The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-23
MT. Perry-MadisOn Academy-COIn-
mencememt Exercises, etc.

Until within the past few years, Mt.
Perry, in Madison township, was known
as Williams Mill, and was place o. no
considerable note outside of the radius
of country naturally tributary TO it be-
cause of it's convenience of location. The
country surrounding it is very fertile;
"rolling," but not too hilly for purposes
of easy and successful agrculture-and
abounding in good water, timber, beau
tiful valleys, and delightful landscapes.
The farmers who live in it, being thus
favored by nature, have been well re
warded for their labors, as is evidenced
upon every hand by the well kept farms,
substantial dwellings, and the general
air of comfort and prosperity which is
striklngly manifest to person passing
along their highways.
In 1869 or 1870, the Rev. James
White, prompted hy the belief that a
country so favored as this--and occu-
ped by an industrious. intelligent peo-
pie, exalted in their ideas and practices
of morality, would be an inviting field
in which to undertake the erection of a
normal institute of learning. Himself
a gentleman of culture and refined man
ners, and desirous of implanting in
those who should be placed under his
training, all the graces which cOnduce
to perfect manhood and womanhood, he
felt that with the hearty cooperation of
the people of Mt. Perry and vicinity. he
would be enabled to render the object
of his labors matter of certainty.
And in this he was not mistaken. a
proper organization was effected, and
work on the Academy building begun
in 1870, and in due time finished, and
opened for the reception of students.
Without much pretense or outward
show, it has been maintained ever since,
growing in popularity and extending
its sphere of usefulness by the improved
facilities which a liberal support enabled
him to provide, and wise discernment
suggested as n-edful. The admirable
discipline of the Academy was soon
manifest in the department of the stu
dents; and the merits and advantages OF
the school were duly recognized and ap-
preciated not only by the people in whose
mid.t it is located, but by those in other
neighhorhoods who learned something
of the methods in vogue there, and their
results.
The existence of the Academy grad
ually superinduced an increase of traffic,
in general way, at Mt. Perry, and 9th
erwise contributed to the advancement
of the place in business point of view;
and it is now rapidly progressing to the
rank of one Of the ''inportant points" OF
the county.
We had the pleasure of attending the
Commencement Exercises of the Acade-
my which were held in Bogle's Grove
ne + Mt Perry on Friday the 10th inst
AT times, during the day, the weather
was threatening, but tho occasion passed
off without any serious interruption by
the elements" and was, throughout, a
most enjoyable affair. We should judge
there were between four hundred and
five hundred personalities, gentlemen
and children-on the grounds during
the exercises-quite a number of whom
are residents of other and distant parti
of the county, and some came from ad
joining counties. Bogle's Grove, where
the exercises were held, is a glorioul
park of large sugar trees and on thi
day it presented n particularly charm
ing aspect. with the hundreds of pleas
ant faced people strolling about and sit
ting under its stately "monarchs."
spacious platform surrounded with mum
erous seats had been provided for tn,
convenience and accommodation of thos
who participated in, and those who com
. to witness the exercise. The programm
consisted of addresses, essays, music
and the comforting of certificates Of grad
uation, and was carried out without an
r embarrassment or unpleasant and un
, necessary halting. The addresses ar,
3 essays were all timely and interesting
and were delivered and read in mar