It will be seen that the Building Committee had much to do before suitable accommodations could be provided for the professors and students. That many mistakes were made in this work, and in the location of the buildings and other matters, was not to be wondered at. They were the result of inexperience in the men in charge, not of any want of good intention and effort on their part. When it is considered that all the lumber for the buildings had to be sawed by the old-fashioned "pit-saw," and much of the other material had to be wagoned for seventy miles, we must not wonder that two years were consumed in bringing the buildings to partial completion.
As the buildings stood when completed, they were as good as those of any other college in the State had, and possibly better. The University of Virginia, opened in 1825, had better and more extensive ones.
The regular exercises of the College proper commenced on the day appointed, October 9th, 1832, Prof. M. P. Parks acting as President, in the absence of President Olin.
If any account of the opening-day exercises were published it has not come down to us. The first schedule of expenses was as follows:
Tuition fee for session of ten months, . . . . $30 00
Board (meals only), . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 00
Bedding and washing, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 00
Fuel,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 00
Lights,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 00
Deposit fee, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 00
Total, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$120 00
The first meeting of the Board of Trustees after the opening was held
February 5, 1833.
At this meeting the following communication from the Georgia Conference
Was received:
"LAGRANGE, Ga.
"We feel a deep interest in the success of Randolph-Macon College. We have full confidence in its moral and literary character and prospects, and we will recommend it to the patronage of all who may be disposed to send their sons or wards beyond the limits of the State to be educated.
"We will appoint four Trustees agreeable to the proposal made by Brother
Early, the Agent of the College, who visited us. Whereupon the
Conference nominated the Rev. Ignatius Few and Rev. Lovick Pierce,
members of the Conference, and Seaborn Jones and John C. Poythress,
Esquires, for that purpose.