Hiwassee College

Hiwassee College was a private liberal arts college in Madisonville, Tennessee. Founded in 1849, the college offered associate degrees as well as bachelor's degrees. The majority of its associate degree graduates went on to complete bachelor's degrees elsewhere. The college closed on May 10, 2019 due to financial issues. History Hiwassee College's predecessor, an all-boys school, Tullagalla Academy, was founded in 1826. Its original home was 5 miles away from the present campus. In 1845, after enrollment had grown too large for its location, the school moved to the Methodist Bat Creek Campground. After the departure of the academy's director in 1848, five Methodists came together to reorganize the school as a college in the same location. Hiwassee College was officially organized in 1849, making it the oldest private two-year college in Tennessee until its closure in 2019. Despite its Methodist roots, the college's first president was Presbyterian Robert E. Doak. The college's first valedictorian was David M. Key, the future United States Postmaster General and U.S. Senator from Tennessee. In 1854, John Hamilton Brunner became the second president of Hiwassee College. Brunner made the decision to close the college from 1861 to 1865 during the Civil War. In 1870, Francis Grace became president of the college; however, Brunner returned in 1872 and remained president until 1883. During most of the 1880s, Hiwassee was associated with Victoria College for women in nearby Sweetwater, Tennessee. In 1891, Sidney Gilbreath would become president. Under his tenure, the college would be opened to women in 1894. In 1899, he was succeeded by Joseph E. Lowry. Under his tenure, Lawrence Hall dormitory was added and the college officially affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Electricity was first available on campus in 1917 and which Massey home, the New Administration building, and Key Chapel were all built. In 1924, Martin Reedy took over as president and oversaw the construction of the Gymnasium. Under the tenure of President Rudy Youell, the dining hall, Rawlings home, and Rymer Hall were built.