Graham guardian., 1899-06-30
The Branch Academy.
TT. Cameron, June Is 1899

Ft. Cameron, June 10 1879
EDIToR GUARpIAN:-Since leav- Z
ing Arizona | have had the
beauties of our sunny south brought Y
more forcibly to my mind than
ever. On the 9th OF May there
was a snow storm In Utah. The
grain through the state is very
backward, being on an average OF
from three to six inches high and
alfalfa cutting will not begin till
the 6rst of July, the fruit crop is
very light, having been killed. by
the late frost. - |
i On the 9th inst, Prest. B. Cluff,
of the Brigham Young Academy,
! Prof. ]. c. Swenson, Miss Ella
Larson and myself left Provo for
Southern Utah to labor in the in.
terest of the Academy and attend
) the summer school of the Beaver
branch.
5 This branch Academy is located
9 at old Ft. Cameron about one and
\ half miles due east of Beaver
q City. About the year 1870, Judge
b c. M. Hawley, of the Second Judi
d cal District sent reports to con
n gress concerning the Mormons OF
IS this section calling 1t the Gibraltar
n of Church felons. The result was
s. that in March of 1878 fort was
'e erected at an expense of nearly
l. 100000 to the United States
r. Government. The site was select
ID ed by Col. Forsyth and was first
IN occupied as a military post by
te Col. Wilkins with four companies
T, of the eighth regiment of Arizona
n Regulars in May of 1878. Nine
tn years after, there having been no
n uprising on the part Of the Nor
RS mons, the authorities at Washing
&c ton ordered the fort abandoned
n and in April 1882 it was vacated
ne and for sixteen years the beauti
e. full buildings were left exposed to
A. wind and weather with only q
d. hired man to take care of them
8. The fine grove and park became
on overgrown with weeds and il
IN seemed as though the place was
OF doomed to decay.
In About two years ago the people
al of Southern Utah put movemen
OF on foot to establish a branch o
ow the State Normal school here bu
es' were unsuccessful. Prest. Cluf
IN made a proposition to the peopl
'ur of Beaver to establish branch o
nd the B. Y. academy at the old fort
lis. his proposition being accepted h
be set to work and succeeded in sc
.he curing donation of all the pror
me erty in and around the fort, cor
at sisting of 240 acres of land an
an over twenty-five rock houses
ma mostly two story. The donatio
me was made by Messrs. j. e. Mul
'ou dock and P. T. Farnswortb, thes
oflgentlemen having purchased
In from the Government for tn
lge small sum of $500. The builc
L ings were soon put in repair, tn
inc ground cleared off and in Septen
ing Der, 1898. everything was in appl
am pie order and ready for scho,
OF which commenced the 25th day {
ole that month with good faculty
to1 Prof. e. Partridge being the pril
ow ciple. The first day 80 student
unit were enrolled and by Christma
am 1870 admit cards were issued an
will that number is still increasing.
avel The old hospital which is
very spacious building, also fou
ant large buildings formerly used fc
he soldiers quarters have been fxe
en- up for school purposes; the r
our naming houses are used for dorm
ure tories and to-day old Ft. Camerol
he SO long a picture of desolatio
up presents an appearance of life an
md one has but to look upon the seer
at to admire it and to know the trut
ext fulness of the words,
"God moves in mysterio'
way
His wonders to perform"