Founded in 1847 A.D. by citizens of Hartsville, the institution was taken over by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ in 1849 and opened as a college in 1850. It was one of the first co-educational colleges in America. Its courses of study included preparatory to college, classical, scientific, and teachers. The founders' purpose was to establish an institution for higher Christian education. It burned on January 30, 1898.