St. Paul’s College, founded in 1888, has put out the “for sale” sign.
The financially strapped school in Lawrenceville, Va., that shut down last year is now listed with Motley’s Auction and Realty Group for a sealed bid auction of its buildings and acreage. Bids will be accepted through March.
St. Paul’s administration desperately sought ways to keep the school open, including talks with St. Augustine’s University of Raleigh, N.C., of a merger-acquisition. When that partnership of the two Historically Black Colleges and Universities could not be worked out last May, St. Paul’s prepared for closure even as it clung to hopes of another last-minute lifeline.
It named Millard D. “Pete” Stith Jr., as its executive administrator last July after having 56 students get degrees in its final graduating class. Stith was named president last December even as the school had no students or accreditation.
Alumni and supporters of the college are hoping that at least the name can at least live on, perhaps if the school becomes a satellite campus as expansion of another college or university.
