While the Big Horn Academy was established in 1907 with the construction in Cowley of a stone schoolhouse, the present stone building wasn't constructed until 1916, at a cost of $40,000, replacing that original building. The academy was essentially dissolved in 1924 when the school was transferred to School District No. 28, thereafter to be known as the Cowley High School. The large log building beside the stone schoolhouse was a WPA project built for $10,000 in 1936 as a gymnasium for the school. Since its construction, however, the building has served the community as a community hall as well as a gymnasium.
Today the sandstone schoolhouse is used as an administration building by the Big Horn County School District #1 and is owned by the town of Cowley.
Strangely, though construction on the academy building was begun in 1916, it wasn't opened for classes until September of 1919. When it did though, the Lovell Chronicle was first to publish a news article apprising residents of its upcoming opening, printing the story on the front page of its September 5, 1919 issue. The article is reproduced in its entirety below.
B. H. Academy Opens Sept. 15
Lovell Chronicle | Friday, September 5, 1919
The Big Horn Academy will open Monday, September 15. Monday and Tuesday students will register and purchase their books and supplies. Wednesday class work will commence.
The outlook for the academy is as good or better than ever before. The building is new, modern and equipped with a heating plant and ventilating system that are second to none in the state. The large class rooms are perfectly lighted and equipped with new Tablet Arm benches.
At the time school opens the building will be finished. There will be a fine drinking fountain installed on the first floor of the main building. There are separate lavatories, cloak and locker rooms for the boys and girls. On the outside will be paved walks leading from the streets to and around the building. The grounds will be cleared and leveled.
The faculty is composed of degreed men and women of experience and ability and who also have the spirit of church school work.
The departments that will be especially strong this' year are physics and mathematics, biology, home economics and mechanical arts. The laboratories are fairly well equipped and large enough to accommodate two hundred students.
Since the academy is a church school, considerable emphasis is placed on religious and moral instruction. Gladstone says "It is a dangerous thing for a young man to start out m life without the thought of God." It has also been wisely said that no virtue is safe that is not enthusiastic, and the enthusiasm of virtue is a religious passion. Modern educators are insisting that religion be given a place in our educational system. There are required courses in theology for members of the church, but non-members are not asked to take them. They can take the other courses and be graduated without the courses in theology. The academy is built by the people,for the people and designed to serve the people. Give it a chance.
Students who contemplate attending the academy can make arrangements for board and room by writing the principal of the school, J.E. Palmer.
From the Lovell Chronicle