DuBose Conference Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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DuBose Conference Center or DuBose Church Training Center
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DuBose Memorial Church Training School, November 2014.
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 635 College Street, Monteagle, Tennessee |
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1924 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival |
| MPS | Grundy County MRA (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003802 |
| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1980 |
The DuBose Conference Center is a special place in Monteagle, Tennessee. It used to be called the DuBose Memorial Church Training School. This historic site was once a training and meeting spot for the Episcopal Church, a type of Christian church.
Since 2009, the DuBose Conference Center has been an independent, non-profit organization. This means it's run by a group that doesn't make money for itself, but uses it to help others. Today, it's a popular spot for camps, conferences, and retreats in Middle Tennessee. Its goal is to "offer hospitality, programming, and sacred space to groups of all faiths and backgrounds for education, creativity, and renewal." This means they welcome everyone for learning, creating, and relaxing.
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History of DuBose Conference Center
Fairmount College: The Early Years (1872-1921)
The story of DuBose Conference Center began in 1872. It was first known as Fairmount College. A Scottish preacher named John Moffatt helped start the college. He worked with Oliver Maybee to convince Mrs. Louise Yerger and Mrs. Harriet Kells to move their girls' school from Mississippi to Tennessee.
Fairmount College had some famous students! In 1910, two of the Soong Sisters studied there. One sister, Soong Mei-ling, later became known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek. The other, Soong Ching-ling, married Sun Yat-sen, a very important leader in China.
Later, Silas McBee became the principal of Fairmount College. He was known as an author and architect. McBee wanted the school to be a church institution, like a sister school to Sewanee, which was for young men.
DuBose Memorial Church Training School (1921-1944)
In 1921, Reverend William Stirling Claiborne and Dr. Mercer P. Logan started the DuBose Memorial Church Training School. They built it on the same land where Fairmount College used to be. This new school focused on practical learning. Students took courses like "The Bible in English" and "Church History." Many students lived at DuBose with their families. They even grew vegetables and raised cattle to help support the school.
The main building, Claiborne Hall, had to be rebuilt in 1924. This happened after a big fire destroyed the school's first wooden building.
DuBose Conference Center: Modern Era (1950s-Present)
In the early 1950s, the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee bought the school's buildings and land. They reopened it as the DuBose Conference Center. In 1953, a youth camp called Camp Gailor-Maxon found its permanent home at DuBose. This camp had been around since the 1920s.
The Diocese made many improvements to the center. They built four new cabins and a swimming pool. In 1958, a new outdoor pavilion was added for the growing Laymen’s Conference. Bishop's Hall, a hotel-style building for guests, was built in 1973. The "Stack Room" in the Pell Library Building was also expanded to create a larger chapel. In 1975, Camp Gailor-Maxon built an outdoor chapel and a campfire area. Four more cabins were also built for youth and camp groups.
The DuBose Conference Center was recognized as a historic place in 1980. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In the early 1990s, the center started inviting more groups to use its facilities. This included other church groups and non-religious organizations. This helped the center grow and serve more people.
In 2009, the center became a non-profit organization. It still works closely with the three Episcopal Dioceses in Tennessee. It is now managed by a Board of Directors with 21 members.
Two new programs have also started at DuBose. Winterfest began in 2006. It's a special event for high school students from Episcopal churches across Tennessee. In 2016, a farm-to-table garden was created. This led to a new program in 2019 called Healthy Roots. This program focuses on health and wellness for nearby communities in Grundy County, Franklin County, and Marion County.
DuBose Conference Center's Namesake
The DuBose Conference Center is named after William Porcher DuBose. He was an American priest, author, and theologian in The Episcopal Church. He married Mrs. Louise Yerger, who was the headmistress at Fairmount College. He also served as the school's chaplain.
While working at the little chapel in Monteagle and serving at Fairmount, Dr. DuBose wrote some of his most important books. After he retired in 1908, he wrote books like High Priesthood and Sacrifice, The Reason of Life, and his autobiography, Turning Points in My Life. These books made him known as a "major New Testament theologian." He continued to live at the school until he passed away in 1918.
