Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1921-09-01
Historical Resume of Martin
.Kenel Agricultural School
Work Soon to Begin of Dismantlng Building.
Brings Back Many Memories to Early
Pioneers

understood the Sioux language, and
1.-THE boys knowing this took certain.
i lly every possible advantage of our
Greeness'. OF the few enrolled
then / was never sure how many l
would have the next day or the next
hour. One Of my most trying oc-
lcupations was to count them at
meals, and then it happened to me
| very often, as the old schoolmaster
in his quaint way put IT. I saw
some or many that were not here,
as most every day some would be in
evidence or shine BY their absence.
In those days it was dancing with
the Indians almost night and day.
THE famous ;tom-tom was heard
Through the camps at all hours and
and paint and feathers were in evil
Edence all around the schools
E In 1885 it was reorganized for
tboys and girls and given literary,
domestic and industrial depart
ments, and under the able manage.
ment Of Father Martin, Sister M.
Xavier and Sister NJ. Rhabana and
lothers, the school continued to grow
until, atone time, $50 pupils were
enrolled from all parts Of the Stand
ling Rock reservation, and even
afrom. the Cheyenne reservation,
Iwhere the. fame Of. the school had
npread BY it's admirers. On the day
loLthe retirement Of Father Msstin
Iand the departure Of tie. Sisters,
n1missioner Of Indisns Affairs,
/ Francis E. LlesdDp j psiid r : I sloHing ii ;t1t
tribute, , to the services Of Father
Martin, and ended it as follows:
wish to commemorate his work
by = special mark Of distinction !;
and it is herby ordered, that the
school shall be styled hereafter
The Martin Kenel Agricultural
School .
r During Father Martins time the
school was entirely rebuilt, as it now
stands, with two-story frame build.
ings, large barn, water and sewer
systems in fact every modern con-
vsnience. Following his retirement
the school was conducted entirely
By civil service employees, and sew
eral superintendents followed each
other in rapid succession.
Due, to the many changes in poll
cy as exercised by the different men
in charge and to the changed con-
ditions in the life Of the Indians,
the school deteriorated until in the
year 1910 the attendance had fallen
off to such an extent that it was
recommended by supt. James b.
Kitch, Of Standing Rock, that it be
abandoned.
accordingly the school was not
opened at the fall term, and since
then has stood in q sort Of senile
and decrepit desuetude, eyidenoing
in its loneliness the fact that it has
seen better days. The winds howl
through broken windows, and whore
once grew. the beautiful flowers,
raised on the campus By the Sisters.
there now is to be seen nothing but
thistles. In the quaint chapel,
where the solemn chant Of the mass
was sung many, many times, there
is q hollow and dismal place, dsser-
tied and empty save for the castof
articles Of the departed employees.
Never again will children's laughter
ring through the halls Of the school
or on the grounds, and in Q few
years the passing tourist will not
Sc enough to occasion the simple
inquiry 81, y hat stood here7u
Born ednesday to Nj. and Mrs.
Paul Glaymcre d Wakpala q the
Ssney hospital q son.