Belle Plain College [Stereograph]
Name/Title
Belle Plain College [Stereograph]Description
Appears to be a one-of-a-kind, handmade stereoview with photographic images mounted on thick cut down paper board. Attributed to Swafford & Swafford (& Son) of Baird, Texas, as these cards came with other Baird, Texas stereoviews made by Swafford. Handwritten on back, "Ole town of Belle Plains / now a ghost town 8 miles South / of Baird Tex on Seale Ranch."Context
Founded in 1881 by the Methodist Church, enrollment reached a peak of 300 and students attended from throughout the region. The college developed a superior course of study with special strength in music. It had an orchestra and a brass band. A girl’s dormitory was built soon after founding and in 1885 a 3-story stone building was erected. School also had a military branch in town. Pupils wore blue and gray uniforms. Both college and community declined simultaneously after the town lost both county seat and many citizens to Baird in 1883.Category
Texas in Focus
Bayou Bend