Erwin F. Lange

“ In a letter dated November 27, 1855, Fisher says that Post had withdrawn from the school and had opened a private school of his own.
The status of the school in 1855, is described by Fisher in a letter dated July 3, 1855. He says: "Our school affairs are moving along but slowly. Our community is so fluctuating, being subject to many excitements and so many fluctuations, and so extreme, that it is impossible to keep any class of scholars above a few months, except a few from the more able permanent citizens. ”

“ It is perhaps needless to say that the school was continually in a precarious condition, not only financially but also in regard to other facilities, such as equipment, apparatus, and books; a continual shortage of teachers also existed.
The foundation for this Baptist institution was laid September 21, 1849, when a few friends of education convened at Oregon City to discuss plans for establishing a school under the care of the Baptist Church of Oregon. The convention continued the next day and on that day the Oregon Baptist Education Society was organized. ”

“ As the public school grew it gradually forced the private schools from the picture. This included the Methodist school. In as much as the property was originally purchased for school purposes, and the city council intended to continue using it for educational activities, the trustees of the seminary did not feel that it was property to be speculated upon and consequently sold it for such a low sum. As an additional reason for the low price, the property had depreciated considerably in value since it was purchased by the Methodist conference. ”

“ The departure of Chandler and Read again left the school without a teacher. As it was a long and tedious process to secure competent Baptist teachers from the east, the trustees engaged such teachers as were available. These teachers were not very satisfactory for Fisher says, [38] "the last two quarters have been in the hands of men interested in making a living for themselves, who went into the school until they could find a more lucrative employment. The school has not numbered more than fifteen and in the most prosperous condition eighteen scholars. ”

“ When Hodgson took charge of the seminary [20] boys were admitted for the first time. Under his leadership the school flourished and the gain in enrollment is apparent from the increase in the size of the faculty advertised two years later. [21] "Francis D. Hodgson, A.M., Principal; Miss Mary Hodgson, teacher of instrumental music; Miss Arminta Hunsaker, assistant, English branches." It is further advertised that "the facilities for instruction in this school are superior, and the terms more moderate than any school in the country. ... an experienced music teacher has been engaged. ”

“ The committee recommended transferring a man from one of the other schools to operate temporarily the Oregon City Seminary. The committee strongly urged the opening of the seminary because no school of a high standard existed in Oregon City at that time, and also because the building and equipment were deteriorating from non-use. ”

“ Tuition for Reading and Spelling per quarter, six dollars, English grammar, Geography, Natural Science, eight dollars, Latin, Greek, and Higher Mathematics, ten dollars. An additional charge will be made for lessons in vocal music. Half a dollar will be added to each scholar for fuel. No pupil will be admitted for less than one half a quarter. A pair of thirteen inch globes and new set of philosophical apparatus including an air pump, galvanic battery, etc., have just been received and will contribute to facilitate the study of Geography, Natural Philosophy, etc.
By order of the trustees,⁠ ”

“ After some difficulties, five young ladies were sent to Oregon, two of whom, Miss Lincoln of Maine, and Miss Smith of New York, came to Oregon City to teach in the Female Seminary.
The first term of the school was announced to begin May 19, 1851, with [10] "teachers of high and varied accomplishment and long experience, ... who will devote themselves to the pupils committed to their charge." The term was for eleven weeks. The school was divided into three departments with the following tuition charges per term: Primary, six dollars; higher English, eight dollars ”

“ N. B. None invited to attend but such as will cheerfully comply with the rules of the school. Neither do we want any who will be rough in his plays with his companions, or use any improper language.
J. D. Post Post undoubtedly took advantage of his former position as principal of the Oregon City College and his position as superintendent of schools for Clackamas County in promoting his school. He was an able and well liked teacher and was thorough in his work. ”

“ Consequently when the Methodist Episcopal conference met for its annual meeting in Oregon City in 1855, it considered buying the seminary property for the purpose of satisfying the debt and establishing a Methodist school as had been done in other important towns of Oregon. ”

“ At this time more than fifty pupils attended school in the church building. It was decided to erect a school house on a favorable site, and Richmond Cheadle was appointed agent at a salary of one hundred dollars a month for two months to raise $4,000 with which to construct the building. Also, a request was sent to the Baptist Home Missionary Society for a bell and text books as were used in the New England schools. At a meeting held February 15, 1850, the board of trustees decided to name the school the Oregon City College. ”

“ The sale included, in addition to the real property, the bell, seats, and other equipment. The money received by the conference from this sale and from the rent due was transferred to the endowment fund of Willamette University. The piano belonging to the seminary was given to Umpqua Academy and the books and apparatus were given to the Portland Academy.
Thus the Methodist educational activities came to an end, just as all of the private and religious schools of early Oregon City were destined to do. The competition of the public school was too great for private enterprises. ”

“ The women know nothing of housekeeping, so we teach the children to cook, sweep, wash, milk the cows, needle work, and plain sewing. They have already made over eighty little dresses with the goods we brought along with us. ”

“ Although the building was not completed, plans were made to open the school. In order to have a high type of instruction, Atkinson carried on a correspondence with Governor Slade of Vermont for teachers for the seminary. Governor Slade at that time was superintendent of the Society for Promoting Popular Education in the West, and had sent over two hundred [9] young ladies as teachers to new states and territories of the west and southwest. ”

“ This school was only for the Hawaiians, a large number of whom lived in and around Oregon City and worked on the river boats. While at the islands Mr. Hatch learned to speak the native language and developed a great interest in the Hawaiians. The school was located in his home at Fifth and Water streets and was of a religious character, but reading and writing in the English language were also taught. This school lasted only a few years at the most.
The next institution of learning of which we have any record is the female [3] school of Mrs. ”

“ The territorial legislature of 1856, granted the school a charter on January 10, 1856, with the following men as trustees: [17] Charles Pope, Jr., Thomas Pope, A. E. Wait, James K. Kelly, W. P. Burns, Gustavus Hines, H. K. Hines, George Abernethy, Amory Holbrook, P. H. Hatch, C. F. Beattie, William Roberts, and Charles Adams. ”