| 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 ERRATA Beginnings of Weber Stake Academy (Weber College) The school opened January 7, 1889, with two teachers: Louis F. Moench And Edwin Cutler. Reference: (a) Minutes of the First Day signed by Louis F. Moench (b) Dr. Kerr's History of the Weber Stake Academy, page 13 (c) Dr. Terry's Items of Early History, the name is given as Edwin C. Cutler. (I do not know where I picked up the "C") On the number of students at the opening of the school, Prof. Moench in his minutes of the first day says "nearly one hundred". Dr. Kerr found 97 and Dr. Terry gives the number as 98. Two weeks after the opening of the school, Lorenzo Waldrum, Jr., came as a second-assistant teacher. Dr. Kerr in his "History" quotes Prof. Moench as saying, "The attendance increased to 150 students by January 21, so Nils C. Flygare and myself engaged Brother Lorenzo Waldrum as assistant." In Dr. Terry's "Items" the statement is made that on January 26, 1889, Lornezo Waldrum, Jr., was employed as an additional teacher. On the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Education, in the hand writing of Joseph Stanford and signed by him, we read under date of January 26, 1889; "Lorenzo 'Waldrum of North Ogden was engaged to act as second assistant to Prof. Moench". In the Historical Record of Weber Stake Academy written by Louis F. Moench (or at least signed Louis F. Moench) on page 9, we read: "Lorenzo Waldrum Jr., of North Ogden was employed as another assistant. He commenced on Monday, January 22, 1889". (This is an error. January 22, 1889 was Tuesday. He probably meant January 21 as given by Dr. Kerr). On the first retirement of Louis F. Moench as Principal of the Weber Stake Academy, Dr. Kerr states on page 55, "In His Life of Louis Frederick Moench" "Prof. Moench due to failing health caused by the years of strain as teacher and principal, resigned his principalship in June, 1892". The statement which has been made that Prof. Moench went on a mission to his native Germany at this time is incorrect. His mission to the Swiss and German Mission came before this. Returning from that mission, he reached Ogden on December 10, 1888. That is the reason why the first year of the Weber Stake Academy did not open until January 7, 1889, instead of some time in September, 1888. Wm. Z. Terry October 25, 1956 |
