Archives and Records
1895: St. Martin's College, Lacey

St. Martin's College		St. Martin's football team

(Click pictures for full-size images)

In an article for The Catholic Northwest Progress, the Rev. Vincent M. Conway, S.J. wrote the following about St. Martin's College in Lacey:  "Indirectly, St. Martin's began 60 years ago when German-speaking Catholics of Tacoma asked the Bishop for a Benedictine pastor. In response to the Bishop's invitation and after a preliminary investigation by Abbot Bernard Locnikar of St. John's Abbey, Father William Eversman, O.S.B., was sent to Tacoma as pastor of Holy Rosary. On August 14, 1892, Father WolfgangSteinkogler, O.B.S., [sic], was appointed as his assistant and instructed by Abbot Bernard to locate a spot in Washington suitable for the erection of a Monastery and College.

"In 1895, 570 acres were purchased, and construction was started on what was later to become the Monastery, College, and High School of St. Martin of Tours at Lacey. In September, 1895, classes began for one boy, Angus McDonald of Shelton.

"In 1904 St. Martin's was raised to the dignity of a canonically independent Priory, and in 1914 it was further advanced to the status of an Abbey.

"From 1895 to 1923 St. Martin's grew steadily. Each year there were additional students and faculty members and more buildings were erected. Today St. Martin's has well over 450 students in its college and more than 150 students in the high school. Under its five presidents the college has constantly improved. Today the president is the Rev. Abbot Raphael Heider, O.S.B."

Sources:

• Rev. Vincent M. Conway, S.J., "The Church and Education," The Catholic Northwest Progress, 8 September 1950, page 99