West Virginia College opened on this site in 1865, established by Free Will Baptists led by local resident Rev. F. J. Cather. It was chartered by the legislature on June 26, 1868. Rev. A.D. Williams became its first president and served until 1870, when he resigned to become Superintendent of Free Schools in West Virginia. The college functioned into the 1890’s, when reduced enrollments forced its closing. The building then served Flemington High School until it was razed in the 1950’s.