Seattle University - Aegis Yearbook (Seattle, WA)

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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

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St. Francis Hall was used as a temporary site for the Immaculate Conception Church and school. The building was owned by Fr. Francis X. Prefontaine. pastor of Our Lady of Good Help Parish. It had been erected in 1890 and had been used as an all-purpose building. The Jesuits rented from Fr. Prefontaine until they were able to provide themselves with a permanent location on their own land at 900 Broadway which had been purchased from A. A. Denny in November, 1890. On April 16. 1893. the cornerstone of a brick building at Broadway and Marion, known today as the Garrand Building, was laid and blessed by Bishop Junger. Fr. Garrand described his efforts to put the building up in a letter, In 1893 the advisors of the Mission, along with the Superior General, decided that the mission in Seattle should establish itself solidly and that it would be necessary to borrow funds immediately. I was given permission to do so; all I had to do was find someone willing to lend; however it was just at this time that the monetary panic started here.” On June 30. 1893, the Articles of Incorporation for the Church and School of the Immaculate Conception were filed with the secretary of the State of Washington. Months passed and it was not until July, 1894, that permission was granted to borrow funds from the Wicgman brothers, bankers in Amsterdam. Fr. Victor Garrand, S.J., first administrator of Seattle College (above), and Fr. Adrian Sweere, S.J. (left), arrived in Seattle in August, 1891 to lay the foundations of what is today Seattle University. Records of the Nesqually diocese detail the expenses the Jesuits incurred in 1891 in establishing themselves in Seattle.