The Watauga Club met for the first time. The club was formed by progressive-minded young men who were investigating way to strengthen all aspects of North Carolina, including creation of an industrial school.
The Watauga Club successfully lobbies the North Carolina state legislature, with the sponsorship of Leazar Dixon, to pass a bill for an industrial school separate from the University of North Carolina's land scrip. The legislation doesn't mandate the school, however, and doesn't provide sufficient funding.
The speaker was Charles W. Dabney, member of the Watauga Club and President of the University of Tennessee.
Peele Hall was built by Hobart Brown Upjohn and named for William Joseph Peele, founder of the Watauga Club.
The speaker was Walter Hines Page, a member of the Watauga Club and editor of the Forum, World's Work, and Atlantic Monthly.
Watauga Hall, built by Charles W. Barrett, housed a dining hall, dorms, and kitchen. It was named for the Watauga Club, a club of young men who lobbied the State Legislature for the founding of State College.
Dabney Hall was built to house the Department of Chemistry and was named for Charles William Dabney, a charter member of the Watauga Club and a professor of Chemistry.
Page Hall was built by Hobart Brown Upjohn and named for Walter Hines Page, who was a member of the Watauga Club and instrumental in the founding of the college.
Farmers' organizations in the state of North Carolina, along with the Watauga Club and Colonel Leonidas Polk, successfully lobby the North Carolina state legislature to add an agriculture school to the proposed industrial school in Raleigh. This new school would not be affiliated with the University of North Carolina, and would thus be able to acquire and use the land scrip funds being received (but not used by) the University of North Carolina.
Murphy graduated with a B.S. in Agricultural Education. He later served in the North Carolina House of Representatives and the NC Senate. He was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the NC governor. In 1999 he received the Watauga Medal, NC State University's highest honor. He was a Wolfpack Club member for more than 50 years, and he served as president of its board of directors. The Murphy Football Center is named for him, and he made significant contributions to the athletics program. He was inducted into the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.
