| Description |
Weber Stake Academy first opened its doors for instruction at the LDS Second Ward Meeting House on the corner of 26th Street and Grant Avenue on January 7, 1889. The academy's two teachers, Louis F. Moench and Edwin Cutler, welcomed nearly one hundred students on the first day, and, by the end of its first term, 195 students in all had registered for the school. This monograph depicts the role the LDS church and its leaders played in founding the school, the background of its first educators and administrators and the financial challenges they confronted in operating the school from 1889 through 1894. Letters of appreciation for Louis F. Moench and a bibliography of primary sources are also provided. |
| OCR Text |
Show 38 The Board of Education met again at the Court House on June 29, 1890. A finance committee was appointed at this meeting consisting of President Lewis W. Shurtliff, Charles F. Middleton, and Nils C. Flygare. They were instructed to call to their aid any whom they wished. A building committee was also appointed at this time, consisting of Nils C. Flygare, Joseph Stanford and Bishop Thomas J. Stevens. The following men were added to the finance committee: Charles C. Richards, Bishop Edwin Stratford of the Fourth Ward, Frank J. Cannon, Benjamin S. Rich, Bishop Zacharias Ballantyne, bishop of West Weber, Thomas Ballantyne, Daniel Hamer, Louis F. Moench, Isaac L. Clark, David McKay, board member and bishop of Huntsville, Joseph Perry, Nathan Tanner and Thomas D. Dee. Charles F. Middleton says: At this meeting of the Stake Board of Education we decided to commence the erection of the Stake Academy to cost about $20,000 to $30,000 on a lot we had purchased from the widow of James Dinsdale. The Board adjourned the meeting to the lot to ascertain the position upon which to locate the building. It was resolved to place it 60 feet back.1 The Board of Education met again at the Court House. This was on July 6, 1890, where William H. Fife presented his plans which were thoroughly discussed, but no action was taken. Another meeting was held a week later and Samuel Whitaker was instructed "to prepare a plan for a two-story building instead of a three and to give an estimate.'2 Undoubtedly the plan of William H. Fife called for a three-story edifice. Two weeks later, July 28, 1890, the Board of Education held a meeting to award contracts. The Anderson Company offered the lowest bids. On the following Monday, "in consequence of the Anderson Company not being able to find bondsmen, other parties were again given the privilege to bid, and Monday next was set for the opening of the bids."3 The summer of 1890 was a busy one for the Board of Education of the Weber Stake. The Stake Tabernacle could not be used and there was valuable school furniture in the building. On August 8 and 9 Louis F. Moench was at the Tabernacle helping to remove the desks and tables and other material which belonged to the Board. This furniture was valuable and may have been taken to the Fifth Ward Educational Institute which was in the course of construction and nearly completed, or it may have been stored for future use in the Academy building when completed. One may be assured that it was well taken care of. 1. Historical Record of Charles F. Middleton, Vol. Ill, June 29, 1890. 2. Historical Record of Louis F. Moench, p. 252. 3. Idem., p. 251. |
