In the village of Daleville a "Select" school was started for the children of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Nininger and Mr. and Mrs. George Layman, Jr. The school opened in Sept., 1890 in a small one-story house near the Nininger home. Before winter came, however, the school was moved to a large upper room over the kitchen and dining room of the Nininger home. Professor I.N.H. Beahm was lured away from the Roanoke City School System to teach the select school of 12 pupils. The second session was conducted in a room over the kitchen and dining room of the George Layman, Jr. home.

Many Dunkard families became interested in the school by the time the first school year ended. Applications for admittance were received in such numbers that a two-story building was built in 1891 on land donated by Benjamin F. Nininger. This was the beginning of the school first known as Botetourt Normal School which evolved into Daleville College and during the waning years, Daleville Academy. Seventy- three pupils were enrolled the first year and three additional teachers were employed to assist Professor Beahm.
From: "Places Near the Mountains" by Prillaman