Becoming Piedmont
In the early 1900s, there was a large draw to the Demorest area from many northern Congregationalists. This new influx of Congregationalists brought many highly educated people into the college circle. One of these new residents was John Charles Campbell, who would be come the second president of Piedmont. Campbell came to Demorest to serve as principal of the preparatory portion of the J.S. Green College. When Spence resigned due to health issues, Campbell was promoted.
Around the same time that Campbell became president, the board of trustees decided to sell the charter for the J.S. Green College to the Congregational churches, who elected all Congregationalists to the new board of trustees. With the changing of ownership came some controversy. It was believed at the time that the school was named after Jesse S. Green because of his religious affiliation with the Methodist church. The Congregationalists wanted the school to not be tied down to one religious association. So in 1903, the college was renamed Piedmont College after the area of Georgia in which it was located.
Read more about this topic: History Of Piedmont College