Building a Vision: The Interesting Story Behind Davis College’s Origins

Can you believe that Davis College, originally located in Johnson City, New York, was established in just 78 days?

The journey began on April 10, 1900, when a 28-year-old evangelist named John A. Davis traveled to Elmira from Binghamton to speak at a revival meeting. He had just returned home from Hazleton, PA when he received a telegram stating that Evangelist Charles Barrett had lost his voice and was unable to continue conducting revival meetings. Barrett asked for John A. Davis to come and speak on his behalf.

At the revival meeting, John spoke on the two foundations, the Wise Man who built his house on the rock, and the Foolish Man who built on the sand, from the Sermon on the Mount.

After the meeting, a woman handed him an envelope that contained a dollar bill and a note that read, "I am a poor wash woman, earning my living by washing and scrubbing, but somehow feel that the Lord wants you to do some special work, and whatever it is, take this dollar and use it for whatever God lays on your heart." This was the confirmation Davis needed to pursue his vision of starting a Bible School on the East Coast, similar to the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

Davis rented a room above Lestershire Home Furnishing in Lestershire, now Johnson City, and within 78 days, the first classes of what would become Practical Bible Training School were being held on the corner of Main and Arch Streets.

The inaugural session started on Tuesday, June 27, 1900, with evening classes held on Monday, Thursday, and Friday nights, concluding on Friday, August 17. John A. Davis shared his knowledge with 105 students from six different denominations, covering subjects like How to Use the Bible, Bible Book Summary, Evangelistic Work, and Introductory Studies in Bible Doctrine.

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The closing service on August 20 was held at the Lestershire Methodist Episcopal Church (now Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church) and it was a significant moment. Under the guidance of Reverend Edward Taylor, pledges totaling $1,279 were raised towards a permanent school building, estimated to cost $8,000.

Following the success of the summer classes, a second series of evening classes took place from November 19-30 at the Lestershire Methodist Episcopal Church and Lestershire Baptist Church, attracting 160 eager students. These classes were led by Reverend R. A. Torrey, the distinguished dean of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

After outgrowing its original location, Practical Bible Training School relocated to a 30-acre property overlooking the Susquehanna River that was previously home to the White City Amusement Park. The school was renamed Practical Bible College in 1993 and eventually became Davis College in 2004.

In just 78 days, John A. Davis demonstrated his unwavering commitment to establishing an institution that has impacted the lives of thousands. Though no longer located in Johnson City, the 124-year-old legacy of Davis College continues as the school now operates from a piece of land on the campus of Word of Life Bible Institute in Schroon Lake, in New York's Adirondacks.