Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 21.djvu/96



86 READ BAIN

and Corvallis. The average attendance was forty or fifty, although in 1864, one hundred and five were reported to the Methodist Conference. Rev. Luther T. Woodward and wife were the first teachers. They were followed by Rev. D. E Blain and wife and a Miss Farrell.

After the establishment of a public school in 1870, the Academy declined rapidly. It finally came into the hands of the school district (cf. Bethel Institute) and the buildings are now used for laboratories. The real title is still in the M. E. Church, a 99-year lease having been given the district in 1910. So there is a figure-head board of directors appointed by the M. E. Church. Present value is about $10.000. 27

CORVALLIS SEMINARY

This institution was chartered' Jan. 28, 1854. 28 Its yearly income was limited to $15,000. Three visitors were appointed by the M. E. Church. Complete records of state of finances, names of teachers and branches taught, number of pupils, male and female, and the number in each class were required. These records had to be open for inspection at all times and a yearly report had to be made to the secretary of the Territory. First Board of Trustees: John Stewart, Silas M. Stout, Wm. F. Dixon, John W. York, Robt. W. Biddle, Wesley Graves, Perry G. Earle, A. L. Humphrey, Silas Belknap, Samuel F. Starr, Thomas H. Pearne, Alvan F. Waller, Hiram Bond, B. F. Chapman, James Gingle.

There was another denominational institution in Corvallis before 1860. This was Corvallis College, a Baptist institution. The territorial legislature had appointed a committee to ex- amine into the advisability of establishing a state school at Marysville. Nothing was done. Finally, however, Corvallis College was taken over by the state and became the Agricul- tural College. I mention this, because the Methodist school, Corvallis Seminary, is sometimes given as the "ancestor" of O. A. C. The Methodist school evidently was extinct before 1860, since it is not mentioned in the Conference minutes.

27 I am indebted to Mr. Thos. D. Yarncs, M. E. Pastor at Lebanon, for these facts. The history of Santiam after 1860 is also being put in shape by him. Mr. Robt. H. Down of Portland has also written an article on Santiam Academy.

28 Oregon Ter. Laws, 1854, Special Laws, pp. 52-54.