When it became evident that the state fire marshal’s office was going to condemn the building due to extensive damage from the fire, smoke and water, dedicated parents, students and friends wondered how they would ever recover from the loss of their beloved school.įor a time, classes were held in an old building near the Kellogg Field airport. Garber canceled classes for the remainder of the week but stated that classes would soon resume either on the premises in areas not damaged by the fire or “in other buildings, several of which are available.” 13 The Battle Creek Enquirer and News stated that:īattle Creek Academy, the Seventh-day Adventist school on North Kendall street was extensively damaged by fire early this morning and was closed to its 222 students. Then on April 11, 1945, a consuming fire sounded the doom of the school on Kendall Street. Many of the academy’s alumni fondly recall attending classes at this location. This three-story building housed a number of classrooms and provided its five faculty members with sufficient space to teach all the essentials of a quality Christian Education.įor over forty years Battle Creek Academy operated from this building. school building.” 12 One year later, a brand new Academy opened on North Kendall Street. On September 3, 1903, “ground was broken for a S. With this in mind, they determined to construct a building with adequate classrooms and learning space. 11 Nonetheless, church leaders were convinced that the Adventist young people in the Battle Creek area still needed the opportunity to have a Christian Education. Then in 1901, Battle Creek College moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan and is today known as Andrews University.
As the Academy continued to grow, finding sufficient space to accommodate all the students in the Review and Herald building became challenging–especially with the later establishment of Battle Creek College. However, for the pioneers of Adventist education, a church supported school on the premises of the Publishing House was just a stepping stone. On that first day of classes, Professor Bell stood at the door and greeted his students as they arrived with their paper and writing utensils. 10 The school was housed in the old print shop at the Review and Herald Publishing House. On June 3, 1872, Battle Creek Academy opened as the first Seventh-day Adventist denominationally sponsored school and included both an elementary and secondary program. As a result, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists heeded the request of Adventists in Battle Creek and took this special school under its wing. 9Īt the end of those five years, Bell’s reputation for conscientious teaching had spread and the enrollment at his school had increased dramatically. Goodloe Harper Bell was convinced that quality Adventist Education was needed and he played a crucial role in establishing the first successful Adventist school. Consequently, while Bell continued to operate a successful school, the challenges he faced took their toll and his health began to suffer “owing to overwork in his educational efforts.” 8įor five years he persevered. His efforts to promote the education that his students were receiving was often interpreted as an effort to exalt himself. However, because the concept of private Adventist Education was new, Bell also spent a great deal of his time justifying the necessity of this new educational program. If young people were unable to attend his school because they had to work during the day, he began provided early morning and night classes. When textbooks containing suitable material were not available, Bell hand-wrote the lessons for his students.
Professor Bell believed that instruction in his “Select School” must coincide with his newly found Adventist faith. In the center of the room at one side, facing the door, was the teacher’s desk, and the classes assembled on benches in front of it.” 7 The schoolroom was on the second floor, so we climbed the shaky stairs, and found ourselves entering a long low room, with long wooden benches for seats. This room had become “a dumping place for cast-off materials” 5 from the Review office, but with a little “cleaning and refurnishing it became the location for Bell’s Select School.” 6 Mary Alice Steward, one of Bell’s students remembered the “Select School” as being Bell to begin instructing their children and they provided him with a classroom in the old North Lodge. After some consideration, the parents hired Mr.
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