Moving Manmade Mountains

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Peter Dietrich Friesen, pictured at top with Tom Rowley, was the engineer behind the move of the 3.3 million pound Oneida Stake Academy in 2003.

Friesen was in his 80s when the academy was moved. He came to the project having a lifetime of experience moving huge buildings, including the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

He invented the unified jacking system which was employed to move the academy 2.5 blocks from its original location to Benson Park in Preston, Idaho.

The academy was gently, almost imperceptibly moved upward until 41 jacks with eight wheels apiece, could be placed beneath the 1,650 ton stone building. Each of those jacks was controlled remotely by a control panel, pictured below. Pete coached the controller as he drove the academy out of its original location and down the street.



In the next picture, Pete oversees the placement of blocking used to compensate for the slope in the road where the jacks couldn't stretch far enough to keep the building as level as possible during the move.

 Tom Rowley, a Franklin County native and building mover himself, pictured in the top photo with Friesen, is presenting the International Mover's Association Hall of Fame Award to Friesen in the 1980s. Rowley was also a great help in moving the academy to its new location.

While in Preston, Friesen took time to speak to the students of Preston High School, explaining not only how the academy would be moved, but how he came up with the ideas used  for moving such large structures. He emphasized the importance of visualizing one's success, and of thinking through problems.

He immigrated to Canada as a child with his parents from Russia following the revolution at the turn of the 19th Century. (See more on his life at http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/friesen_peter_dietrich_201cpete201d_192220132009

Friesen died earlier this year from natural causes due to age and is greatly missed.  He shared his appreciation of the Oneida Stake Academy in a documentary written on his life. More information on the movie can be found at www.petethemovie.com

Friesen moved four buildings that are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. For more information, see the following link: http://science.howstuffworks.com/heaviest-building-moved.htm/printable

Restoration Plans

In its next century of service, each room of the Oneida Stake Academy tell a story to visitors and patrons. The main floor will house an information center, a historical classroom and a museum/interpretive center. 

The basement will provide restrooms, a kitchen and a large meeting room.

The top floor ballroom will be an elegant setting for important events such as weddings, receptions, class and family reunions and other gatherings. musicals, plays and other entertaining events in the academy's ballroom and courtyard will enrich everyone's visit to the academy.

Reasons for Restoration

"Former United States president Ronald Reagan has been quoted as saying, “I do not want to go back to the past; I want to go back to the past way of facing the future.” 

His counsel still resonates within me. There is something about reviewing the lessons of the past to prepare us to face the challenges of the future. What a glorious legacy of faith, courage, and ingenuity those noble early Mormon pioneers have left for us to build upon. My admiration for them deepens the longer I live."
-L. Tom Perry

Perry's observations enunciate one of the core reasons for restoring the Oneida Stake Academy. The Oneida Stake Academy Foundation is committed to this restoration in order to ensure that future generations can see, smell, touch, absorb and appreciate the determination, of those who built the academy, to make the world around them a better place for future generations. If one person is inspired to do the same in their circle of influence today, we will have accomplished a grand thing.

Harold B. Lee born 111 years ago in Clifton, Idaho

March 28 was Harold B. Lee's birthday. At the following link, his grandson, Brent Goates reminisces about this great man: www.thegoateskids.blogspot.com

 Pictured here are Lee at about age five, with some school friends, and the Silver Star School in which he taught and acted as principal at age 17.






 Below is David and his father, Brent, who authored a book  about Harold B. Lee. This picture was taken in 2007, during a visit the two made to the academy.

Bybee helps build academy

According to an obituary in the Davis County Clipper on Nov. 22, 1940, for Byron Elias Bybee, 82, we learn that he was one of the carpenters who worked on the Oneida Stake Academy.

It states: "In his early life, he followed carpenter work and building. He assisted with the building of the old Ogden city hall and the Broom hotel. In 1886, he moved to Clifton, Idaho, where he was engaged in contracting and farming. He assisted in construction of Preston elementary school, Western school and chapel and the Clifton school and chapel. While he lived in Idaho he was called as a special missionary with an assignment to the old Oneida stake academy, forerunner of the present Preston high school.
In 1912 he moved to Farmington....."

Cool history

   The academy has come a long way since this picture early in 2004. The building had been moved to this location December of 2003, by Lindsay Moving Company out of the state of Washington. Project supervisor was Del Davis. Since this picture was taken, the Oneida Stake Academy Foundation received its non-profit status, put a new foundation under the building, installed water and electricity to the lot, poured an amphitheater at the building's back, upgraded the building's 120-year-old rubble construction walls to resist damage from earthquakes and, poured the base of a new staircase to the front door and has begun repairing and re-shingling the roof.

   With support from the public, restoration work will continue on this magnificent gem of our pioneer past!

Founders Day, 1920

Click on picture to enlarge it.

This copy of The Oneida, the OSA student newspaper, was published on Dec. 5, 1920. It main article discusses Founders Day, featuring events such as a pole climb, on which the "pluckiest class" was to post the school colors. The sophomores and seniors, it says, were the first to the top of the greased pole.

"The Honorable Mathoniah Thomas" of Salt Lake City, delivered the Founder's Day program address, which focused on tolerance. Miss Delilah Higgs gave a reading and a violin duet was rendered by Professors Engarand Harmon. Miss margaret Merrill sand "A Birthday."
After the program, a lunch was served in the kitchen by the Domestic Scince girls, under the supervision of Miss Louises Bird.

"At 2:30 a grand rush was made for the ball park by the students and others to witness the battle between the Oneida Indians and the B.Y.C."

B.Y.C. trounced the Indians, 24-0. The founders' ball took place in the evening. "Here everybody forgot the sting of defeat and danced his cares away."

Other subjects covered include the basketball team starting, football season ending, the cooking class The Interclass Basketball series, the Little Symphony Orchestra, helping the Red Cross and the Science Club.

Names mentioned in this edition of The Oneida include: Professor Johnson, Coach Gardiner, Coach Larson, Miss Margaret Perry, Cutler, Nelson, A. Larson, Jensen, Thomas Robinson, Ludeen Hansen.

Staff of The Oneida was as follows: Editor - Kenneth Carpenter, Asst. Editor - Oneida Meek, Literature Light - Ida Kern, With the Butterflies - Lucille Ballif, Exchanges - Louise Engar, Athletics - Emil Jorgensen, Business Mgr. - Jack Chatterton, Asst. Business Manager - Platt Larson, Reporters - Lucille Thomas, Ione Goaslind, Eddie Smith, Alton Sponberg.

Academy Rock

Pictured are ax heads discovered in the quarry where the stone for the Oneida Stake Academy was cut from the Cub River mountainside 120 years ago. They were found when Keith Mackay of State Stone returned to the quarry in 2005 to cut rock that has been and will yet be used in the academy's restoration. 

John Nuffer was the head stone mason on the Oneida Stake Academy. He and his young wife, Louisa Zollinger, were living in Glendale (about five miles from Preston) amongst other members of Nuffer’s family who homesteaded there.

         The calling required his full attention, so the young family moved to Preston as the Hale family did.

         Although the plans for the academy came from church officials in Salt Lake City, Nuffer, who apprenticed in the city of Stuttgart, Germany, “modified the design considerably, accounting for its beautiful Gothic appearance,” stated one of his sons, Myron, in a letter to Newell Hart and reprinted in the Cache Valley News published by Hart between 1969 and 1982.

         The stone from the building came from Nuffer’s brother, Fred. He ran a quarry on his property 10 miles up Cub River Canyon from Franklin (six miles from Preston) on Sheep Creek. Stone from the quarry was used “on the better buildings going up throughout the neighboring towns,” including Logan, where it was used to build the college.

         “The contract to build the academy called for 2000 cubic feet at 25 cents per foot. The stone was used for corners, sills and water table.

         “All work was done by hand. ... We used 12-foot churn drills and blasted large blocks loose from the main ledge. We had to be careful how much powder we used so as not to shatter or cause seams in the stone.

         “We usually had to put a second charge in the opening made by the first charge to dislodge the block from the man ledge. The block so dislodged was from six to seven feet thick and about 20 feet long. From then on all tools used were hammers, axes, wedges and squares.

         “Grooves were cut with axes where ever we desired to split the block, then wedges were set in the grooves about 10 inches apart and driven in with hammers. Then we dressed them down to the right measurement, allowing one half inch for the stone cutters to take out all the tool marks we made.” (Statements of Fred Nuffer published in Cache Valley News #45, 1972.)

        

1907 OSA Diploma

This diploma was earned by Ollie Foss in 1907.

To see the entire diploma, click on the image.

Harold B. Lee recalls OSA

"In the fall of 1912, I entered the Oneida Stake Academy at the age of thirteen years. Mother had not yet permitted me to wear long pants, and when I entered high school I was the youngest of the class and was one of the only two in school who were wearing knee pants. "

"When I entered school I was anxious to continue my music training. The high school band offered the best opportunity. My first instruments were an alto [saxophone] and the French horn. . . ."

See rest of article at the following link: www.mormonhistoricsitesfoundation.org/publications/sitescene4_haroldblee.htm

OSA Basketball Players

Parker Carver and his friend Lon Miller played ball for the Oneida Stake Academy.

1912-13 OSA Basketball Champs

Click on the picture to see it all in a separate window.

In Memoriam of Don Hampton

The members of the Oneida Stake Academy Foundation mourn the loss of one of their founding members: Don Hampton, 78, died Jan. 28, 2010.  He is pictured second from the right in this picture taken the day the Oneida Stake Academy reached its final relocation point in Benson Park in January of 2004. Pictured with him are board members (from left) Leo Geddes, Elliott Larsen, Doug West, Del Davis (foreman for Lindsey Moving) and Necia Seamons.

As the grandson of John Nuffer, the academy's principal mason, Don had a unique and special love for the Oneida Stake Academy. His efforts to involve his extended family in their grandfather's honor provided a catalyst for additional fund-raising when the committee first began the monumental task of raising $1.3 million to move the academy from its original location to Benson Park, 2.5 blocks away.

Don diligently worked to raise the funds for the academy's restoration. His friendship and dedication will be sorely missed by members of the Oneida Stake Academy Foundation. We extend our love, condolences and appreciation to his family.

When the academy was moved, several trees were trimmed to allow room on the streets for the building to pass. 

Pictured is Don picking up branches on Oneida.

Don helping to clean up the Academy lot. 

Don and Jan Seamons install a water hydrant on the academy lot.

How to Donate

As the Hampton Family has invited Don's family and friends to donate to the restoration of the Oneida Stake Academy in lieu of flowers, please click on this form, to print it out and send in with your donation, to P.O. Box 555, Preston, Idaho 83263.

We will notify Don's family of your generosity to one of his dreams.

Thank you.

Well Known Alumni

Harold B. Lee was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 to 1973.

He was born on 28 March 1899 to Samuel and Louisa Emaline Bingham Lee in Clifton, Idaho. He graduated from the Oneida Stake Academy in 1916, where he was involved in basketball, wrote for the school newspaper, was an athletic manager, comedian, debater, and vice-president of class. "When you forget the thought of fame, Consult your class-mate, Lee, again," states The Quiver (OSA yearbook).

After his own schooling, Lee became a teacher at the Silver Star School in Weston, Idaho, sending his earnings home to help his family. When he was 18, he became the principal at the school in Oxford, Idaho. On weekends, he would play in a band, as he was proficient at playing the also, baritone and French horns. In 1923, he married Fern Lucinda Tanner. After her death in 1962, he married Freda Joan Jensen.

During the Great Depression, his stake president challenged him to come up with a program to help people help themselves. This program grew into the welfare program used today by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Lee died on 26 December 1973.

Ezra Taft Benson was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 to 1994. He was also the Secretary of Agriculture for the United States under President Eisenhower.

He was born on 4 August 1899 in Franklin, Idaho, to Geroge Taft and Sarah Dunkley Benson. He graduated from the Oneida Stake Academy in 1919, two years after another president of the LDS Church, Harold B. Lee. Benson went on to study agriculture at Utah State Agricultural College. Just after receiving his masters from Iowa State University, he returned to Whitney to run the family farm, and later became the county agriculture extension agent. In 1926 he married Flora Smith Amussen; they had six children.

In 1939 he moved to Washington, D.C. to become Executive Secretary of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. Fourteen years later became the Secretary of Agriculture. At the time, he was also an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under president David O. McKay.

He loved Whitney and often returned to visit, presiding over the community's centennial celebration in 1989. He died in May of 1994 and is buried in the Whitney Cemetery.

Samuel Parkinson Cowley was the first FBI agent killed in the line of duty, and as such is the first agent inducted into the FBI Hall of Fame.

He was born on 23 July 1899 in Franklin, Idaho, to Matthias F. and Luella Parkinson Cowley. He attended grade school in Preston, Idaho, and graduated from the Utah State Agricultural College in 1924, then George Washington Law School in 1929. He was employed with the Department of Justice under J. Edgar Hoover starting in 1929, being assigned to the Los Angeles area.

Cowley (1899-1934) was a special agent with the U. S. Justice Department, Division of Investigations. He helped to apprehend John Dillenger and was killed in a shootout with "Baby Face" Nelson.

For the FBI's account of Cowley's encounter with Baby Face Nelson, see the following link:

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/nov04/babyface112904.htm

George Nelson is the namesake of the George Nelson Fieldhouse at Utah State University, in Logan, Utah.

He was born in Norway and came to the United States when he was 16-years-old. At the age of 25, he became the Oneida Stake Academy's wrestling coach. He filled that position from 1915 to 1920. Before that, he took the light heavyweight boxing championship of the world from Ad Santell in a match in Ogden, Utah, states his obituary.

Nelson went on to become the trainer at USU form 1921 to 1958. He was married to Emma Nuffer of Preston in 1914. After her death in 1919, he married Anna Rinderknecht. According to the Hometown Album by Newell Hart, a sports writer from Los Angeles wrote that Nelson was "one of the great matmen of his time, possessing a deadly headlock second only to the hold of Strangler Lewis."

Picture courtesy of the Utah State University 1937 Buzzer. 

Irene Staples  This woman was the Official Hostess of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  - the first one, actually, and served from 1966 - 1976. She was instrumental in starting the display of Christmas lights at Temple Square in 1965. She's in the same boat as Samuel Cowley. She lived here as a child,  the daughter of one of Preston's early dentists, David T. Edwards. Her mother was Florence Fern Edwards.

Happy Birthday OSA

Construction on the Oneida Stake Academy began 120 years ago this week!
See article posted below.

Pictured is David Mitchel ringing the bell in the academy's tower.

25 men getting lumber to build OSA

The article above appeared in the Ogden Standard Examiner  on Jan. 23, 1890. It discusses the efforts being made to build the academy, then estimated to cost $10,000 and expected to be "a very handsome structure."

For a larger view of the article, just click on it.

Charles J. Engar is Honored

The following appeared in the Aug. 25, 1910 edition of the Richfield Reaper:

The two Rexburg, Ida. papers speak highly of one of Sevier County's former citizens, Charles J. Engar, The Current Journal has the following:


"A very elaborate party was held at the club rooms Wednesday night as a testimonial to Prof. Chas J. Engar who will leave Rexburg shortly.The affair was gtten up by young ladies and by C. G. Keller, manager and booster of the band. No effort was spared in the preparation and it was certainly a pleasing success. The band which Mr. Engar has trained so well were out early serenading and they furnished good music all evening. The entertainment consisted of dancing and a delicious luncheon. A beautiful ring was presented to Prof. Engar, Mr. Keller making the presentation speech. Mr. Engar in responding regretted to leave such loyal friends. The attendance was large and represented people from the whole community.

"Prof Engar leaves next month for Preston where he has accepted a position at the Oneida Stake Academy. He will be missed in Rexburg. He has lived here four years and has had charge of the musical work at the Ricks Academy. He is also leader of the town band, one of the most successful musical organizations we have ever had." 

… Mr. Engar has accepted a position at the stake academy at Preston as music director, where he will re cieve a higher salary for his services, the Reaper rejoices with his many friends here in his success.

OSA Class June 1898

This picture also appears in the Hometown Album, published by Newell Hart. See his diagram below for the identification of the people in the picture above.

1. Ike Christensen, 2. Leon Hickman, 3. Othello Hickman, 4. Ruby Chadwick, 6. Prof. J.E. Hickman (principal 1896-99), 7. Leland Spongberg, 8. Chris Gundesen, 9. Eldora (Dora) Hansen, 10. Leone Spongberg, 11. Linda Nelson (teacher with hat; married Serge Benson), 12. Blanche Larson, 14. Edna Geddes, 15. Prof. Ezra Woolley, 16. William Hawkes, Jr., 17. Unknown, 18. Carrie Hansen, 19. Earl Goaslind, 20. Stella Geddes, 21. Abbie Cowley, 22. Grace Woolley, 23. Hattie Dalley, 24.  George Johnson, 25. Carl Nielsen, 26. Unknown, 27. Leona Cowley, 28., Marinda Larson, 29. Dee Hickman, 30. Libbie Carter, 31. Edna Johnson, 32. Fern Hickman, 33. Olive Hansen, 34. Unknown, 35. Unknown, 36. Leo Parkinson, 37. Lawrence Johnson, 38. Mary Shaffer, 39. Ada Stevens, 40. James Johnson, Jr., 41. Vinnie Hale, 42. Suel Roper, 43. Hazel Parkinson, 46. Elva Parkinson, 47. George Parkinson (with cap), 48. Unknown, 49. Matilda Spongberg, 50. Unknown, 51. Unknown, 52. May Head, 53. Unknown, 54. Teressa Nielson, 55. Unknown, 56. Unknown, 57. Stella Nash, 58. Miss Millie Lowe, 59. May Fjeldsted, 60. Ida McNiel, 61. Sarah Hansen, 62. Unknown, 63. Unknown, 64. Florence Benson, 65. Ruth Crockett, 66. May Adams, 67. Unknown, 68. Elizabeth Thomas, 69. John A. Morrison, 70. Miss Lowe, 71. Tom Stevenson (janitor), 72. Unknown, 73. Celia Hansen, 74. Etta Dixon, 75. Unknown, 76. Leslie Hickman, 77. Unknown, 78. Unknown, 79. Unknown.


To see the picture and diagram in their entirety, click on them.

1909 Graduates

The first group of graduates as Four Year Normal Students from the Oneida Stake Academy in 1909. (Front, left) Allabell Weaver (Hull), John Johnson- Principal, Albertie Griffeth (Griffiths). (Back, left) Willard Nuffer, Perry Howell, Louis Nuffer.

Click on picture to see all of it.

1920 OSA Students and faculty

Click on the photo and you can see more of it.

This is a replica of a sign created by the Pioneer Scenic Byway that will be placed in front of the academy, explaining its significance to visitors.

Update - Roof repair begins

The crew of Randy Meek began working on upgrading the northeast quarter of the Oneida Stake Academy's roof on Nov. 9. It took a day to strip three layers of wooden shingles off the roof. The crew then placed sheets of boarding that will upgrade the roof's strength.

A layer of rubber sheeting will cover the  boarding as well as a water and ice guard. The new wooden shingles go on last.

This section of the roof, as well as the building's front stairway was incorporated into the last of the Idaho Transportation Department funds that were used last year to upgrade the walls.

As soon as additional funds are raised ($30,000), the rest of the roof will be upgraded and re-shingled. This section was chosen because a leak developed in it over the summer.

 

Band class in OSA ballroom

Band students in the ballroom of the Oneida Stake Academy when it was partitioned off into classrooms and its ceilings had been lowered.  Newell Hart removed the lowered ceilings, exposing the arched ceilings that produce such rich acoustics in the building.

Behind the students one can see two of the three doors that exited onto the outside staircase, which now no longer exists. The molding to the third door can barely be seen. Upon restoration, this door will again open above a courtyard and onto to a large staircase and an elevator.

IF YOU KNOW ANYONE IN THIS PICTURE, PLEASE COMMENT BELOW! THANK YOU!

Original outdoor staircase

Students posing on the original staircase that ascended to the top floor of the academy on the building's backside.  Photo from collection of Newell Hart. On its back it says "Prof Otte with violin - first boy to his right is Orville Neeley. Left to right, fourth girl front, Allabel."

Preston High Alma Mater

In 1922, the state of Idaho purchased the Oneida Stake Academy Building from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was getting out of public education, and converted the edifice into a state run high school. That is when it became known as Preston High School. The building was used by the school district for classes until the late 1990s.

 


Alma Mater

Preston High our alma mater, 
How our hearts do swell, 
When thy name is breathed or spoken,

Oh, we love thee well.

Refrain:
Raise the emblem of our power,
Hail, the Blue and White;
Sound a cheer the world can hear,
Our spirit is our might!


Admiration fills thy students 
At they colors' sight'
Blue and White, the chosen
Symbols of the Preston High.


Many sacred memories linger
'Round thy old stone wall:
Lo, the dream, live voices echo
Through the time-worn halls.


When the years have bowed our figures, 
And our hair is white,
Memory's hand will guide our foot-steps
Back to Preston High.

This song and photo were printed in the 1926-27 PHS Quiver (yearbook).

OSA website

www.oneidastakeacademy.com

Above is a link to the Oneida Stake Academy's official website. On it you'll find information on the academy's move to its present location in Benson Park in the center of Preston City. You'll also find links to old newspaper articles of the academy's glory days and past OSAF newsletters.

Frank Gilbert played basketball for OSA

Frank Gilbert, born in Fairview, Idaho, in 1894, to Daniel and Amelia Gilbert, attended the Oneida Stake Academy and played basketball for the school's team.

Following is the text from an article that appeared in the Box Elder News on March 16, 1911. Gilbert would have been almost 16-years-old, and may have played in this game.

BASKET BALL LEAKS

The B E H S is one of the most graceful loosers of any basketball team of the state the boys started off at a pretty fair gate but fate seemed to be against them as the season wore on and drubbing after drubbing followed in spite of the good playing the team did.

Last Friday night coach Roskelley took his Colts to Preston, Idaho and played a game with the Oneida Stake Academy five losing the game by two points. The boys put up a marvelous game, however, when it is known that is the first ten minutes playing the academy piled up a score of 17 to the high school 1. The home boys were carried off their feet to begin with but they warmed up and went after it hammer and tongs, and they did things, so that when the final whistle blew the score stood 34-32 favor of the academy. Coach Roskelley attributed the failure of the boys to land the game to the absence of Tingey who could not go along. Wright played a fast game but could not for the life of him, throw baskets, and he had many good opportunities.

The team came on down to Logan Saturday and played the B Y college
in the evening the score being 29-34 favor of the college.

The boys came home Sunday beaten but not disheartened. They have
got used to that.

Teacher Certificate

Recently donated to the Oneida Stake Academy Foundation is this teacher's certificate issued to Dimon Bodily in 1915 by the Franklin County School Superintendent Henry Simpson. Bodily was certified to teach for one year in the areas of reading, language, arithmetic, history and geography.

Oneida Stake Academy 1914

On the back of this photo it says "Probably 'O' Day of 1914 or 15. (On northeast corner of the Academy in shown the old wooden stairway up to the auditorium.)" Also in the picture one can see the Nelson Gymnasium and the science building. Photo donated by Basil and Randy Haberstick.

Update - Front stairs restored to historic Oneida Stake Academy

Using federal funds administered by the Idaho Transportation Department, the Oneida Stake Academy Foundation is having front stairs poured for the historic Oneida Stake Academy in Preston, Idaho.

 The current design of the new stairs follows the academy's original design with modern amenities. It will look like the original, but a heating pad will help to keep it ice-free when completed. The stairs will include rock facing placed on the concrete steps which have been built by Jeff Call, of Preston, for Bailey Construction out of Logan, Utah. Additional funding is currently being sought to have the rock laid on this new concrete stair foundation.

Furthermore, Bailey Construction is contracting with Randy Meek to upgrade and repair a leak in a portion of the academy's roof.  As funding comes in, the entire roof will be upgraded, said board members of the Oneida Stake Academy Foundation. Donations to the restoration of the 119-year-old Oneida Stake Academy are tax-deductible and may be made to the Oneida Stake Academy Foundation, P.O. Box 555, Preston, Idaho 83263.

When completed, the academy will serve the community as an elegant, historical community center, available to the public for events such as receptions, reunions, conferences and performances of the arts. It will also house a museum of its own and local history, and function as an information center for the Pioneer Scenic Byway, which runs from Franklin, Idaho,  through Preston, and into Freedom, Wyoming. For more information, see www.oneidastakeacademy.com.

Nathan Hale and Jeff Call inspect the forms before concrete is poured.
























Cement is pumped to the forms.

Newell Hart

Newell Hart was a Preston native, a free spirit and an avid chronicler of an era slipping into the past. Born on Feb. 21, 1913, he was the son of Arthur William and Evadyna Henderson Hart.

Newell and his wife, Ruth, spent many years in California, but eventually returned to Preston. Together they pulled together the efforts of other local academy fans to repair and restore the academy so it could be used not only by Preston School District, but the public.

Newell died in 1983, having his final celebration of life in the ballroom of the academy. Unfortunately, he had to wait downstairs while his eulogies went on above, as the stairway would not accommodate his casket. Ruth followed him on June 1, 2006.

His family and the new owners of his home, Basil and Randy Haberstick, have shared items and photos Newell and Ruth had collected on the academy with the Oneida Stake Academy Foundation.

Many of those photos well be shared for the first time on this blog.

We pay tribute to Newell, Ruth and their family members and friends who helped them prepare the academy for its second century of life.

View of original campus

At left is a view of the entire campus before Preston High School was built. If you look closely, you will see that the science buildng still had its upper floors. Preston School District continues to use this building, minus the upper floors since they were lost to a fire decades ago. Art classes are taught in its upper second floor and weight lifting is held in its main floor. The grounds maintenance offices and work rooms are in the building's basement.

The building to the left in the picture above is the no-longer-standing Nelson Gymnasium.

The above picture is a clipping from The Preston Citizen from an unknown year. It originally appeared in the Hometown Album, which was compiled by academy champion Newell Hart. The book is no longer in print, much to our chagrin, but occasionally we get copies of its contents.

Unfortunately we no longer have its compiler, Newell Hart. Due to his passion for saving the building in the 70s and 80s, we have a building to restore today.

Oneida Stake Academy

Construction began on the OSA in 1890. The academy classes were moved from their first home in an upstairs room in a store in Franklin, Idaho, to the academy's basement in 1891, while construction continued on the building's upper floors. The building was completed and dedicated in 1895, by Moses Thathcher.
It remained in use as an auxiliary building of the Preston School District #201 until the late 1990s. Since then, it has been relocated, and is under restoration to become the center of Northern Cache Valley culture once again.

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