Saga of the Sanpitch Volume 13, 1981 - Sanpete County

The Academy was designed to teach what was essential to their pioneer existence, to make up for the
absence of education in many of their lives, and to build a foundation for further education for the young. It
began "upstairs in the building now part of the Hermansen Mill at Main and First North Street...The school
room... was lighted by hanging coal-oil lamps." 7 It was one room with a stage where shows, dances and
programs were held. The stage and the large room were used as classrooms, separated by a canvas curtain.
Two stoves heated the room and the stage. 8
Hunger for learning soon made more space necessary. In 1896 the one-room North Ward School House
was secured.* After it was repaired, new school furniture was provided at a cost of $300, 9 raised by donations.
Later another room was added to serve as an office and a classroom when necessary. Still students were
turned away. When the Commercial Department was begun, it was housed on the second floor of the
Progress Market (west side of Main Street between Center Street and First North); the dressmaking
department was on the second floor over the Ephraim Market (the east side of Main Street between Center
Street and First South). 10
They had found ready-made space, scattered, but usable; but finances were always a critical problem.
From 1888 to 1900 the Academy was financed by tuition, assessments, and donations. Tuition in 1888 was so
low it seems startling today: Preparatory Department, per term $4.00; Intermediate Department, per term
$6.00. 11 During 1895» tuition served as the sole source of revenue. The five teachers willingly responded,
receiving only the little tuition paid by students. Karl G. Maeser, Church Commissioner of Education, said their
service would be credited to the teachers as a mission. 12
Again in 1898 the Church made no appropriation; consequently, teachers left for other positions.
Noyes, determined the school would not close, hired three 1898 graduates from the Academy to teach for a
pittance—William G. Barton and Thomas A. Beal (Henry Beal's son). Barton's total salary for three years was
$1,200. His training was less than a high school education! l3 Interesting entries from Noyes' Diary show the
precarious financial condition they were in: "Through an oversight the General Church Board has not made an
appropriation for our Academy," he wrote in 1898. "Teachers received only part of their pay." They sold the
Academy's piano to pay John Johnson (a teacher) so he "might meet some of his *Later it was called the North
Ward Chapel, pressing obligations." 14 The piano had been purchased earlier that year with proceeds from a
concert by H. E. Giles and an opera he produced. 15 in 1900, Noyes "secured a loan of $150 for M. E.
Christopherson. He will purchase a piano for the amount and for the favor will allow the Academy the free use
of the instrument this year..." l6 Another time when the school was about to be closed for lack of funds, E. C.
Willardson bought one of the school's pianos for $600, and the school was able to carry on. 17 Custodial work
became part of the educational program. "The financial condition of the Academy will not justify employing
Brother Larson (the janitor) any longer," wrote Noyes. "I will have to do most of the work. Brother T. A. Beal
will make fires in the Business Department." 18 According to Fannie Thompson, the students helped: "Our
physical education consisted of doing janitorial work. Two girls remained after school each night and did the
sweeping and dusting... The boys hauled the wood from the mountains, sawed and cut it, which was the only
fuel then used, made the fires and kept them replenished, took down and cleaned the stove pipes when
necessary, and helped the girls when their services were needed in moving benches." 19
In spite of their financial difficulties in the bleak year of 1898 they had the courage and foresight to
plan for a new building largely financed by assessments and donations of money, labor and materials. At a
meeting on January 21, 1899, "the reports of the financial canvassing committee were read. The people of
Ephraim have subscribed $7,400 for the erection of the New Academy ." 20 The first contribution given was $45
by the students themselves .21 On Sunday, March 24, 1901, President Beal suggested that the sisters of the
North and the South Stakes* give the Sunday eggs to the Academy. The story has it that the hens put forth
special effort on these days. 22 in the northern Stake, the deacons collected weekly nickel funds—five cents
from each member of every family that could possibly pay. 23
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