The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-08-13
THE OLD ACADEMY
AND THE BELFAST HIGH SCHOOL
BY JOHN S. FERNALD.

Belfast Academy'S doors were hrs
opened to the youth of the town. Oh
February 30, 1908, the General Assem-
bly of Massachusetts, granted charte
for an institution for promoting piety
morality and religion, and for the edu
cation of youth in such languages ant
such liberal arts and sciences as thu
trustees shall from time to time di
rect" The following named incorpor
ators were designated as trustees
George Ulmer and Samuel A. Whitney
of Lincolnville, Alfred johnson, Phin
cas- Ashmun, Bohan P. Field, Thomas
Whittier, James Nesmith, Nathan
Reed. John Wilson, Jonathan Wilson
and Thaddeus Hubbard of Belfast,
Oliver Mann and Rev. William Mason
of Castine and Rev. Mighill Blood and
Caleb B. Hall of Bucksport. The sum
of So, 800 was raised for an endowment,
by subscription. Capt. Ephraim McFar-
land gave as site one and three-fOurthS
acres of land on High street, but this
was subsequently exchanged by paying
frontage of IS rods on High street. The
Ipl Illt1utlCu IN ElShtioSc NV " " hSN ~
DR.. Z. \. Wilson, +. NJ. Lancaster,
Elmer \. Sherman, James Gammans
and George w. Burkett, and the pres
ent Academy lot. The Legislature of
Maine granted half township six
miles square in the then county OF
Washington. miles west OF Houlton,
for the use Of the institution and the
tract was known as Belfast Academy
Grant. Lots were sold from it for the
benefit OF the Academy in 1926 for S1.00
per acre and in 1910 for $50 per acre.
In 1871 the remaining part was sold to
Hon. James Wilson for $4,000. The
Grant is now the town OF Ludlow III
ArooStook county. 1t has population
of 400 and valuation of Sl14,lT1.
The first Academy building was OF
wood. one story, implanted, and had
poTtico and cupola. 1t stood partly III
the present limits of Church street.
which had not then been laid OUT in
front Of where Mr.. Burllett's house
now stands 1t was formerly dedicated
MAY Is. ISL. with an Grafton by James
Porter, the first preceptor, music by
" I1iam Moody and Others, and din
her. Church street was built as far
south as the Academy lot in 1923, and
was extended across it to High street
or the present Northport avenue in
1923. When the British had possession
of Belfast IN 1911 the Academy build
inc was used by their soldiers as bar
racks. and up to the time the present
Unitarian meeting house was built
ISIS. it was occupied occasionally for
religious meetings. In 1929 the AGA
denny was suspended but in 1886. the
sale of some of tie land of the "Belfast
Academy Grant placed it OH a better
financial footing. and the school was re-
opened with 152 pupils, The building
was repaired and new apparatus was
bought. In 1910 the building was moved
TO the present location and thoroughly
reconstructed. 1t was burned with
nearly ali its contents Dec. II, 1872.
For awhile the Academy was kept in
the vestrv Of the Unitarian church, in
chambers on Phoenix Row, and in the
old Masonic Hail on Main street, but
in 1916 the present building was erect
ed at a cost of S., 200, and was used ac-
cordmg to its original purpose until
1862, Wien it was rendered to the town
for public schools. The building is o
brick, :,5X5o feet, two stories high, with
a low gable roof. There was at first
square belfry Oh the front end, but it
NttN lthtIi tith Ii llldllN NCt'lo uSo,
The above sketch is compiled from
the chapter on Educational History in
WilIiamson's History of Belfast, and
the following list of teachers of the
Academy is copied from the same
source:
1911 James Porter, Williams College,
class of 1910.
1879. George Downes, Harvard, 1872.
1874. John Bultinch, Harvard, 1872
1873. Henry Bulfinch, Harvard, 1921.
lSlG-l7. Ralph Cushman, Andover
Theological Seminary.
1sl7-l>. William rockingham, Har-
ward, 1799.
1919 - Putnam.
1923. Nathaniel Haynes, Bowdoin,
1923.
1924. Calvin Holtor.
ISIS. Luther d. Sawyer, Bowdoin,
1923.
1861. Richard Pike, Bowdoin, 1898.
1898. Albert Merrill, BoWdoin, 1887.
1s3940. Sheridan +. Bates, Middle
1912. George W. Field, Bowdoin,
1887.
1851 Same.
ls47. VIM. F. Bridge, Harvard, 1876
1913. VIM. B. Edson Harvard, 1S4S. |
lS49. John ID. Taylor, Harvard, 1910
1850. VIM. Osgood, Harvard, 1850.
1852. VIM. c. Williamson, Harvard, |
1852.
In 1852 the Central School District
bought the county's interest in the old
court house, and converted it into a
school house. The schools were rear
ranged, the Academy was given up and
a High school was substituted. The
High school was opened in the Acade
nv building, but was moved to the
court house building as soon as the lat
ter could be made ready for school use.
The High school was in the second sto-
~ and the intermediate in the lower
story. The Academy building was used
many Years for the Primary school, but
an additional intermediate school was
opened there years ago.
In 1862 the Masonic fraternity built a
French roof Oh the High school build
ing, and occupied it for lodge meetings
until the Masonic Temple was built in
1878. The Good Templars occupied the
upper hall until 1902, when the growing
needs of the High school called for it's
use and it was made into school
room.
In 1890 the movement in favor OF
flags on school houses was lnaugurated
by the w. c. 7. U. presenting the High
School with a flag and staff, with appro-
priate exercises in Belfast Opera House;