Seattle University - Aegis Yearbook (Seattle, WA)

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imWI University History umi i

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Diamond Jubilee Commemorates Founding of Seattle University The origin of Seattle University dates back to the arrival in Seattle of Fr. Victor Garrand, S.J.. and Fr. Adrian Sweere, S.J., late in August. 1891. On April 11. 1891, the Most Rev. Acgidius Junger, bishop of the Ncsqually diocese, suggested that the Jesuits come to Seattle and establish the boy’s school promised him in March. 1890, by Fr. Augustine Laure. S.J., of the Yakima Mission. Plans for the school still had not been formulated by July. 1890. so Bishop Junger wrote expressing regret that the school had not been opened as Fr. Laure had promised and stating that the people were blaming him for the delay. In April. 1891. the Bishop urged the Jesuits to take over St. Francis Hall and establish a parish and school in Seattle. On September 23. 1891, eleven years after Seattle had been founded as a town, the Jesuits established themselves in St. Francis Hall at Sixth and Spring Streets. Fr. Garrand described the town in a report to his superiors, “the town of Seattle, is situated on hills, at the foot of which there is an immense fresh water lake to the cast, and to the west Puget Sound, which communicates with the Pacific Ocean and forms a bay. where the biggest ships can circulate freely. Seattle has grown tremendously in a short time. Her population, which was only 3.533 in 1880. rose to 28,715 in 1889 and to 44.743 in 1890. Our mission in Seattle resembles those in New Orleans. New York and San Francisco. We are in the middle of a mixed population with an assortment of adventurers from all over the world. Not even the Romans had a more noble origin.” 4