| Newcomers to the Colony, impressed by the size and beauty of the Chaffey
Campus and struck by the name, sometimes inquire by what good fortune the High
School enjoys so beautiful a location; why it is so named, and what advantages
it offers. The answer is a story that every lover of Chaffey loves to
tell.
It takes us back to the days of wilderness-to the days of cactus and
sagebrush-to the days when adventure and idealism must unite to frame a vision
of the rich groves and numerous, thriving population of the present time. In
those days two brothers, George Chaffey and W. B. Chaffey, were the owners of a
tract of about 6,000 acres, which they had named the "Ontario Colony
Lands," in remembrance of their old home in Ontario, Canada.
These men had the wonderful gift of vision. They planned a colony which
should be known throughout the United States for its beauty and for its superior
conveniences. But their vision went beyond this and they planned to establish a
colony which should be known as an educational center. To accomplish this, on
December 8, 1882, "they executed and delivered to A. M. Hough, J. P. Widney,
E. F. Spence, G. D. Compton, C. E. White and R. M. Widney a deed of conveyance,
conveying to them as trustees certain portions of the Ontario Colony lands in
trust to sell except the portions described as farm lots 797 and 798. The
trustees were empowered to use and to apply the income from the trust property
and from the proceeds of sales in the establishment and maintenance, on lots 797
and 798, of a school to be designated as the Chaffey College of Agriculture of
the University of Southern California.
The purpose of the trust as stated was "to establish and maintain such
school for the equal benefit and advantage upon like terms of all students who
should be or become residents upon any portion of said Ontario Colony Lands and
to maintain such school as a school in which such students might receive
instruction in all branches of learning, and especially in the higher grades of
such branches, including instruction with special reference to
agriculture.
In pursuance of this trust the trustees immediately sold portions of the
trust property and applied the proceeds and income in the construction and
equipment of an appropriate school building and devoted lots 797 and 798,
containing twenty acres, to use as a school grounds and campus, except that the
west six acres of lot 797, not being then required for this use, was planted to
orchard.
The building was completed on or about October 15, 1885, and at that time a
school, known as the Chaffey College of Agriculture, was opened and maintained
until shortly prior to the year 1901. During the period of its operation this
school was devoted mainly to instruction in such branches and grades of learning
as are usually taught in the high schools of this State. It was attended by
students from all parts of the Ontario Colony Lands, without distinction, on the
grounds of locality.
At the time of the execution of the trust there was not upon the Ontario
Colony Lands, or at any point near by, any school other than Chaffey College in
which the high school grades were taught, and students were accordingly willing
to pay moderate tuition fees for attending Chaffey College, and Chaffey College
was sustained in part by these fees; but in the year 1901 there was established
a public high school district known as the Ontario High School District, which
included the greater part of the Ontario Colony Lands and by far the greater
part of the population residing in the colony. This school was open, without any
tuition charge, and taught substantially the same branches that had been taught
in Chaffey College. In 1909 the Ontario High School District erected a building
upon a tract of five acres purchased from the Chaffey Estate.
Meanwhile, the position of trustee, as to each of the original trustees, had
become vacant. On September 13, 1905, the Superior Court of the State of
California in and for the County of San Bernardino appointed W. W. Smith and
George Chaffey and Walter M. Rose trustees of the trust. Later, upon the death
of Mr. Rose, A. M. Chaffey was appointed a trustee in his place.
On June 9, 1911, there was organized a union high school district known as
the Chaffey Union High School District, comprising the school districts of
Ontario and Upland and including all the lands of the Ontario Colony.
On January 11, 1912, the trustees of the Chaffey Trust filed in the Superior
Court their petition for an order of court authorizing them as trustees to
convey to the Chaffey Union High School "the right to occupy and use
permanently for school purposes certain real property, the same being a part of
the property of said trust, and also authorizing them, as said trustees to apply
the income from said trust to aid in the maintenance of a union high school in
and by said union high school district." On the 5th day of February, 1912,
Judge Oster of the Superior Court issued an order authorizing the application of
the real property and the income from the trust fund to such purposes in
connection with the high school as should be agreed upon between the trustees
and the Union High School Board.
Thus Chaffey Union High School came into possession of the magnificent
Chaffey campus and acquired the income from an endowment fund amounting to about
$80,000. The new district voted bonds for $100,000 for the erection of suitable
buildings.
The Ontario High School Building, which is now known as the Liberal Arts
Building, had been built after the mission type of architecture. This beautiful
architectural form, so well adapted to Southern California, has been followed in
the whole group of stately buildings that now occupy the campus. The largest of
these is the Science Building, which may be regarded as headquarters of the
school, since the executive offices are located there. This spacious building
affords room not only for the sciences and domestic arts, but for the
mathematics and history classrooms as well and for the cafeteria and boys'
training quarters.
The Manual Training Building is a splendidly equipped shop, which offers
every facility for pupils to prepare themselves in wood turning and in iron and
machine work. New equipment is being added constantly to keep abreast of the
rapid developments in mechanics.
The Auditorium and Library Building, which is centrally placed upon the
campus, occupies in part the ground where once stood old Chaffey College and
incorporates in its foundation the cornerstone laid so many years ago. The
Auditorium fills a long felt want in the community. Situated midway between
Ontario and Upland, it offers to both towns the advantage of possessing a
spacious and elegantly furnished hall suitable for entertainments or civic
gatherings. The large stage has been generously equipped with scenery for use in
school theatricals.
The art of the builders upon the campus reached its consummation in the
Library. This beautiful room, with its oaken shelves laden with the treasures of
literature, with its inviting fireplace, from above which smiles down the face
of the venerated founder of the school, is truly a source of inspiration and the
best loved nook of the campus.
The newest of the buildings is the Chaffey Plunge. For this splendid feature
of the school the community is indebted in part to the Chaffey Endowment Fund
and in part to a large additional gift from Mr. Chaffey. The Plunge contains a
commodious tank, 100 by 40 feet, and 120 dressing rooms. Needless to say,
swimming, diving and water polo are favorite sports at Chaffey.
Ample provision has been made for all forms of athletic training. A large
field has been carefully prepared for football and baseball. It is surrounded by
a quartermile track. Two cement tennis courts also make their bid for
favor.
One might end the story with this glimpse of the changes that have been
wrought upon the Chaffey campus, but the history of high school education in the
colony would be only half told were no mention made of the two men who have
directed the educational policy. Mr. Jefferson Taylor became principal of the
high school upon its establishment in 1901 and served until 1912. Previously Mr.
Taylor had taught for six years in Chaffey College. His gentle kindliness and
stately courtesy left their stamp upon a whole generation of young people, while
his fine scholarship inspired many to higher study.
Retiring in 1912, Mr. Taylor was succeeded by Mr. Merton E. Hill, a man of
surpassing force of character. Under his able direction, department after
department has been added to the scope of the school, culminating in the
establishment on August 11, 1916, of the Chaffey Union Junior College. The fact
is recognized that the untiring energy and high ideals of Mr. Hill have given
Chaffey rank among the first schools of the State.
This, briefly sketched, is the story of Chaffey. Founded upon high ideals and
sustained by devotion, "the harvest shall not cease."
LOIS LE BARON' AVERY. |
