Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/138

 120 CHARLES E. LEWIS $s 1 m p li||"' %'

ing number of exceptionally high grades would indicate a tendency to over rate the work of the pupils. However, since this school was in such a different environment from modern high schools and the system of grading may have been different, it is hardly fair to judge its reports by present day standards. In addition to the two chief educational institutions just described, there were two other diocesan schools founded during this period, as well as a number of paroch- ial schools. In 1872 a lot was purchased in Walla Walla, Washington, and a two-story school house was erected. In the fall of that year a school for both boys and girls, but evidently with separate classes for each, was opened and known as St. Paul's school. The first year there were twenty-five boys, under two teachers, and forty girls, under four teachers. In 1873 a fire caused consid- erable loss but a new building was erected and the school continued for several years with an attendance of from fifty to eighty. In 1881 it ceased to be controlled by this diocese and its later history is not within the scope of this paper. The other diocesan school was at Cove, in Union County, eastern Oregon. In 1882, Mr. Samuel G. French, of that place, left at his death, his house and farm of 100 acres for the use and support of a girls' school. The school was opened in September, 1884, after con- tributions for that purpose had been received from the East and from citizens of Cove. The school was taught by the Rev. Mr. Powell and the first year there were forty-nine girls and twenty boys. It was then divided into two separate schools, Ascension School for girls and Leighton Academy for boys. The latter was closed in 1889 because of lack of funds, Ascension School continu- ing most of the time until 1902, after which time no report on it appears in the Convention Journal. In 1912, however, is found this statement, "In view of the action taken by the Convention of 1910, the Ascension School fund now held by the Board of Trustees will be handed over to the Bishop of Eastern Oregon as soon as request