The Danish-Norwegian School by R. A. Underwood

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1911

The Danish-Norwegian School

By R. A. Underwood

ABOUT eighteen months have passed since the purchase of the Danish-Norwegian school property at Hutchinson was made, and one year of school work is now in the past. Eighty or more students were enrolled during the first school year. We understand that the prospect for the coming year is that there will be quite an increase of students over last year.

The purchase price of the property, $22,250, has all been paid by donations. The American brethren in the union conference raised eight thousand dollars of this amount, and the remaining part was raised by the Danish-Norwegian brethren in the union and in other sections of the country.

It has been necessary to expend a large amount of money in addition to the price paid for the property. Considerable expense has been necessary in repairing the building. A good barn, with a silo, has been built for the stock; a dozen cows, four horses, and a fine team of mules have been purchased; and a cottage for the farmer to live in has been built. Sixty or more acres of land have been cleared, and from sixty to eighty acres have been drained. About twenty thousand tile, ranging from four- to eight-inch, have been put in; this will greatly increase the value and productiveness of the farm, and was absolutely essential to the success of the enterprise. A large county ditch has been run within a short distance of the place, and the citizens of the county taxed us about five hundred dollars toward its construction. As is usual in the early period of the establishment of a school, a good many items of expense have accrued which it has been necessary to meet.

Last year the building was fully occupied with students and teachers. In order to accommodate the increase of students expected the coming year, it will be necessary to finish the attic of the main building, and this will require the outlay of several thousand dollars. It is quite evident to the minds of those in close touch with the growth of the school that this work will have to be done to accommodate those who will come to the school next year.

It is thought best to dedicate this property September 24, three days after the opening of the school; and it is greatly desired that the pledges that have been made by our brethren for the school shall be paid before that time if possible. If there are others who can assist in placing this school at its dedication free from debt, with all necessary equipment and facilities for successful work, their help will be much appreciated. The seminary needs a laboratory and a library,—facilities which it has not yet been able to secure. We have not run in debt in starting this school; but there will be bills to meet in paying for tile and some other improvements which will require several thousand dollars, and this we should be glad to have in at the day of the dedication. A fully itemized report of receipts and expenditures will be given at the time of the dedication of the school.

We invite the careful scrutiny and counsel of our brethren assembled at the time of the meeting, and I am sure the managers of the school will be very grateful for advice or counsel. God has greatly blessed this undertaking. The citizens of Hutchinson have been friendly, and the press of that city has always spoken most kindly in favor of the seminary and its work. The Commercial Club of the town has turned over to us $2,800 in cash, and there is five hundred dollars still due from the club. The citizens have promised to put in a sewer, which will cost the town about five thousand dollars. Personally, we are very grateful to the citizens of Hutchinson for their cooperation. God has greatly blessed in the efforts to establish this school free from debt.

A marked change in the farm has been brought about in the short period of eighteen months. Sixty acres or more has been cleared of timber, and twenty-five acres of this is at the present time covered with a fine crop of corn. While traveling recently over a dozen or more States, it was truly refreshing to see the splendid crop of corn and the green pastures in the locality of Hutchinson. Only those who have undertaken to clear a farm of its timber, and bring it under cultivation, can appreciate the amount of work required to transform a wilderness of brush and timber into fertile fields of grain. Brother George Axelsen, the farm manager, together with others, has labored faithfully in bringing this about. While it will take several years to bring the farm into the highest state of cultivation, yet we are truly thankful for the progress that has been made. We pray that God will make this institution a glory to his name.

R. A. UNDERWOOD.