Young Harris College

History & Fun Facts

• •History Origins The school was founded in 1886 by Artemas Lester, a circuit-riding Methodist minister who wanted to provide the residents of the Appalachian Mountains with an education.
• •Originally known as McTyeire Institute for the small village where the school was located, the college struggled for the first year until an Athens judge, Young L.
• •The school was later renamed Young Harris Institute and became Young Harris College in honor of its benefactor, as was the surrounding town in 1895.
• •A fire destroyed the college's main classroom building in 1911, but it was rebuilt by local townspeople and named Sharp Hall in honor of the college president at the time.
• •The Young Harris Academy was founded in the late 19th century and provided a primary education for thousands of students until it closed after World War II.