A Little piece of Paradise… College Hill, Ohio - SELFCRAFT

Ohio Female CollegeIn 1848 the Rev. John Covert founded the Ohio Female College (O.F.C.) on the modern site ofPhoenix International. The cornerstone of the main building was laid Sept. 21, 1848 and during that yearit was incorporated with full collegiate privileges and powers to provide a liberal education for women. Inthe United States, it was fifth in order of incorporation. In the fall of 1849 it opened its doors with formerSupreme Court Justice, John McLean, as President. McLean later became an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He cast the sole dissenting vote in the 1857 Dred Scott case, arguing that slavery waswrong. In 1851 the Ohio State Legislature granted O.F.C. a charter, enabling it to confer degrees. ItsMistress of the Arts diploma was soon much sought.In the 1850 census it was listed as Covert’s Academy. Rev. Covert, his wife and children were fromNew York. Enumerated in his household are Lucinda, his wife, Destiny, and Hiram as their children.Also are Elizabeth Curtis, age 11, student, born NY; Margaret Parker of New York; Catherine O’Brien,Edward Caroll (laborer), John Flanigan (laborer) all from Ireland; George Ayres (laborer) and his familyfrom England, Jane and Susan; and John Sheldon, carpenter. Living in a separate household were thestudents: Caroline J. Davis, Jane Davis, Elizabeth Thomas, Mary B. Allen, Mary A. Bennell, RachelBrown, Ann M. Roclin, Harriet E. Banks, Emily Butler, Margaret Bishop, Eliza J. Brown, America P.Cameron, Philena J. ??, Ann M. Crawford, Emma Cover, Ann G. Lewis, Mary Everill (Eversill?), Ann E.Everill, Susan A. Flickenger, Catherine Flickenger, Amelia H. Glancy, Eliza M. Glancy, Mary Scott,Elizabeth Hughes, Charity P. Hunter, Ann C. Houston, Harriet J. Hoffman, Sarah L. Hamilton, AgnesLingo, Sarah Muchmore, Deborah Muchmore, Harriet Noble, Martha Noble, Martha Orange, Cornelia E.Roney, Mary Sates, Elvina A. Smith, Mary Z. Turpin, Sarah E. Turpin, Amelia Trusedale, Mary V.Banks, Caroline Lange, Mary E. Robb. 17The first faculty consisted of Rev. John Covert, Mrs. L. S. Covert, Alphonse Wood, Monsieur Rive,Madame Caroline Rive, Mrs. Sarah B. Brooks, Miss Catherine Van Rensselaer, Mrs. Mary Jane Pyle,Miss Cornelia Curtis, Miss Elizabeth Allen, and Miss Harriet Staub.The original campus had three buildings and fifteen acres of woods and gardens. The curriculum wasequivalent to that found in the best of male colleges. In addition to “the arts” there were a well stockedlibrary, chemistry lab and a refracting telescope for the study of astronomy. At that time, the post officeaddress was Cary’s Academy.The location was touted as being “... central, accessible, elevated, and healthy, surrounded bypleasant groves and picturesque scenery, and sufficiently far from the city to be free from its temptationsand dissipating tendencies, yet near enough to enjoy its privileges.”It was supervised by a board of trustees of which Hon. John McLean was President and Samuel F.Cary was the secretary. The college President was Rev. Covert.A second dormitory was built and furnished for $20,000 in 1852. Also, “a new and beautifulOmnibus has been purchased by the President for the exclusive use of the Institution and pupils residingin the city or vicinity can be taken home and return under the care of teachers.” A music building (1853)provided additional classrooms and accommodating 150 pupils. The admission was $12 for the two yearPreparatory course and $14 for the four year Collegiate program. In their “Third Annual Catalogue”(1852) it was proposed; “The day is dawning in which Female Colleges must begin to be ranked withMale Colleges...Is it not the right of women to be educated?” A catalog from 1854 lists students from wellknown families, such as Ella Cary who later married Edward Sayre, and several Cist daughters. Therewas one sorority, ‘The Golden Chain Society, and the school publication was called The Dew Drop.By 1856 the property was 23 acres besides an “... extensive conservatory well filled with thousandsof exotics, a jetting fountain and an artificial lake. There were eight buildings: main edifice, the ‘Odeon’containing 12 rooms, the ‘Seminary’ containing, beside the Chapel, six lecture rooms and ...five neatcottage dwellings for the professors and self-boarders, containing forty-five rooms.”The main building burned in 1858. Rev. Covert sold the property to Alphanso Wood and Eli Taylor17 Hamilton County, Ohio, Court and Other Records, Vol. III, Virginia Raymond Cummins, 196978