Dwight Presbyterian Mission facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dwight Mission
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Marble City, Oklahoma |
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| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1923 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001570 |
| Added to NRHP | March 20, 1973 |
The Dwight Presbyterian Mission was one of the very first missions in America created to help Native Americans. It was started in 1821 near Russellville, Arkansas to serve the Cherokee people living there.
Because the Cherokee were asked to move to Indian Territory in 1828, the mission was rebuilt in 1829. This new location was near what is now Marble City, Oklahoma. Today, Dwight Mission is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
The Story of Dwight Mission
Starting the First Mission
The idea for Dwight Mission came from Tahlonteskee, a main leader of the Western Cherokees. He visited another mission called Brainerd Mission in 1818 and was impressed. He then asked for a similar mission for his own people.
So, in August 1820, the mission was founded by Cephas Washburn. It was built on Illinois Bayou, close to Russellville, Arkansas. The mission was named after Rev. Timothy Dwight IV, who was the president of Yale College.
By 1824, the first Dwight Mission was like a small, busy town. It had many buildings, including homes for the missionaries, students, and visitors. There were also important support buildings like a library, a post office, and a place to get medicine. It even had a dining hall, a storehouse, a blacksmith shop, and a barn.
Moving to a New Home
A new agreement between the Cherokee and the United States in 1828 meant the Arkansas Cherokees had to move. They were relocated to Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma. Because of this, the mission also had to move.
In May 1829, Dwight Mission was rebuilt in its current spot. This new location was on Sallisaw Creek, near Marble City, Oklahoma. The school at the new mission opened its doors on May 1, 1830.
At first, the new mission had a building that was both a school and living quarters. There were also several log houses for the staff. Over time, the mission grew to have 21 houses, a dining hall, a barn, and other buildings. At its busiest, the mission had more than a dozen staff members and 80 students. Its main goal was to teach Cherokee children and introduce them to the Christian faith.
Important People and Changes
Samuel Worcester worked at Dwight Mission starting in 1835. He had previously been a missionary with the Cherokee in Georgia. He helped create the special letters for the Cherokee syllabary, which was used for their first newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix.
In 1837, the first printing press for the Cherokee language in Indian Territory was moved to Dwight Mission. In 1839, many more Cherokee people were forced to move to this area from the Southeast. This difficult journey is known as the Trail of Tears.
Challenges and Rebuilding
During the American Civil War, many of the mission's buildings were destroyed. This happened because of fighting between groups who supported the North and those who supported the South. The last religious service was held in November 1862, and then the mission was left empty. Private owners took over the land. By 1884, only two of the original buildings were left.
The Cherokee National Council decided to reopen the school in 1886. The Presbyterian Women's Board of Home Missions provided money to help. A large building was constructed to be a boarding school for Cherokee girls. After 1895, it became a day school, where students went home each night. Then, in 1900, it went back to being a boarding school, this time for both boys and girls.
A Tragic Fire
On January 12, 1918, a fire broke out at the Dwight Mission School dormitory. The fire destroyed the building and tragically caused the deaths of 13 students. A memorial for these boys was later placed in the Dwight Mission Cemetery.
Later Years and Today
By 1944, the place was known as Dwight Indian Training School. It was run by the Presbyterian Church USA and served 71 students, mostly Cherokee and Choctaw. The school finally closed its doors in 1948.
In 1950, some Presbyterian church members felt it was important to save the property. They formed a group called Dwight Mission, Inc. and bought the land in 1951. For the next 30 years, this group and the Synod of Oklahoma managed the mission's daily activities.
Today, Dwight Mission is a Presbyterian camp, retreat, and conference center. It is located between Marble City and Sallisaw, Oklahoma. It is still listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are also special historical markers in Arkansas that show where the first mission was located.
