While giving tours on the campus of Brevard College, N.C. I decided to do a little research on the college’s history so that I may share it with perspective students and their families. However, upon doing so it was a bit of a surprise when I found mention of a familiar and well-known name.
As it turns out R. Floyd Crouse attended Weaver College in Weaverville, N.C. where he studied for two years and then went on to study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Weaver College had been founded in 1851 and grew to be a fifty-five-acre campus. In 1912 it was changed from a four-year college to a two year. In 1933, possibly due to the recent economic downturn, Weaver College and Rutherford College merged.
This merger formed Brevard College. If you are not familiar with R. Floyd Crouse, his story is outlined in a book titled The History of Alleghany County 1859 through 1976. Within the book is a collection of stories about various communities, businesses, and individuals written by the Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society for whom I will give much credit.
Mr. Crouse was born in 1892, his family history dating back to 1735 in the county. He served in the military during World War I and went on to open his own law practice in Sparta in 1922. Not only was he a veteran and a lawyer, but Mr. Crouse also served as Mayor from 1925 until 1944.
Upon his passing in 1969 land was donated to the town in memory of R. Floyd Crouse and Sarah Ellen Gambill Crouse along with their home that was constructed in the 1930s. Several generations, including my own, have enjoyed the park. My favorite spot is towards the little creek that runs below the picnic shelters where you can sit on a bench under the branches of a very old, very beautiful tree.
Often when I am there at Crouse Park I will reflect on how well Mr. Crouse fulfilled the Brevard College motto, Learn in Order to Serve.
Sources:
Alleghany County Historical-Genealogical Society. History of Alleghany County 1859-1976. Winston Salem, NC: Hunter Publishing Company, 1976. 73.