Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/345

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 385 scenery of any school in the Northwest. The property was pur- chased from the Red Wing Collegiate Institute and placed in the possession of the Hauges Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod through the personal efforts of H. M. Sande, a farmer living in the township of AYanamingo ; A. Ellingson, of Red Wing, and Rev. 0. Hanson, of AYanamingo. The first school year com- menced in September, 1879. Rev. I. Eistenson was the principal and Prof. G. O. Brohaugh his assistant. Several instructors were also engaged, among whom may he mentioned Prof. II. P. Wilson. Seventy students were enrolled during the first year. The purpose 1 of the school is to furnish a general Christian culture and more particularly to prepare ministers and teachers for the synod. The work at first consisted of an academic course of three years and a theological course of three years. As the institution developed it was found necessary to lengthen the preparatory course. This was done in 1889, when it was changed from three to four years. In 1897 it was changed to five years, and in 1908 it was extended to seven years, making it a complete college course. The school year was also changed from seven to nine months. A commercial department has been added, as well as a musical department. The school soon outgrew the "Old Building," and "Summer Hall" was bought and completed in 1882. In 1902 the synod decided to build another building, and this was completed in 1901 and is known as the "Main Building." Besides this and the two old buildings which now are used for dormitories, there is a president's house, a hospital and a heating plant, the whole property now costing approximately $100,000. . During the past year the school has employed three profes- sors of theology and five professors in the academy and college, together with several special instructors. The total number of students was about two hundred. Those who have served as presidents of the seminary are T. Eistenson, J. Kyllingstad, A. Wenaas, J. N. Kildahl, O. S. Meland, H. H. Bergsland and M. G. Hanson. Among those who have acted as instructors may be noted S. Gunnerson, E. Kr. Johnson, G. Rast, J. A. Leas, L. Chally, A. J. Reichert. O. R. AYold. J. Telleen, M. O. Wee, E. AY. Schmidt for the theological department, and G. O. Brohaugh, IT. II. Elstad, C. R, Hill, E. AY. Schmidt. I. M. Anderson. Julius Boraas, E. 0. Ringstad. William Mills, G. EL Ellingson and O. 0. Stageberg for the preparatory department. Selma Gibson and G. A. Eausner have had charge of the musical department, Since the beginning of the school 138 have graduated from the theological course, nearly all of whom are pastors or mission- aries in the various fields of the synod. The total number of