Audrey Rochester, Shawndre’ Young

Stuart-Bennett Hall has historical significance for the University. Initially called McDonald Hall, the building opened in 1941 as an all-girls dormitory. At the time McDonald Hall first opened, Southern Wesleyan University was known as Central Wesleyan College.

One major event that Stuart-Bennett, formerly McDonald Hall, is known for is the fire which occurred on December 7 of  1962. This fire led to the tragic deaths of two female Central Wesleyan students, Myrna Jean Stuart and Crystal Fern Bennett. Both girls were in the first semester of their freshman year.

The fire began in the closet of a student named Carolyn Mattern at around 1:30 in the morning. The fire was caused due to frayed electrical wiring in the wooden building. In addition, there were no sprinklers in McDonald Hall. However, the College was not liable. Students and faculty rushed out of the building and into the cold night to escape the fire. During the event faculty members warned students to grab as many coats as they could due to the extreme cold weather.

Somewhere in the confusion and chaos, it was discovered that two girls, Myrna and Crystal, were missing. Students tried to wake them by tossing soda bottles at their windows; students also tried re-entering the building to look for them, and even climbing up the fire escape to reach them. Crystal’s brother, Gordon, also tried to save her, but it was too late. Also, while the building went up in flames, many students and staff members prayed in the chapel for the well-being of Myrna and Crystal. The smell of smoke was upon the students as they prayed for divine intervention. The fire was eventually put out the next morning. The two girls were found in their beds in the floor below their rooms that afternoon. They died of smoke inhalation before the fire reached them.

Myrna Stuart was originally from New York state, and moved to Doraville, Georgia before attending Central Wesleyan College. She was only 17 years old. Crystal Bennett was from Aumsville, Oregon, 2200 miles away from Central, SC. Crystal was tall, friendly, and confident. She dreamed of being a missionary after she graduated from college. The current Stuart-Bennett building is named after these two students.

 Nearby institutions such as Jantzen in Seneca, Bob Jones University, and Winthrop University donated clothes and furniture to Central Wesleyan College after the fire. Due to the fire, students were sent home early for Christmas break and exams were postponed. 

When the students arrived back on campus, some of them had to stay with faculty members an in apartments near the campus. It was an emotional time for everyone who attended the College. Dr. Paul Wood was dean of students and a psychologist at the time. He significantly impacted the students by helping them cope after the incident. He told everyone that the students should have a day of fun and relaxation instead of work on the first day. He planned a big bonfire down at the College’s soccer field, so the female students wouldn’t be afraid of the fire. They roasted marshmallows and sang songs. Not only did this help the ladies cope with their fear of fire, but it brought the campus together as a family. 

Administrators at the school were extremely concerned about the future success of the College. They wondered if students would ever return and if the College would ever grow. Because of the news and the school’s devastation, many campus buildings were built in record time. The College built five new buildings over the next few years as a result of the news coverage and monetary donations received. What happened in McDonald Hall was a tragedy, but God allowed the school to grow in ways no one could ever imagine.

A new co-ed dormitory was opened under the name of Stuart-Bennett Hall in the fall of 1963, approximately one year after the tragic fire. Stuart-Bennett Hall was renovated in 1967, when two stories were added to the building. However, after a bat infestation in 2013, students evacuated the building. The bats first appeared on February 11 during spring break, but students did not leave until 9 days after on February 20. Piedmont Pest Control removed the bats and installed barriers to prevent future infestations. Despite no intention to move students back into the dorm after the event, Stuart-Bennett later reopened for housing purposes.

Today, Stuart-Bennett serves as an administrative building, housing various offices related to Southern Wesleyan University. The offices include financial aid, student accounts, and academic records. The School of Business also plans to expand their offices to Stuart-Bennett Hall. Professors in the School of Business will have a better workspace and private area. Southern Wesleyan University expanded and found immense success both financially and in size. Some of the new buildings include Mullinax Hall, on-campus apartments, Newby Education building, and Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center. Renovations were made to Freedom’s Hill Church and Nicholson-Mitchell. Freedom’s Hill Church is a historical site that is occasionally used for weddings and other events. Nicholson-Mitchell used to be the Alive Wesleyan Church but now serves as a building for religion classes. Child’s Hall was present during the fire and is a part of Southern Wesleyan’s history. It is now in the process of renovation and is accepting donations. 

Stuart-Bennett Hall, formerly known as McDonald Hall, has played a huge role since it was built in 1941. It has housed numerous students over the years. The fire that started in the building affected those at Southern Wesleyan University for years afterward. Stuart-Bennett has influenced students and faculty throughout the years, and will continue to impact those at Southern Wesleyan University for years to come.

References:

Black, Robert E. How Firm a Foundation. Southern Wesleyan University, 2006.