Graham guardian., 1899-03-24
THE ACADEMY.

Having received permissio
from the head of the Church (
/ organize church school in the s.
, Joseph Stake of Zion, Board o
} Education was appointed, Prest
Christopher Layton, Prest. W
d. Johnson, M. II. Merrill, William
Packer, Robert Welker, H. N
Chlarson, Jos. Foster, /. P. Rob
lnson Sen. and George W. William
mem hers.
After the organization of tn,
board, it began to organize anc
found an educational institution
for the purpose OF cultivating tn,
minds of both young and old peo
pie. After many efforts, the schoo
was founded in. Central, Graham
| Co., Ariz., aud called the st
Joseph Stake Academy, with JOY
w. Dunyon, of Utah as principal
the Misses Lulu Cluff and Eva
Rogers assisted in the teaching
and persued different studies.
Though tie educational germ that
was planted would have many op.
pressions and downfalls, 1t was
destined to become great educa.
tional institution.
The start was very fair, eighty
pupils OF all grades, from the pri-
mary up to the academic, were en-
rolled most of these comiug from
Layton and Thatcher. The school
was established IN small brick
house. Things were very ineon-
venient, only one room which had
TO be used for study and recitation
ut the same time. Some of the
pupils were obliged to walk from
Thatcher and other place and they
deemed II a great privilege to at
tend the school. The school con
vened IN Ger trail about two months
aud was then removed 10 Thatcher
in an old adobe church house
which was situated west of W. w.
PAGES residence. With all the
changes and hardships the pupils,
teachers and board which consti-
tuted the school, had undergone,
u thirst for knowledge had been
iustilled into their minds which il
would be impossible to quench;
and thus ended the first academic
year, May 22nd 1891. II seemed
as though Thatcher was to be per-
manant resting place for the Acad-
envy. How fair and brigh. was the
dawn Of the second year! The
suns warm rays kissed the golden
leaves Of autumn and reelected
their brightness from the dignified
mountain crests, and it seemed as
though Dame Nature intended
that all things should be crowned
with success. On such fair morn
ing the pupils met in the TWO front
rooms of the present building;
there were old and new pupils
present, greeted by new teachers,
Geo. CIutf of UIah, was principal
assisted by the Messrs. John and
Geo. Birdno as teachers. Every
thiny promised to produce good
results-and why should 1t noti
Three teachers, seventy-four pu,
pills, and as bright prospect as
the sun ever shown upon.
Eevery thing glIded along
smoothly, then came the summer
vacation. In 1892 Sept. 18th, be-
gan the third academic year, Bro,
Geo. Cluff still officiating as prin
cipal but was assisted by his sister
Mrs. Ella Birdno. The attendance
was good, seventy-tbree pupils.
The teachers took hold and exer-
c,sed their energy and strength to
add to and build on the already
we'll established interest and work
with evergrowing interest in the
educational advancement the
school continued and the second
term closed April l4th, 1892. The
fourth academic year began Oct.
9th 1898. The board was forum
ate enough to procure the aid of
ThOs. Il. Williams to assist princi
pal Geo. Cluff. The roll swelled
TO 100 pupils, the school was very
crowded. The spirit Of love and
kindness was made master Of the
school. If you had chanced TO
step into the lower southeast room
you would have been greeted by
the oder of newly made mollasses
and spied five gallon can full sit
ung in the corner; hay, grain, vege
tables, anything that could be us
cd by the faculty, was accepted in
payment for admits. | well re
member seeing our girls in plain
giugham and calico dresses and
wearing the same dresses TO parties
Youug men were dressed IN over.
ails and No. z shOddy coats anu
eolored shirts. We could see the
teachers shoes nicely polished
WITH holes shining IN the toes, All
these things could be plainly seen,
yet, not once did they falter in
their noble endeavor, l remember
prin. CIuff relating the story OF
the Doyhood Of Daniel Webster, the
great statesman, how he attended
school barefooted, wore no memadt
jeans pants, straps of cloth worn
rs suspenders; and corpurS coIored
| a,,,,, shi,, nanial sat hpsida th,