Jireh College
Niobrara County, Wyoming
1910-1920
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E-Travel
The American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming provided a short history of Jireh College written by C. W. Pfeifer, the 1917 Commencement Week program, and a campus map. Contemporary accounts of school activities came from the Lusk Herald, The Branding Iron, and The Herald of Gospel Liberty. A 1917 letter from Mrs. Helen Lantis to Nebraska Farmer highlights the accomplishments of the school. The Barry Swackhamer image of the Wilkinson Hall cornerstone (right) is from the Historical Marker Database.
History
In 1908 Reverend George Dalzell of the Lusk Congregational Church began plans for a school with Christian orientation in eastern Wyoming, a rural area lacking in educational opportunities. Classes began on July 18, 1910, for thirty students, taught by a faculty of six. Jireh College offered a four-year high school curriculum in addition to the first two years of college, thus becoming the first college in Wyoming other than the state university. The first faculty offered classes in Bible, philosophy, English, history, math, science, education, Latin, Greek, art, and music. Later a Commercial Department was added, teaching typing, shorthand, and bookkeeping. Classes ultimately included domestic science and agriculture.
Pfeifer notes that the 1913 catalog shows an enrollment of 78-- including music and art students. The students were largely from farm families; a wyomingtalesandtrails.com image show students arriving at school on horseback--likely with their good clothes in a roll behind the saddle, according to Branding Iron.
The Commencement Week program shows a week-long agenda of drama, music, exhibitions, and sports. Jireh College had an orchestra, piano students, and various small instrumental groups to support a chorus, a choir, and several vocal groups. One night featured a school play with thirteen actors; one afternoon was devoted to demonstration from the Domestic Science Department. The 1913 Commencement Week featured a debate, readings, and an oration.
Jireh was never robust financially despite the sale of building lots for the creation of the town. Much of the news from the school involved fund-raising activities in the East by Christian Churches, including a “Jireh College Day” to raise support. Despite positive reviews, the Christian Church withdrew funds, forcing the college to close in 1920.
Bricks and Mortar
In 1908 Reverend Dalzell acquired 320 acres of land west of Manville, Wyoming for a college site; the Jireh Land Company organized the land, setting aside twenty acres for a campus. The town of Jireh grew up beside the campus. Mrs. Lantis noted that intoxicating liquors were forbidden in the town, along with cigarettes, cigarette papers, gambling “and kindred vices.”
In 1909 ground was broken for a “substantial” frame building, of three floors over a basement. This building—later named Wilkinson Hall—measured 60 by 40 feet and contained 16 classrooms, a library and an auditorium/chapel, a room also used for all community functions. For a time the building also served as a dormitory for both boys (third floor) and girls (second floor). In 1912 President Daniel B. Atkinson had a girls’ dormitory built, using his own funds. Wilkinson Hall featured a bell tower, but the new bell was too heavy for the structure and had to be removed. It was scrapped during World War II.
Pfeifer notes an experimental farm provided food for the school cafeteria as well as providing training in agriculture and domestic science.
In 1922 the Jerih Land Company had the buildings razed and the materials sold for building projects in the community. The town of Jireh no longer exists.
Drawing of Wilkinson Hall. Image from the 1910 Herald of Gospel Liberty.
Sports
Mrs. Lantis notes that at Jireh College physical culture was “very beneficially considered.” The Lusk Herald shows a Physical Culture exhibition as part of the Commencement Week activities. Lantis mentions skating as a popular activity and that tennis courts would be added “soon.” Also as part of commencement week was an interclass track meet. Students participated in nine events—three running events, four field events, and two standing events. An “efficient” basketball program included both boys’ and girls’ teams. School images from 1914-15 show a five-member girls’ team and a six-member boys’ team.
I found only one record of a game played—a 1916 loss to a team from Lusk 57-24.
1914-15 Girls' Basketball Team. Image from https://spcrphotocollection.wyo.gov/luna/servlet/s/v67738
Note: Images are used in accordance with their "terms of use," as I understand those terms. Recopying these images may be restricted or forbidden.