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Saga of the Sanpitch Volume 13, 1981 - Sanpete County

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The Academy was designed to teach what was essential to <strong>the</strong>ir pioneer existence, to make up for <strong>the</strong><br />

absence <strong>of</strong> education in many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir lives, and to build a foundation for fur<strong>the</strong>r education for <strong>the</strong> young. It<br />

began "upstairs in <strong>the</strong> building now part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hermansen Mill at Main and First North Street...The school<br />

room... was lighted by hanging coal-oil lamps." 7 It was one room with a stage where shows, dances and<br />

programs were held. The stage and <strong>the</strong> large room were used as classrooms, separated by a canvas curtain.<br />

Two stoves heated <strong>the</strong> room and <strong>the</strong> stage. 8<br />

Hunger for learning soon made more space necessary. In 1896 <strong>the</strong> one-room North Ward School House<br />

was secured.* After it was repaired, new school furniture was provided at a cost <strong>of</strong> $300, 9 raised by donations.<br />

Later ano<strong>the</strong>r room was added to serve as an <strong>of</strong>fice and a classroom when necessary. Still students were<br />

turned away. When <strong>the</strong> Commercial Department was begun, it was housed on <strong>the</strong> second floor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Progress Market (west side <strong>of</strong> Main Street between Center Street and First North); <strong>the</strong> dressmaking<br />

department was on <strong>the</strong> second floor over <strong>the</strong> Ephraim Market (<strong>the</strong> east side <strong>of</strong> Main Street between Center<br />

Street and First South). 10<br />

They had found ready-made space, scattered, but usable; but finances were always a critical problem.<br />

From 1888 to 1900 <strong>the</strong> Academy was financed by tuition, assessments, and donations. Tuition in 1888 was so<br />

low it seems startling today: Preparatory Department, per term $4.00; Intermediate Department, per term<br />

$6.00. 11 During 1895» tuition served as <strong>the</strong> sole source <strong>of</strong> revenue. The five teachers willingly responded,<br />

receiving only <strong>the</strong> little tuition paid by students. Karl G. Maeser, Church Commissioner <strong>of</strong> Education, said <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

service would be credited to <strong>the</strong> teachers as a mission. 12<br />

Again in 1898 <strong>the</strong> Church made no appropriation; consequently, teachers left for o<strong>the</strong>r positions.<br />

Noyes, determined <strong>the</strong> school would not close, hired three 1898 graduates from <strong>the</strong> Academy to teach for a<br />

pittance—William G. Barton and Thomas A. Beal (Henry Beal's son). Barton's total salary for three years was<br />

$1,200. His training was less than a high school education! l3 Interesting entries from Noyes' Diary show <strong>the</strong><br />

precarious financial condition <strong>the</strong>y were in: "Through an oversight <strong>the</strong> General Church Board has not made an<br />

appropriation for our Academy," he wrote in 1898. "Teachers received only part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir pay." They sold <strong>the</strong><br />

Academy's piano to pay John Johnson (a teacher) so he "might meet some <strong>of</strong> his *Later it was called <strong>the</strong> North<br />

Ward Chapel, pressing obligations." 14 The piano had been purchased earlier that year with proceeds from a<br />

concert by H. E. Giles and an opera he produced. 15 in 1900, Noyes "secured a loan <strong>of</strong> $150 for M. E.<br />

Christopherson. He will purchase a piano for <strong>the</strong> amount and for <strong>the</strong> favor will allow <strong>the</strong> Academy <strong>the</strong> free use<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> instrument this year..." l6 Ano<strong>the</strong>r time when <strong>the</strong> school was about to be closed for lack <strong>of</strong> funds, E. C.<br />

Willardson bought one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> school's pianos for $600, and <strong>the</strong> school was able to carry on. 17 Custodial work<br />

became part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> educational program. "The financial condition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Academy will not justify employing<br />

Bro<strong>the</strong>r Larson (<strong>the</strong> janitor) any longer," wrote Noyes. "I will have to do most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> work. Bro<strong>the</strong>r T. A. Beal<br />

will make fires in <strong>the</strong> Business Department." 18 According to Fannie Thompson, <strong>the</strong> students helped: "Our<br />

physical education consisted <strong>of</strong> doing janitorial work. Two girls remained after school each night and did <strong>the</strong><br />

sweeping and dusting... The boys hauled <strong>the</strong> wood from <strong>the</strong> mountains, sawed and cut it, which was <strong>the</strong> only<br />

fuel <strong>the</strong>n used, made <strong>the</strong> fires and kept <strong>the</strong>m replenished, took down and cleaned <strong>the</strong> stove pipes when<br />

necessary, and helped <strong>the</strong> girls when <strong>the</strong>ir services were needed in moving benches." 19<br />

In spite <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir financial difficulties in <strong>the</strong> bleak year <strong>of</strong> 1898 <strong>the</strong>y had <strong>the</strong> courage and foresight to<br />

plan for a new building largely financed by assessments and donations <strong>of</strong> money, labor and materials. At a<br />

meeting on January 21, 1899, "<strong>the</strong> reports <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> financial canvassing committee were read. The people <strong>of</strong><br />

Ephraim have subscribed $7,400 for <strong>the</strong> erection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> New Academy ." 20 The first contribution given was $45<br />

by <strong>the</strong> students <strong>the</strong>mselves .21 On Sunday, March 24, 1901, President Beal suggested that <strong>the</strong> sisters <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

North and <strong>the</strong> South Stakes* give <strong>the</strong> Sunday eggs to <strong>the</strong> Academy. The story has it that <strong>the</strong> hens put forth<br />

special effort on <strong>the</strong>se days. 22 in <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn Stake, <strong>the</strong> deacons collected weekly nickel funds—five cents<br />

from each member <strong>of</strong> every family that could possibly pay. 23<br />

56

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