56 In I897 the new dormitory for boys was finally completed.55 It was financed almost entirely by members of the North Carolina Conference. They raised the money, in their words, by 1'putting our own mites to- gether.“56 The Freedmen's Aid and Southern Education Society, having incurred heavy indebtedness, had contributed only $300.00 by the begin~ ning of l896, according to a letter from Chavis to the secretary of the .Society. This was the only amount to have come from outside the con— ference. In the same letter Chavis said that almost $2,000.00 had been - spent on the building,57 Chavis later described the struggle to erect this'building: The present five-story brick building for young men was erected under great embarrassment and personal sacrifice.

Not because we were able, but because it was impossible to continue our good work without it, did we undertake

this,§rduous task and put our shoulders under such a bur- den.5

Carolina Hall, as it was later known, contained a large basement, 28 dormitory rooms, and a chapel capable of seating 500 people.59 The mem= bers of the North Carolina Conference wanted “to put in heat,"60 but until that time, the boys' dormitory, just as the girls' dormitory, was

55The Christian Educator, February=March, 1896, p. 38, in John» son, 22. Ei£°’ pp. 443wh44.

56

N. C. Conference, Minutes, I897, p. 46.

57The Christian Educator, FebruarymMarch,‘1896, p. 38, in Johnm son, SE“ 313., pp. 4h3-h44.

58

Bennett College, Annual Catalogue, 1900, p. 5. 59N. C. Conference, Minutes, 1897, p. 46; Bennett College, Ann nual Catalogue, l900, p. 35. _—

60N. C. Conference, Minutes, 1897, P. 46.