From These Roots

In 1936, the year before White Hall was built, North Greenville constructed the first president’s home for Dr. Donnan and his family.

The seven-room brick house with mountain views served the Donnan family until Dr. Donnan’s retirement in the early 60s. The next president of the college, Dr. Neely, lived in the brick house on the corner of Chinquapin and Tigerville Road until he became the first to occupy the current president’s home on Blackwell Rd. Various families lived in the Donnan house after Dr. Donnan moved out. Some of the families include those of Professors Dan and Lonnie Proctor, Dr. D. Wilson Cooke, Jacks Tingle, Dr. Steve Crouse, and Professor Steve Hearne. Eventually, the house served as a dorm. Around 2004, Dr. Donnan’s home on the hill was moved down Tigerville Road to make room for the new student center. His old house now sits across the street from Tigerville Elementary School and looks a bit different than it did over 80 years ago.