A Piece of Murray State History
By HOLLY WISE
Staff Writer
The Oakhurst home on Murray State University's campus has housed 10 university presidents since Dr. Rainey T. Wells' presidency began in 1926.
Those who know Murray and MSU history knows that leaves one university president and four years of governance unaccounted for.
MSU's first president was in 1922 and it was Dr. John W. Carr, who was elected president of Murray State Normal School by the State Board of Education on Nov. 26 of that year. Carr moved to Murray from Indiana with his wife, Rachel Ashcroft.
According to Barbara Brandon of Murray, who is Carr's great-niece, the former president bought what is actually the first president's home located on North 16th Street.
Passers-by and customers will recognize Carr's house as the former University Barber Shop.
Brandon lived in the house with her father, Glen Ashcroft, and mother while Rachel Ashcroft was an invalid, she said. Brandon's parents moved to Murray from Indiana to help care for her.
After Rachel died, Carr then married Mary Moss, an English teacher at Murray State Normal School.
Brandon's parents built and lived in what is now the Sigma Sigma Sigma house located at 1605 Miller St. However, when Carr's health began to deteriorate, Brandon said she and her parents moved back in with him.
For complete story, see today's Ledger & Times
Story created Aug 15, 2008 - 22:08:04 EDT.
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