The citizens in the late 19th century recognized the need for an educational system. So was founded Minida College.
B.S. and B.A. degrees were offered. The fee for a B.S. degree was $8.25 per term for ten weeks and $10.00 per term for a B.A. The school was in session until the building was condemned. Land was purchased and the new school was built on accommodate more students and an expanded curriculum.
In the concluding portion of the Minida Normal College catalogue printed in 1891, are found these words:
“We live in a progressive age. The world is moving with rapid strides. No one without proper preparation should expect to keep pace with the times. The time has been when this country was new and men could be sufficiently educated in the forest. When they could plod along almost any way and rise with the country. But that dispensation is passed. This country is rich and powerful. Business, science, and literature progress almost with lightning speed, and the man who has to drive his way through this country without an education has to labor under a great disadvantage.”
Click Here to Read the Entire Minida Normal College Catalog
Board of Reference:
John Moran, Dresden, Tenn.
Thomas Little, Dresden, Tenn.
Rev. M. E. Doran, Lynville, Ky.
Hon. A. T. Pullen, Pryorsburg, Ky.
B. N. Pullen, Farmington, Ky.
J. A. Tomilinson, Conant, Florida
J. A. Rateree, Mouth Sandy, Tenn.
Hon. W. W. Ayers, Hico, Ky.
Eld. Richard Fulkerson, Golconda, Ill.
Eld. T. H. Pettit, Arlington, Ky.
Eld. S. F. Cayce, Martin, Tenn.
W. S. Tomilinson ,Danville, Tenn
Hon. Henry George, Wingo, Ky.
Dr. W. C. Wrather, Coldwater, Ky.
Dr. W. B. Stokes, Coldwater, Ky.
W. T. Clark, Dawson, Ky.
Board of Officers and Faculty
A. M. Kirkland, President Faculty and Principal Collegiate Department
J. A. Howard, President Board of Trustees and Principal of Normal Department
J. V. Kirkland, Vice President Board of Trustees and General Manager
G. T. Mayo, Secretary
D. A. McWherter, Treasurer
Palmersville Historical Society 
I do not know if this is true, but my name is Dana G. Hardy. We bought a home in Palmersville in 1974 and were told the land adjacent to the home was where this College was located. Allegedly that it burned down and part of the home we built hand lumber from that home. We did some extensive remodeling and found lumber in the walls of the center of the home that were burned. Does anybody know if this may be true? It was built…the home we bought…for the local Doctor. We found tiny medicine bottles in the floor ….under dirt in the barn….
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Dana —
June Kemp writes: The only information I have is that the College was in operation until 1911 when it was condemned as being unsafe for occupancy and razed. Whether this was due to a fire or not I cannot say. Dr. George Biggs’ dwelling was located adjacent to the College. As he was married in 1914, it is very possible that he could have used lumber from the College in the building of their home.
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I am proud to own a diploma from Minida Normal College given to my grandfather, Charlie Patterson Stephenson, given in 1894. The actual dates have worn off.
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Very good!
Would you be willing to scan or take a picture of it and share it with us? We’d love to put it on the site.
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Hi Mike! I recognize your last name. My family lived on Boydsville Road, just down from Fairview Cemetery, where many members of my family were laid to rest, including my grandfather, Charlie P Stephenson, my grandmother, Mary Mitchell Stephenson, and my uncle, Thomas Mitchell Stephenson. The place is near to my heart.
How do I send a pic of the Certificate of Graduation?
Thank you for the note, Mike.
David
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Yes, P’ville is near to our hearts, also. My dad is Jim Cantrell, of the sawmill family. I’ll send you an email with my contact information.
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