"The district's ties to the educational institutions of Fulton also went beyond the teachers and former students who lived in the district. Two buildings associated with one of Fulton's oldest, though now defunct, private schools are contributing resources in the district. Synodical College traces its history to the Fulton Female Seminary, established in Fulton by Rev. William Robertson in 1850. Robertson also served as pastor for the Fulton Presbyterian Church. When Robertson left town, he closed the school. In 1869, a group of Fulton citizens lobbied the Synod of Missouri to open a women's college in Fulton, the Synod agreed to the plan in 1871. To secure the school, Fulton's citizens pledged $16,500 and four acres of land for the campus. By 1872, Synodical College began construction of their first building. The building served both as classroom and dormitory. The college prospered and was on the verge of expanding when it abruptly closed in 1928.One of the two remaining buildings, 103 E. 10th St., was constructed in 1913 and was mentioned in Fulton Missouri: Past and Present Progress and Prosperity published in 1912. The booklet noted: For the session of 1912, the college shows the largest enrollment that has been known for a quarter of a century and the plans for a much enlarged plant are now being completed. This will include a new dormitory, a gymnasium, swimming pool, and all other features found in the most modern colleges for girls.
The other Synodical College building was constructed c. 1900 as West Hall. Originally an ltalianate style building with lantern at the crest of the roof, the building's exterior was extensively altered about the time of the school's closing in 1928. The current facade reflects the influence of the Tudor Revival style and was likely redone when the building was converted to a hotel c.1930. Both West Hall and the 1913 building now house the Seminole Apartments. The apartments likely took their name from the Synodical College yearbook which was called the "The Seminole." The girls who attended the schools were often referred to as "Semmies"
The Seminole Apartments, originally Synodical College's West Hall, was extensively remodeled c. 1930 to house a hotel. The exterior was resurfaced with new brick and stuccoed half timbering in the gables. The roof was reconfigured from a low-pitched hip to a steeply pitched cross gable. Oriel windows, rusticated stone accents, and stone chimneys were added to give the building the look of an English Tudor manor house.
101 East 10th Street (C)
Original Historic owner or Name: Synodical College/Seminole Apartments; Construction
Date: c. 1900/1930; Property type/style: Tudor Revival; Architect/Builder: unknown;
Outbuilding: N/A
This large L-shaped apartment building began its life as a multipurpose institutional building with ltalianate details. After Synodical College closed in 1928, the building was expanded and substantially remodeled. The two-story building has a steeply pitched hipped roof covered in clay tile. The main entrance has a pavilioned stone doorway with battlements and arch door surround molded belt course cutting the door area in half. Other Tudor Revival features include half timbering and stucco in the gable ends, stone accents,
projecting oriel windows, and large chimneys.
103 East 10th Street (C)
Original/Historic owner or Name: Synodical College Dormitory/Seminole Apartments;
Construction Date: 1913; Property type/Style: N/A; ArchitecVBuilder: unknown; Outbuilding:
N/A
This three story apartment building began its life as East Hall, and dormitory and dining room for Synodical College. The large brick building has a hipped roof with projecting bays at the east and west ends of the facade. The facade is symmetrical with a central entrance flanked by evenly spaced windows. Between the projecting bays is a multi-story porch with prick piers on the first floor and Tuscan columns on the second.
This was East Hall (dormitory and dining room) of Synodical College. Synodical College and Conservatory of Music for Young Ladies was a part of the Presbyterian Church Synod from 1873-1 928. The first building for the school was built in 1873. The campus later had three main buildings, two of which survive as the Seminole Apartments, named after the Synodical school yearbook, "The Seminole". A picket fence surrounded the well-kept campus and a gazebo and lawn tennis court was a part of the landscape. A rivalry existed between Synodical College and William Woods College (also a school for girls). Sunday mornings would find a parade of girls on each side of Court Street making their way to church, the William Woods girls on the west side and Synodical girls on the east."
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