Central Wisconsin College - Valkyrie Yearbook (Scandanavia, WI)

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CENTRAL VVISCONSIN COLLEGE UN ,. ,4 ,z Kr-+ H, I .1 'r as vi: 'Q -M N Q, can -SNS 2-1. 5: K CI! U ' if-. a E3 , ,min i ' 2.3555 HH' -V 'P 2,-, '- . I , ,

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L . 2 3 24 5 c N ' Ill .-. D' A SHORT HISTORY OF OUR SCHOOL. The history of Central XYisconsin College dates back to the year of 1891, when after repeated efforts, a corporation was formed by the citizens at, or near, Scandinavia, lliisconsin, with the purpose in view of founding an educational institu- tion on the 1-ligh School plan, also offering a Business Course, whose atmosphere and general management should be per- meated with christian principles, and be conducive of a healthy and moral growth to those who should frequent the school. On the 21st of January, 1891, the following men met at Scandinavia and organized the Scandinavia Academy Associa- tion and applied for Articles of lncorporationz Rev. N. J. Elle- stad, Dr. M. Ravn, A. O. H ellestad, Gunder Yoie, Kittil Even- son, Thor Thorson, M. A. Olson, Herman Hotz, Ole N. Kolden, Ambrose Gregers-on, I. C. 1Yrolsitad, Rev. K. O. Eidahl, Hans johnson, L. 12. Gorden and L. L. Loberg. The formalities of incorporation being accomplished, the incorpor- ators immediately set about soliciting funds for the erection of the Academy Building. The greater part of this work fell upon Rev. N. J. Ellestad, who will be remembered because of his untiring efforts in behalf of the school. However, but very little could 'be done toward the erec- tion of the school building during the next two years. Times were hard, money scarce, and the people in general had all they could do to finance their own affairs. In the spring of 1893 Rev. Ellestad resigned from his congregations. Rev. Ole Nilson was called as his successor, and in the summer of 1893, when a sufficient sum of money had been collected to warrant a beginning, the erection of the Academy Building was com- menced. The Associationicalled Rev. C. O. Aubol as the first principal of the school. The corner stone of the Academy was laid with imposing ceremonies on july 4th of that Year. Dedication services were held October 31st, from which day the first session dates. It will be seen, then, that the school has just completed its thirtieth year. During the next nine years of hardship and struggles the school was left to its own resources, depending entirely upon the patronage of its students and the liberality of the people in its community, but at the Annual Meeting of the United Lutheran Church held at Minneapolis, Minn., june 1902, action was taken to offer Academies indirectly affiliated with the church, support on certain conditions. These conditions be- ing fulfilled, the offer was unanimously accepted at a meeting held by the Academy Corporation in the month of November,

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av ,Jul TQ f- ' f llllilii ,gk matting. ,'23 T W il . lu x r' 7 1902. The Academy was thereafter aided, recognized and in- spected by representatives of the church, and as a consequence' its prospects for the future were brighter than they had ever been in the past. However, the school was again to experience a great vicissitude, which for a short time threatened, as it were, its very existence. In the afternoon of December 31st, 1919, the Academy Building was completely destroyed by ire. The Library, Book Store, equipment and furniture were also con- sumed by the flames. It was almost a total loss. Fortunately the fire occurred during the Christmas vacation so that no lives were endangered, but the students and most of the teachers lost all their effects. It was Aa tremendous set-back to our in- stitution. Nevertheless, through the hearty co-operation of the faculty, the student body and the citizens of Scandinavia and the neighboring communities the school was reopened on schedule time after the vacation in rented quarters down town. It may be stated that classes were conducted in the basement of the Public School, in the Village Hall, in the Committee Room in the Bank, in the Post Office Building, in the Church and in the Proctor Building. In the latter place accommodations were found for the boarding club and also for kitchen facilities. The work was done under great diffi- culties. Many were the inconveniences that the teachers and students had to put up with, but in the midst of the difficulties and the inconveniences there were also agencies of encourage- ment and, inspiration. It is a remarkable fact, that all the students with the exception of two returned after the fire, and the teachers pursued their duties with greater vim than ever before, so that the misfortune which befell the school did not dishearten its supporters. It proved to be a blessing in dis- guise. Gnce more the good people of Scandinavia and the neighboring congregations rallied to the support of the Acad- emy as never before. On Thursday, january Sth, the Board of Directors of Scandinavia Academy met for the purpose of discussing whether the school should be rebuilt or not, and it was unanimously decided to rebuild the Academy. At a mass meeting held in Scandinavia Wednesday, Ian- uary 21, a sum of 323,000.00 was subscribed in a short time for the purpose of rebuilding the school. At this meeting it was decided to elect a committee to consider induce-ments of- fered by various localities for erecting the school in their midst, and at the meeting of the Board of Directors held in Scandinavia on Wednesday, February 18th, 1920, the following