Morehead State University

Frank Button and his mother, Phebe Button, came to Morehead in 1887 with one goal — to help educate the people who survived the terrible feud here between the Martin and Tolliver families. The Rowan County War divided the community so deeply that many people fled, never to return. When the Buttons started teaching elementary classes at Morehead Normal School in October 1887, only one orphan child attended on the first day.

It was a meager beginning to the school that would later become a state university.

By the end of November 1887, there were 22 students at the school, which was formed under the auspices of the Christian Church.

The first classroom building, Hargis Hall, was built in 1889 on land donated by Thomas F. Hargis, a former Confederate officer. Hargis Hall was joined by three other buildings: Hodson Hall, Withers Hall and Burgess Hall.

In 1922, Morehead Normal School became Morehead State Normal School. And 1930, the school’s name changed to Morehead State Teachers College. The school thrived until World War II, when many students and faculty left to join the war effort. Its saving grace was the U.S. Navy, which contracted with the college from 1942 to 1944 to train future war technicians in electronics. The Navy sailors were known as Bluejackets during their stay, but also as the college’s rescuers.

In 1966, Morehead State Teachers College became Morehead State University.

The most recent school of study is the Space Science Program. Dr. Benjamin Malphrus started the program in a small house on Fifth Street. It is now housed in the Space Science Center, located on the eastern end of campus near the football stadium.