CHAPTER I The Founding of the School Early in the year 1888, President Wilford Woodruff wrote to several presidents of stakes suggesting the establishing of Stake Academies and Seminaries. There was a very general response to these letters. Seven stake academies opened in 1888, and three more in 1889. Upon receipt of this letter, President Lewis W. Shurtliff of the Weber Stake called a meeting of the High Council on September 10, 1888, to consider the matter. On September 19, 1888, the Weber Stake Board of Education was organized with the following members: Lewis W, Shurtliff, Charles F. Middleton, Nils C. Flygare, Joseph Stanford, Robert McQuarrie, Louis F. Moench, Thomas J. Stevens, and David McKay. Lewis W. Shurtliff was named President, Joseph Stanford, Secretary, and Robert McQuarrie was named Treasurer. Louis F. Moench at the time was serving in the Swiss and German Mission. He was well known as an educator, having taught successfully in Salt Lake City, in the University of Utah, in Brigham City, as a teacher and superintendent in the Ogden City Schools, and as Superintendent of the Weber County Schools. He was the choice for principal of the proposed Weber Stake Academy. It was understood that he was soon to be released from his missionary labors. Professor Moench, as he was commonly called, returned to Ogden December 10, 1888. A meeting of the Board of Education was held on December 19, 1888, at which meeting he was appointed principal of the Academy, and January 13 1889, was set as the opening date for the school. On December 27, 1888, a