Oregon Institute facts for kids
The Oregon Institute was a very important school in early Oregon. It started in 1842 and was the first school built for American settlers west of Missouri. It was founded by members of the Methodist Mission and was located in what is now Salem, Oregon. The school began as a place for students to get ready for college. By 1853, it grew into Willamette University. The school's three-story building was a famous landmark in early Oregon. It even served as a meeting place for the Oregon Territorial Legislature when the government first moved to Salem.
Contents
How the School Started
The Methodist Mission's Role
A missionary named Jason Lee came to the Oregon Country in 1834. He wanted to start missionary work with the native people. Lee and his group first built a mission called Mission Bottom. This was north of where Salem, Oregon, is today. But in 1841, the mission was flooded.
So, the Methodist Mission moved to a new spot. This new place was called Chemeketa Plain, which later became Salem. After moving, they started building a new school. This school was meant for Native American students and was called the Indian Manual Labor School. However, the Methodist Mission ended in 1844 before the building was finished. Its property was then sold.
Creating the Oregon Institute
On February 1, 1842, several missionaries, including Jason Lee, met at his house. They talked about starting a school for the children of the white settlers. The group decided to create a school and named it the Oregon Institute.
They first tried to build a school on Wallace Prairie. But this plan was stopped, and the unfinished building was sold. In June 1844, the Oregon Institute bought the three-story building that was being built for the Indian Manual Labor School. They paid $4,000 for the building and its land.
The Main Building
The main building for the school was built under the direction of Hamilton Campbell. It cost the mission $8,000 to build. Construction started in 1841 and finished in 1844.
This building was about 21.6 meters (71 feet) long and 7.3 meters (24 feet) wide. It had three stories. It was made from fir wood that was cut right there. Only the windows came from New York. This large building stood out in the early Oregon landscape.
What the School Was Used For
Early School Life
The first school building, a three-story wooden structure, was ready to use in 1844. The Oregon Institute started with just one teacher. This teacher taught the white children living in the area.
Besides being a school, the building was also used by the community. The state government and the state court sometimes held meetings there.
Important Meetings Held Here
On February 1, 1843, a very important meeting took place at the Oregon Institute. It was called the "Wolf Meeting." Ira Babcock, who was a judge and also governed the area at the time, led the meeting. People met to talk about how to deal with wild animals like wolves in the Willamette Valley.
This meeting was one of the first steps that led to the creation of the Provisional Government of Oregon. This early government was formed at Champoeg in May of that year.
School Costs and Growth
In 1846, it cost $24 per year to attend the school. Using the dormitories (places to sleep) cost $2 per week. A visitor from the American navy came to the school that same year. He found the school was "languishing," meaning it wasn't doing very well. The dormitories were still not finished. At that time, only five male students were enrolled.
In 1853, the school changed its name to Wallamet University. Later, its name was changed again to the current Willamette University.
