Auburn Adventist Academy - Rainier Vista Yearbook (Auburn, WA)

Page 21 text:

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES were not uncommon for Elder L. E. McClain, former principal of Auburn Academy, and Elder N. R. Dower, former president of the Washington Conference. Witzel Hall, Rudolph Hall, Nelson Hall (remodel¬ ing), Evergreen Chapel, and the administration building were erected during their administrations. 17

Page 20 text:

History (continued) WILLIAM LAY, principal, 1949-1951. R. W. Fowler, principal, 1951-1954. C. L. Witzel, principal, 1954-1960. During the summer South Hall was remodeled with the entire building being faced with brick to match the boys’ dormitory. The main entrance was moved trom the north to the south side. Dormitory rooms, a recreation room, and a home economics departmen occupied the basement. Plans for a new administration building were dis¬ cussed at the boys’ dormitory Open House, January 4, 1964. Construction began that year on a new A-frame chapel for the girls. . The carpentry class that year chose as a project the building of homes for faculty and staff. Five faculty homes were constructed under C. L. Witzel s direction. The woodshop, destroyed by fire in August, 1951, was replaced with metal buildings in 1952. The fi fty-first annual campmeeting for the Washing¬ ton Conference was moved from the center of the campus to the west section in the summer of 1957. At this campmeeting Elder N. R. Dower, president, an¬ nounced that a permanent auditorium would replace the large tent that had been used for many years. This auditorium, built in 1958, was later named Rainier Auditorium. In 1959 plans were made for a long-range construc¬ tion program for the Academy. It called for re-routing the streets, relocating the houses; constructing a new administration, boys’ dormitory and church, and remod¬ eling extensively. Plans for a new road to the south of the main proposed campus area were finalized, eliminat¬ ing traffic through the campus. Faculty homes were relocated in preparation for the new building program. Elder C. L. Witzel, principal and long-time staff member, resigned as principal in the summer of 1960, after having been associated with Auburn Academy at intervals since 1926. He had watched the school grow from 125 to 400 students. L. E. McClain, former dean of boys, held the position of principal from 1960-1965. During the school year 1960-1961, Dr. J. N. Howell assisted Auburn academy in receiving accreditation with the State of Washington. Groundbreaking for the new $250,000 administration building was held on May 4, 1964. The new building placed south of the girls’ dormitory, featured 11 classrooms, teachers’ offices, assembly hall, laboratory, administration and counseling area, and a library. Don Kirkman was the architect for all the buildings. RAINIER AUDITORIUM is used for sports and cultural programs during the school year and serves as the main pavilion during campmeeting. 16

Page 22 text:

History (continued) RUDOLPH HALL, a modern cafeteria completed in the spring of 1963, is daily used by students for food service. During Christmas vacation 1964-1965, the new ad¬ ministration building was occupied. Open House was held on Sunday, January 24. The building was named C. A. Scriven Hall in memory of a former president of the North Pacific Union Conference. South Hall, the girls’ dormitory was renamed Ruby Nelson Hall, in memory of the wife of Dr. Philip Nelson, missionary to India. When the new administration building was completed, the music department moved into the old administra¬ tion building from Manous Hall, which was razed in the spring of 1965. The new boys’ dormitory was named Witzel Hall in honor of Elder C. L. Witzel, who at that time had been affiliated with Auburn Academy for 22 years. The staff completed a self-evaluation study which led to accreditation with Northwest Accrediting Association in 1965-1966. During the summer of 1965, the heating was convert¬ ed to natural gas for several campus buildings and the factory. This closed the old sawdust-fired boilers in the power house east of the academy. The home economics department moved into their new quarters in the basement of Nelson Hall during the school year 1965-1966, and the industrial arts depart¬ ment expanded their classroom area by utilizing the rooms formerly occupied by the home economics department. The school farm was discontinued; the livestock sold, and a 2700-foot long airstrip was constructed on the farm. On January 1, 1967, Harris Pine Mills assumed management of the Auburn Academy Furniture Facto¬ ry. The factory had $950,000 in sales during its last year of operation. During the summer of 1967, Harris Pine Mills expanded by acquiring and installing additional modem equipment. A complete renovation of Gibson Hall was started that summer and finished during the next school year so that the building could be used effectively as an overflow girls’ dormitory. As an ASAA project students and staff raised over $10,000 for carpeting the hallways and offices of the new administration building in 1967-1968. HARRIS PINE Mills provides work opportunities for 150 students. VICTOR H. Fullerton, principal, 1965-1968. The 141-member graduating class of 1968 was the largest in the history of the school, as well as in the history of the denomination. The class donated to the school a 30-foot bell tower constructed on the lawn south of the new administration building. Since 1919-1920 Auburn Academy has expanded greatly in facilities as well as in students. The first graduating class in 1920 had five members; the class of 1922, 16; 1931,25; 1939, 44; 1944, 62; 1948; 84; 1956, 104; 1961, 116; and 1968, 141. A total of 2968 students have been graduated since the school’s found¬ ing. The current enrollment of over 550 students is the largest in the history of the school making Auburn Academy the largest Seventh-day Adventist boarding academy in North America.