The pines that dot the “Campus Beautiful” have long been a symbol of Concord University.  Pine groves provided shelter from harsh winter winds. Couples walked hand-in-hand through the pines going to and coming from classes or the library.

The pines were planted in the spring of 1915 as a wind break. In time the pines became the splendor of the campus and symbol of the university. (From the Pines)

Mr. Delford Lee Cottrill’s agriculture and botany classes obtained the trees and planted them.  When the Student Center Building was erected, some of the trees were cut.  The State Room and Alumni Lounge are paneled in lumber from these trees.

Professor of Geography, Emeritus, R.T. Hill penned Tall Grow the Pines:
Tall grow the pines, their branches weaving the wind into whispers;
Tall grow the pines, their needles scenting the air.
Dark green are the pines, and darker green their shadows,
Shading curving sidewalks and speckling red brick buildings.
Tall green trees, shaded curving walks and red brick buildings
This is a university campus, a place for learning,
This is the Campus Beautiful, Concord University.

A university is people who labor and plan and dream,
A university is for those who plan, who look into the future.
A university is for those who dare to hope for something better.
In looking towards the future, the past should not be forgotten.
For those who planted seedling pines planted the pines for us.
Those who dreamed of a greater university passed their hope on to us.