Since Roanoke College's move to Salem in 1847, the school and town had gained a reputation as an excellent place for young men (especially those of Lutheran faith) to gain a strong education. Women, however, were less fortunate - there was no place in Salem that would provide young women with higher education.
That changed in 1912, when the two Lutheran synods founded the Roanoke Woman's College, on this plot of land which had previously been part of both Andrew Lewis' and Nathaniel Burwell's estates. Classes began in October of 1912, taught at first in a town hotel until facilities were completed. Forty-two students made up the first class.
In 1915, Dr. Charles King, the president of Elizabeth College in Charlotte, North Carolina, approached the RWC with a suggestion of merging. King's school was failing financially, while the Salem school was suffering from a lack of supplies. Much of the Charlotte faculty moved to Salem, bringing a focus in fine arts and music. King also donated a significant amount of money, as well as the Charlotte school's library, art supplies, and science equipment to the Salem school. King even offered the name of his Charlotte facility. And within months, Salem suddenly found itself with a much more robust school for women, now named Elizabeth College.
But this grand school was short-lived, as a fire devastated the school on December 22nd, 1921, as the student body was home for holiday. The building was completely destroyed, along with supplies and books, and all the students' personal goods.
Salem pitched in to help the young ladies. Families across town opened their homes to give them places to live for the year; the Salem high school and Roanoke College provided classroom space to the Elizabeth College faculty. Unfortunately, in March of 1922, the synods announced they would not be able to fund reconstruction, and with that, Elizabeth College was officially closed at the end of the semester. In 1930, Roanoke College made the commitment to fill the gap left by the loss of EC, and opened its doors to female students.
The college property was turned over to the Lutheran Childrens' Home, which built new facilities (some of which are still standing), and operated from this site for many years. Eventually, the property was deeded to Roanoke College. The buildings here are now used for greek student housing and classrooms.