Concord University

Since 1872, Concord University has built up a recognized legacy of a quality instruction for some eras of families. 

"All our past approvals our future," composed the English artist Algernon Charles Swinburne, who was conceived in 1837, that year as Mercer County, the home of Concord University, was framed in old Virginia. 

In the 1840's, to draw in pilgrims, Colonel Henderson French set up an area organization in Mercer County. The early pilgrims felt the requirement for a congregation, and, in 1858, Colonel French gave land for this reason. Chief William Holroyd, an authorized Methodist minister, fabricated the congregation, and French asked Holroyd's better half, Sarah, to name it. Upon the arrival of devotion, she said: "This congregation is the place all categories might venerate together in agreement, sweet partnership and accord, and it should be named 'Harmony Church.' 

The settlement additionally was called "Harmony Church." A mail station was set up after the Civil War, and the University got its name when, on February 28, 1872, the West Virginia Legislature passed "an Act to find a Branch State Normal School, in Concord Church, in the County of Mercer." 

Be that as it may, land and a building were required, and no State assets were appropriated. Five families-The Fannings, Frenches, Holroyds, Martins, and Vermillions-chiefly were in charge of meeting the test and getting the school set up. Classes began on May 10, 1875, with 70 understudies. Commander James Harvey French was the primary important, and he served until his demise in 1891. 

Inevitably, State apportionments for another block building were secured; the building was finished in 1887 on the site of the present Athens Middle School, and an extra appointment in 1895 empowered it to be extensively amplified. 

In 1896, because of disarray with another West Virginia post office in Hampshire County called "Harmony," the name of the town was changed to "Athens," a conspicuous decision of the old Greek city for a group that was a focal point of learning. In any case, the school kept "Accord" as its name. 

A grievous flame pulverized the nice looking school working in November of 1910. The grounds was moved to its present site, and another building was finished in 1912 (Old Main) that right now is known as Marsh Hall. 

Albeit solidly settled, the fundamental character of the organization changed small amid its first half century. It was little, provincial, and segregated. Much direction was just at the optional level, and the two-year "standard typical" confirmations surpassed baccalaureate degrees through 1936. Until 1922, the main expanding on the present grounds was "Old Main." 

Amid the organization of Dr. C.C. Rossey (1918-1924), living arrangement corridors for ladies (the previous McComas Hall) and men (Holroyd), and a gym were constructed. Likewise, the scholarly program was redesigned significantly. 

Since 1929, aside from the doomed "merger" with Bluefield State College (1973-1976), Concord has encountered exceptional development in enlistment, physical plant, educational programs and the nature of its staff. 

The organization of Dr. J. Straightforward Marsh (1929-1945) brought the University full national accreditation in 1931; likewise the foundation changed its name twice, from "Accord State Normal School" to "Harmony State Teachers College" in 1931, to "Harmony College" in 1943, and to Concord University in 2004. The "standard ordinary" project was canceled in 1936. Swamp likewise enormously extended the physical plant: an option to the exercise center; a President's House and five personnel homes; a swimming pool; extra living arrangement corridors for ladies (Sarvay) and men (White); a library (named for Marsh); and, a home administration showing house. 

The new President's House (1932) was based on State property (presumably wrongfully!) with acquired assets; Marsh by and by paid month to month rent for the majority of the thirteen years he and his family possessed the home until the obligation was fulfilled. The president's better half, Florence, delighted in exciting, and barely a week went without a supper, a formal gathering or a little gathering for workforce and understudies, State Officials, visitor teachers and craftsmen and companions. Amid the 1930's, overnight visitors included Lowell Thomas, Amelia Earhart, Will Durant, Carl Sandburg and Metropolitan Opera stars Susanne Fisher and Muriel Dickson. Amid her unhitched male child's administration (1959-1973), Mrs. Bog at the end of the day was master and directed various social capacities in the official living arrangement. Toward the end of her child's administration, still dynamic at age 79, she had served for a long time as Concord's "first woman." 

Amid WWII, the University experienced grounds wide change of demographics as young fellows went off to war, to leave an understudy populace made primarily out of young women, until 1943. That year, the University housed the U.S. Armed force Air Corp's fifteenth College Training Detachment. The system, which kept going all through the war, conveyed classes of youthful troopers into train them as Army Pilots. They got both military and school credit preparing amid their time here. The cadets, even after they cleared out Athens, left their impact on the townspeople. In 1993, an exceptional gathering was held of all known fifteenth C.T.D. Cadets. This exceptional gathering of noble men makes a regarded part out of Concord's Alumni Association even today. 

Amid Virgil Stewart's organization (1945-1959), the University experienced after war development in enlistment and physical plant. The Science Hall was fabricated, a little makeshift music building was raised, lodging units for wedded understudies built, and another athletic field created. 

Dr. Joseph F. Bog Jr. child of the previous president, served as president from 1959 to 1973. Options to the grounds amid his organization were: the College Center (Student Center); new habitation lobbies (Wilson, Wooddell and Twin Towers); extra wedded understudy lodging; increases to the organization fabricating; The Alexander Fine Arts Center; Witherspoon Park (personnel lodging); The Leslie R. also, Ruby Webb Carter Center (wellbeing and physical training); Callaghan Stadium; and the Maintenance Building. Likewise, the more youthful Marsh proceeded with the extension of the educational modules, underlined quality and selected a cosmopolitan personnel. 

In 1973, the West Virginia Board of Regents had a bill acquainted in the Legislature with union Concord and Bluefield State universities, which brought on a hubbub. All voting public of Concord contradicted the proposition. In spite of the fact that the bill fizzled even to escape board of trustees and kicked the bucket, the Regents squeezed the matter after the Legislature dismissed and continued with an "authoritative" merger. Since Marsh contradicted the merger, he was terminated and got to be president of a school in Pennsylvania. Dr. Billy L. Coffindaffer was named president of both Concord and Bluefield State, however after just two years of turmoil the Regents finished up (as Marsh had affirmed before the Senate Education Committee) that the course of action would not work, reported that an arrival to isolated organizations would happen in 1976, and selected Dr. James Rowley as acting president amid the break. 

With the authoritative merger abrogated, Concord energetically invited Dr. Meredith N. Freeman as its new president in 1976. Amid his nine-year residency, a large portion of the injuries were recuperated, and by and by enlistment expanded and new scholastic projects were built up. The physical plant was extended with a noteworthy expansion to the J. Straight to the point Marsh Library and the advancement of Anderson Field. 

Harmony's leader, Dr. Jerry L. Beasley, expected office on July 1, 1985, upon the retirement of Dr. Freeman. Beasley, initially from Hinton in Summers County, is a southern West Virginian who has remained and work in the Mountain State. Amid his residency here the University's enlistment has kept on developing, and Concord built up the biggest gift of any West Virginia open school. In the late 1980's and mid 1990's, the Physical Plant at Concord saw a few noteworthy changes. McComas Hall (Women's habitation lobby), the College Theater, and the Old Gym were torn down. Notwithstanding, the Administration and Science structures delighted in a few million-dollar remodel that modernized the structures. 

Amid Dr. Beasley's organization, Concord has gotten national notification for its dynamic endeavors. These incorporate the understudy volunteer association HAPIN; the Summer Academy and Teacher's Institute, improving learning in West Virginia auxiliary schools; the Concord Quest for Scholars; and the Bonner Scholars Program. Harmony is the main state-helped school took part in the whole Bonner Scholars program. There are currently more than 80 Bonner Scholars at work in West Virginia and past, realizing leading by serving. Beasley's organization additionally settled a "Beckley Center" for Concord and built up an expert's system in Teacher Education. Expert's projects are additionally being produced for Social Work and Business Administration. 

Dr. Gregory F. Aloia started his five year residency as Concord University's leader in July 2008. 

Under his cautious direction, Concord has turned into a national pioneer in serving understudy veterans and has been perceived as the top veteran inviting college in the United States. In 2011-12 Concord was perceived as the main most veteran inviting grounds in America. Dr. Aloia actualized worldwide activities that expanded the quantity of worldwide understudies on Concord's grounds and the University's investment in instructive open doors for staff, and understudies on a worldwide point of view. 

Amid his time as president, Dr. Aloia and his initiative group were devoted to expanding open doors for expert advancement for the staff and workforce, expanding the quantity of full time personnel, supporting the extension of the graduate projects, enhancing the perfection of the college's athletic groups, growing library get to and improving the general experience for understudies