1950 when fire destroyed three of the main buildings just when the school had begun construction for a new building.  Fortunately, no one was injured; but the school suffered a tremendous loss.  Some whispered that maybe the academy would just cease.  But after a two-week vacation, the cadets returned to find temporary quarters had been provided.  Construction continued in earnest on the new building; and English Construction Company (the same company which built Eagle Eyrie) donated its profits on the building back to the school.

Through successive administrations, the school has tried to offer itself as a resource to its Baptist constituency.  From time to time churches and groups of churches have used the facilities for retreats.  The school has offered camps for young people with special needs.  The churches of its immediate community have used the commodious chapel for special services. 

What began exactly a century ago this month has proven its worth over and over especially in the lives of young people.  Virginia Baptists should give a proper salute to “their school” on its 100th anniversary.

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