|
The Oregon Institute was a school located in the Willamette Valley of the Oregon Country during the 19th century. Begun in 1842, it was the first school built for European-Americans west of Missouri. Founded by members of the Methodist Mission, it was located in what is now Salem, Oregon, United States. The school began as a pre-college institution, but later became Willamette University. The school's three story building was a prominent feature in the early days of Oregon and served as meeting place for the Oregon Territorial Legislature when it first moved to Salem.
[edit] BackgroundMissionary Jason Lee came to Oregon Country in 1834 with Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth to begin missionary work amongst the natives.[1] First Lee and his men built Mission Bottom north of present Salem, Oregon, but that was flooded in 1841.[1] The Methodist Mission was then relocated to Mission Mill in what would later become Salem.[1] After moving the mission they began constructing a new building for the Indian Manual Labor Training School.[2] However, before the building was completed, the Methodist Mission at Mission Mill was dissolved and the assets sold off.[3] The three story building originally under construction for the Indian Manual Labor School was sold for $4,000 to the Oregon Institute along with the land in June of 1844.[3] The original building of the institute was built under the supervision of Hamilton Campbell at a cost of $8,000 for the mission.[2] Construction began in 1841 and finished in 1844.[2] This building was 71 feet (22 m) long, 24 feet (7.3 m) wide, and three stories high.[2] It was built of fir milled on site, except for the windows that came from New York.[2] As one of the more dominating buildings of the landscape of early Oregon, it towered over the school.[2] [edit] FunctionsThe first building of the school, a three story wood building, was occupied in 1844.[4] This building was used by the school and community, including the state legislature and court.[4] Oregon Institute began with one teacher, who taught the white children of the area.[4] In 1853 the school changed names to Wallamet University, later changed to the current Willamette.[4] On February 1, 1843, the first “Wolf Meeting” was held at the Oregon Institute.[5] This meeting was presided over by Dr. Ira L. Babcock, who had been elected as supreme judge in 1841 to probate Ewing Young’s estate.[5] The meeting was designed to discuss issues with predatory animals attacking livestock in the Willamette Valley.[5] This meeting was one of the precursors to subsequent meetings that led to the formation of a provisional government in May at Champoeg.[5] [edit] External links[edit] References
Directorio de Enlaces Directorio dmoz Directorio espejo dmoz Pedro Bernardo |