The Somerset reporter., 1898-01-20
Bloomfield Academy.
Its Early History with Incidents and Facts
of Much Interest.

the General Court of Massachusetts,
Feb. 18th, 1907. The first board of d.
rectors consisted of Judah Mcclellan,
Seth Currier, Benz. Shepherd, Josiah
Locke, Ell Weston, John Weston, and
Solomon Steward OF Canaan; DR.. John
Lawrence of Cornville; Rev. Joshua
Cushman of Winslow; Reuben Kidder of
Waterville; John q. Neil and Daniel
Steward OF Norridgewock.
The first meeting of the board of
trustees was held June 10th, 1912, more
than five years after its Incorporation,
when it was voted "to build an Academy
building, "a by 3e, and IL feet posts"
In 1917 its name WAS changed to
Bloomfield Academy by the General
Court, and at the same session grant
of half township of land was made.
1t was located on Dead River, on which
is now Coplin Plantation in Franklin Co.
The grant provided that in five years
from it's location, at least five settlers
should locate on the land and clear not
less than five acres each. The same pro-
vision was made In the deed to the pur-
chasers. but no settlers settled there for
more than forty years. 1t WAS explored
by a resident of the town, who reported
it to be unfit for cultivation, and of but
little value, but it proved to be one of
the best timbered towns on Dead River.
1t was sold to Andrew Morse, Jedediah
HAYDEN and Nathaniel Blackwell for
$2400.
The first academy building was paid
for by voluntary subscriptions of the
inhabitants of the town, and built in
1914. 1t was plain, unpretentious
building, as many of our older citizens
may remember, and stood on the lot now
occupied by the grammar school build
ing until 1910, when it was removed
from place to place, and is now an out
house on the farm of the late lothian
Weston. In connection with the sub
scription of the building it may be men
toned that the Rev. John Gaylord, then
pastor Of the Congregational church, on
visit to England, his native country.
solicited and obtained money to a con
siderable amount; and the records show
that committee after committee was
chosen to get the money, but they failed
to show whether anything was ever col
lected or not, but it is believed that but
a small part was received.
The method of heating the building
would seem at the pre- sent day to be
somewhat novel. Ii consisted of a
brick foundation with walls about Is
inches high, surrounded by an old potash
kettle inverted, with the bottom knocked
out, and small brick chimney resting
upon it and extending through the roof.
The next building upon tn" same spot,
Ohe present grammar schooD was erect
cd in 1910. The Hon. Bryce Mcclellan
donated $1,000 toward its erection.
In 1916 the trustees of the academy
made proposals to the trustees of the
Maine Literary and Theological Institu-
ton (now Colby University to locate
that institution here, and voted to turn
over to them the academy building and
funds, provided that they locate in this
town, and it looked at one time that the
thing was settled, but more tempting
offer was made by Waterville, and it was
located there.
1t would seem from the records that
the subscriptions of the Inhabitants for
the building, amounted TO a larger sum
than the cost of the building, as imme-
diately after the sale of the half town.
ship of land for $2400, it was voted that
there be permanent fund of $3400, the
principal of which should be made in
tact.
The first term of the academy was
held in 1914, under the tuition of the
Rev. James Hall, n native of Scotland,
and a graduate of Edinburgh university,
and consisted of thirteen students.
catalogue of 1920 shows n list of " stu
dents. The writer of this is believed to
be the only survivor.
Mr.. Hall was successful teacher, and
though somewhat rough in manner was
of genial disposition. He was an invet-
crate smoker, smoking much of the time
in school hours. His discipline was not
very strict. Students would go In and
out at their own option. and were only
required to be present at recitation. He
was reputed to be one of the best mathe-
maticians In the State. He remained
preceptor until 1928, when he removed
to Arson and taught the academy there
for several years, and died there. He
was succeeded by Weston B. Adams,
who remained until 1888, when he re-
signed to become preacher. Mr..
Adams was successful teacher and a
strict disciplinarian. He was succeeded
by Francis A. Vose, who remained until
1888. He seemed to take more interest
in farming than teaching. He was asked
to resign, which he did. Mr.. Vose was
succeeded by Daniel Dole, afterward
missionary to the Sandwich islands, and
father of Sanford B. Dole, the present
chief magistrate of the Hawaiian repub-
lie. Since that time the records of the
trustees are generally silent as to the
names of the teachers. Committees
were appointed to procure teachers but
no report appears of the record. My
memory will not admit of naming them
in the order of succession. The writer
recalls the names of fourteen teachers
exclusive of assistants-since 1898, seven
Of whom were natives of Bloomfield, and
graduates of colleges.
1t will be seen that after the retire
ment of Mr.. Vose until it was merged
with the high school, that the average
length of service of the teachers was
nearly two years.
Too much credit cannot be given to
the founders of the academy for their
efforts in establishing the institution,
when it will be recollected that the town
was comparatively small and that the
building was erected, and nearly. or
quite one thousand dollars was contribut-
ed for the permanent fund; and that
this was done during the war of 1912,
and that money was as scarce and hard
to be had as at any time in the history
of the country. But they had the salts
faction of seeing the institution firmly
established and become second TO none