The Norweb Collection - An American Legacy

Always the pedagogue whatever his latest venture, Liberty wad instrumental in founding the Salt Lake Academy which opened its doors on September 9, 1878 with 100 students. The Academy was modeled after New England institutions (here we see reflection of Liberty's early career), and was dedicated to meet the needs " ...for destitute portions of this and neighboring Territories, to prepare for entrance into foremost institutions, clastsical or scientific; to fit young persons for the study of a profession or entrance into a business:' Established in rooms neighboring Independence Hall, owned by the First Congregational Church of Salt Lake City, the Academy included in its list of prohibitions that "No tobacco would be tolerated:' Liberty was president of the Academy from its opening until 1890, when the public school system was adopted. There were no public schools in Salt Lake City during this period, and the Academy was the sole educational institution there which was not organized and maintained by the Mormon Church.

In 1880 a new building was added to the Academy, Hammond Hall, built at a cost of $35,000 on land at 330 East Third Street and advertised as being conveniently located "on the streetcar line: The stone structure sat on a large, 21/2-acre site. When the public school system was adopted the Academy dropped its primary and intermediate levels, concentrating on the upper levels, like a modern college preparatory high school, and added an evening school division located across the street from Clift House, a prominent hostelry. Hammond Hall was a boarding school. In its first year it housed 150 students who paid $8 per term for tuition, $2.50 for board, and between 50 cents and $1.50 per room, depending on the size and appointments. In 1895 the Academy's name was changed to Salt Lake College, a college level having been added to the curriculum. The new college listed itself as " ... non-sectarian, but thoroughly Christian and earnestly evangelical" Mormons were not considered to be Christians and were excluded from enrollment.

Hammond Hall's cornerstone was opened many years later, on May 15, 1936. According to that day's issue of the Deseret News, coins dating from 1858 to 1882 (sic) were found in the stone. Unfortunately for later numismatists no record of the denominations, dates, or mintmarks was kept, so we will never know what was recovered from the stone. It is tempting to contemplate Liberty's hand in including coins in the contents of the cornerstone, but again, this will never be known for certain.