Scientist Emil O. Deere
- The Bethany Academy building was at the very heart of the Bethany College beginnings. -
Swensson's Bethany's Beginnings: "The Bethany Academy of 1882"
The Swedish idea of a school began in the Bethany Lutheran Church and was established there on October 15, 1881 by pastor Carl Aaron Swensson who in the next year purchased the Lindsborg public school house of 1879 and had it moved to the former cemetery land (Bethany Park) that the Church donated which would become the Campus for the Bethany Academy of that same year. The State of Kansas soon authorized the charter for the Academy in September of 1882 followed by its dedication and festivities, all of which occurred on October 4, 1882. The Augustana Synod adopted it as "its child" in 1884.
- The Bethany Academy -
in Bethany Park, flanked by College Street on the left and Bethany Lutheran Church on the right
in Bethany Park, flanked by College Street on the left and Bethany Lutheran Church on the right
Source: Billdt & Jaderborg, "The Smoky Valley in The After Years," 1969.
Because this most important building to Bethany College's beginnings has survived and may be seen at the McPherson County Old Mill Museum Heritage Park, the full story on its significance to founder and second president Rev. Swensson and leaders in the Augustana Synod unfolds under the section of Bethany College's Earliest Buildings with this title: "Bethany Academy 1882 -- Swensson's Bethany's Beginnings, found HERE!
- The Academy Building of 1882 and the Main Building of 1887 -
These were Dr. Rev. Carl Aaron Swensson's "special" School Buildings
Source: "Lindsborg On Record," by Selma Lind (Elizabeth Jaderborg) 1965, page 17. First Schoolhouse for Dist. No. 3, Lindsborg with Old Main Beyond.
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"Let Us Celebrate Them"
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Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
"Let Us Celebrate Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
