Hunt clubs as in riding to the hounds aka fox hunting. But no real foxes killed today.
http://www.lynchburgliving.com/2010/07/thrill-of-the-chase-foxhunting-tradition-thrives-in-our-area/
Maybe I conceded my error too early. As Randolph-Macon Woman’s College changed its name to Randolph College, it may have been, for one brief, shining moment, Randolph-Macon College.
@barrons, if there is a nice part of Lynchburg we were unable to find it on our trip to Sweet Briar and we devoted an evening to looking for it. Yes, there’s a strip mall near Liberty with a Sheetz gas station and a whole lot of Chick Fila, and there appears to be something that’s in process near the riverfront, but the rest of it looked grim to us. You can tell me that that isn’t true and that I"m misinformed but I’m telling you that as a prospective SBC parent, what I saw was a strip mall, a lot of abandoned buildings, some construction and it didn’t feel safe. I didn’t want my daughter walking around downtown Lynchburg. I understand why the Liberty students probably don’t venture beyond the strip mall. The existence of ritzy suburbs isn’t really very important to students considering where to spend the next four years. I went to Wellesley and frankly I was expecting the town of Wellesley. Lynchburg is not that.
@barrons I only drove “past” Lynchburg once on our way to the beach last September. I only saw the vast sprawl of Liberty from our travel on Route 460; and, like you said there are some small shopping areas directly off the exits. Next trip through (not sure when that will be), I’d like to drive through Lynchburg (maybe even find out where Lynchburg College is situated), and if I feel more adventurous I’ll travel further north and see where SBC is located. My D goes to college in Roanoke so we may travel through that way ocassionally.
Sorry… I meant to reply to @Momzie
The reason I asked about Randolph College was that they went through a major change in 2007 when facing challenges not unlike Sweet Briar. Historically, there was an all-male Randolph-Macon College, and Randolph-Macon Women’s College was formed as a counterpart. Randolph-Macon College went co-ed in 1971, which meant that when RMWC wanted to go co-ed, there was already a coed college with that name. Hence, it became Randolph College. There was a big controversy when it was announced that the college would sell some paintings from its art gallery in order to raise money.
Thanks, @Hunt. I was interested in that type of context, which cannot easily be looked up. Brandeis also created a similar plan to sell their art a few years ago, I believe on a large scale, but there was enough opposition that I don’t think they went through with it.
I suspect more was discussed and vetted about closing the school and deciding what becomes of various property than has been revealed. The actual process could take years. You talk about selling art- and some holdings at SB were alum donations that may have their own wording about what happens if. As I understood it, the aegis was the “institute” and the school and farm fell under that. The equestrian aspects may similarly be a separate pillar. The will says the cemetery must be maintained, which seems to me to require it’s own future endowment (?) I believe there are historic Black Walnut groves in the hills that are protected and have to be preserved. I suspect VCCA was rolled out years ago, but don’t know. The board had to have considered the magnitude of what shutting down really means. Certainly, we hope they did. Then I see this:
The school already went to court, decades ago, to deal with the original “white girls” clause.
^^^ Which could account for their decision to shut down now before every last unrestricted penny was gone.
The entire west side of Lyncburg (far from LU) is very nice with many grand older homes and quiet tree heavy streets. Just go to Randolph College and start exploring Rivermont/Boonsboro and street running off those major roads. Use Google Earth. I know it might surprise some but driving thru one side of town is not very thorough. Virtually all southern towns have a poor side, a rich side and the larger middle part. Not as uniform as some Boston burbs. I used to live on the North Shore of Chicago–I know uniform old suburbs too.
Or take a ride down my street. But watch out for the walkers and runners.
Nearly all poor areas have McMansions.
More
Trents Ferry Rd.
Coffee Road
Near Randolph College
Can’t believe this has turned into a rag on Lynchburg.
I think it helps if one can understand old southern culture and how the demographics came to be, what vestiges remain. Plus what’s out in the broader community. Not everywhere is shiny new suburban tracts, new cars, a sort of rat race. I personally don’t get open criticism of towns/areas we really don’t know, from ground level, day to day. Especially when so many cities have issues.
I think that Barron’s points and images about what rural and small(ish) cities look like in 2015 are well-taken. They might not have a modern shopping strip or mall on every corner with the mandatory Starbucks, but have plenty of charm on their own. In the end, it is hard to understand why a student who is attracted by the bucolic life at college and wants to chase foxes might be disappointed by the small town of Amherst and the larger Lynchburg.
It is what it is.
I am often quite amused by how people perceive different areas. Lots of people used to no sidewalk suburbs and large lots find many campuses scary that seem perfectly fine to me.
Those street shots of Lynchburg just look so drab. Could be anywhere in the Midwest.
Each to their own. I love late 1800’s early1900’s non cookie-cutter custom built homes with 100% real quality brick and slate roofs. Mature trees and quiet streets. No it’s not LA or Miami and why would it be? It’s Virginia and we love our brick and wood trim like Mr J taught everyone. He even built his get-away home near town. And houses built 100 years ago dont qualify as McMansions. They are the real deal. It would cost too much to duplicate for sale today. Not many homes today have real handcut slate roofs, full interior details and wet plaster walls.
@barrons, did you just pass your real estate exam? 
j/k … I agree those old homes are lovely. I’d hate to pay the utilities on them though!
I find it a bit ironic but nonetheless amusing that ads for Sweet Briar College are still popping up as I read this thread.
@barrons - thanks for making me miss Lynchburg 
I moved a few years ago - lived behind where Tom Jones “used to be” This is a very different part of town that, due to the way the roads are layed out, many visitors won’t stumble across. 29 and 460 corridors really don’t do the town justice.
For the sake of discussion this right at the corner of Randolph College (formerlly RMWC)
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.435063,-79.171353,3a,75y,310.57h,89.58t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sNhG81H6JVWzgkjRapxrSjQ!2e0
Could SBC have survived here? Probably not since RMWC could not.