The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1915-06-05
History of the High School
Published in the Commencement Skookum

Few places conveniently or beautifully To-
Gated of education than the city of Covile,
situated it is in the extreme northeast of the State of
Washington. To the north lies range of mountains
which effectualy shields the from the winter blasts
which make life in the other parts of the country ex-
tremely uncomfortable The Old Dominion mountain
from which since its discovery in 1855, has been taken
million dollars worth of silver rises in the east and
the west lies the Coville valley in all the beauty of
nature, the Colvlle river winding through its entire
length.
In 1906 and 1907 there were seventy-two school dis
tricts and no high schools, and there many
young people ready for higher educaon Eels Academy
came into existence, On March IS, 1896, Rev. A. J.
Bailey of Seattle, Rev. T. w. Walter of Cofax, Rev.
William Davies and Rev. E. J. Saunders of Spokane met
with Rev. Y. c. Lewis of Colville for the purpose of
holding fellowship meeting. At the meeting, which
was largely attended, many eloquent addresses were
made with animated speeches by the citizens, in which
the crying need of high school for the young people OF
the county declared. 1t decided to found an
academy Colville, and the following morning another
meeting held when the trustees advisory board
and building committee appointed. In succeeding
meeting, the institution named Eels Academy, in
honor of Father Ees, the great educational pioneer OF
the Northwest.
In October, 1897, Eels Academy opened with an at
tendance of about twenty pupils under the dictatorship
of Professor Woodcok assisted by most efficient corps
of teachers. Classical, commercial and normal courses
offered
At the beginning of the spring term, the academy
building, which is the grammar school, was COM
pleed and here in May the first closing exercises were
held. Professor WoodCock, on account OF illness and
the death of Mrs Woodcock resigned his principalship
In October, 1885, Professor Davis, assisted by Miss
Herman and Others took charge of the academy Dur
ing the winter fory-six pupils were enrolled. The
steady increase of attendance and the tuition charged
together with donations of money, books, ETC.. aided in
financing the institution, The school thus successfully
conducted work that most thorough and efficient,
no pupil being allowed to leave subject unless upon
examination a grade of 90 per cent made.
The year 1900 witnessed the first graduatons from
the academy The few young people to receive diplomas
on the evening of June 10 of that year Misses Flora
Dingle and Charlotte Wolff, who graduated from the
scientific course and George Backus and David Lewis,
completing special courses
The removal of the academy in 1901 necessitated the
establishment of some educational institution to take its
place For three years following the removal of the
academy only ninth and tenth grades given in con-
necton with the grammar school grades under Principal
Austen
In Ioo4o5 Professor Graves established the eleventh
grade
In the school year 1906, Professor Cummings was
elected to the prncpaship of the Colve High School.
In the spring of 1907 the first graduation of this school
was held, Harold Dexter being the only graduate.
From this meager beginning, the Covile High School
RAPIDLY increased in attendance The old academy build
ing was remodeed and modern equipment supplied Each
following year. the graduating classes increased in
number.
Continued on page four)