ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

BRUFLAT ACADEMY, PORTLAND, NORTH DAKOTA RECORDS

COLLECTION: OGL #131

DATES: 1889-1918, 1968

SIZE: 1 item

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The Bruflat Academy, Portland, North Dakota Records were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection as a gift from Theodore Gilbertson, 1968.

ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

The Bruflat Congregation in Portland, North Dakota, constructed preliminary plans in 1888 for the construction of the Bruflat Academy and Business Institute. There was a parochial boarding school organized at Gran Congregation, close to Mayville, North Dakota, by Pastor Bjug Harstad around 1885. However, congregations farther west required a more convenient location. Members of the Bruflat Church decided upon the establishment of an expanded parochial school, and also an academy for those students who had already been confirmed, and to build a substantial building large enough to satisfy all needs. Mayville was suggested for the ideal location, but the logical and finalized location was the parochial school already functioning in Bruflat Church.

Church members from Mayville, Bang, and Norman congregations organized themselves into the Norwegian Lutheran Congregation Stock Company and sold shares for the construction. 503 shares were sold, amounting to $5035, an adequate amount for building to begin. The final completed cost was around $7000. The first floor was to be for the parochial department and the second floor for the academy department. The third floor was mostly rooms for faculty members and girls. A dining room and kitchen were located in the basement.

The school opened on November 18, 1889 for both parochial and academy departments. 100 students attended the first year. In 1891, the Gran Boarding School closed and joined Bruflat Academy. As the institution grew, the demand for expansion became so great that a dormitory was built in 1896. This building housed boys on the second and third floors, while the first was used mainly for bookkeeping, commercial classes, and an auditorium. Also that year, a small hospital and a steam heating plant were added. In 1912, a gymnasium was built by the alumni. A variety of courses were offered when the institution flourished, such as normal, college prepatory, commercial, shorthand and typewriting, simple stenographic, and music.

The institution continued through hard times and lack of funds until the fall of 1918. After 29 years of service, the doors were closed. In 1920, the buildings were sold to Portland Special School District for high school purposes, and later constructions were made.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Bruflat Academy, Portland, North Dakota Records contains a manuscript of a brief history of the Institute from 1889-1918, written by Theodore Gilbertson. Bruflat Academy was one of the first advanced educational institutes in North Dakota.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder

1. Photocopy of a typewritten history of the Academy written by Theodore Gilbertson.

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