Abandoned school in Alabama
Wilcox Female Institute, Camden Alabama
The Wilcox Female Institute is the oldest educational landmark in this section of the state and is one of the better-known early Alabama institutions for the education of women. Incorporated in 1850, the school reflects the interest of the prosperous planters to provide a "correct" education for their daughters.
In 1833 the seat of Wilcox County, in the rich black belt section, was moved from Canton Bend to Camden. The land for the town had been donated by W. T. Dunn whose conditional gift specified that the county seat be moved to the property. In 1842 the new town was incorporated.
The school had its beginning in 1848 when a group of citizens from the area made up subscriptions for the establishment of a school for young ladies. By 1850 the institute had been incorporated, a faculty employed, a catalog published, and the building completed.
Records show that in the fall of 1850 the Institute had an enrollment of 250, including the primary department, the music department, the department of fine arts and embroidery, and the Department of French Language.
The incorporators of the Institute were James A. Tait, L. W. Mason, and Joseph George. The original trustees were Col. J. C. Jones, D. W. Sterrett, Col. C. C. Sellers, Joseph George, Major M. M. Bonham, Dr. M. Reid, J. W. Bridges, Dr. Robert Irvin and Major F. K. Beck.
Records of the school indicate that it remained in operation throughout the Civil War, but in 1866 the property was sold to Dr. John Miller, an Associate Reformed Presbyterian minister and educator who conducted the school for a period of seven years. After Miller relinquished leadership of the Institute, it continued in operation as a private school under a series of principals until 1908 when it was deeded to the State of Alabama for use as a county high school.
High school classes were conducted in the building until 1937 when the new high school building, located on an adjoining lot, was completed. After that time only two rooms in the downstairs of the building were used for elementary school classes, and after 1965 the building was used only for band practice.
The rear wing of the building, originally used for dormitory and classrooms was altered about 1930 when the principal converted it into a gymnasium. Removal of beams during this conversion weakened the wing and in 1960 it was condemned and torn away.
Building Description
The Wilcox Female Institute is a two-story, red brick structure of Greek Revival design. It measures approximately 75 feet by 40 feet and the solid brick walls are 20 inches thick.
A central two-story portico, approximately 20 feet square, dominates the front of the building and features two plain Doric columns of plastered brick. The floor of this porch is now concrete, but was originally wooden. The central entrance door is topped by a four-light transom and is similar to the door which gives access to the balcony.
Windows are four feet by seven feet and double-hung with six lights in the upper sash and nine in the lower. Two end-interior chimneys are located on both sides of the structure and provided heating for the eight main rooms of the buildings.
The roof is hipped and topped with a square wooden bell tower 25 feet in height. The original louvers of the tower have been boarded over. The rear of the building clearly shows the outline of the two-story wing which measured 35 feet by 60 feet. Also visible is the bricked-up outline of three doors that led to porches. These porches were removed along with the wing in the 1960s.
The interior walls and ceilings are of plaster and the wooden floors have been covered with tile. Some alteration of the original floor plan, a central hall with four rooms per floor, were made in the early part of the century.
