Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-06
FoxcRoFr ACADEMY
Academy Fund Started


As the result of a meeting called
by Joshua Carpenter. Esq, Feb. %,
| 1928. Joseph f. FoXcroft, Esq, start
ed the fund with $50. 1t was Fox
croft who purchased of Bowdoin COL
lege in 1890 the tract of land which
was later incorporated as town
and named after him.
Other meetings We're held in close
order and subscriptions were made
to be paid in various ways, in labor,
boards. shingles and other necessary
materials, added to small sums of
money. Piling, bit by bit. into the
fund. the enthusiastic townspeople on
March of that same year, appointed
a committee to select a site.
The committee, Joshua Carpenter,
John Bradbury and Rev. Thomas
Wilkins, reported a suitable place,
Situate and lying between the house
of David Greeley. Esq. and his saw
mill" This half acre was secured
and is the present site of the acad-
envy.
Work was soon begun. but 'the
building was not ready for a school
until 1925. although it was let for
religious services as carly as Oct. l.
1924. In order TO carry out one of
the provisions of the act of incor-
poration. it was necessary to have n
session of school within the year and
1t was shown that a fall term must
have been held in 1923, although not
in the new academy building.
Dim history shows that James
Gooch taught from March. 1924 until
the following June and as no other
mention is made, it is assumed that
he taught the previous fall, when the
school was started.
Charles J.. Chandler was the next
preceptor and he acted in that ca
pacity for a number of years, firmly
establishing the status of the acad-
envy, launching it on its career Of
usefulness.
The granting of township in
1925 and its sale. afforded the sum of
$3.361.10 for the use of the academy.
The tuition fees in the early days
amounted to $3.50 term and in
many cases, not even this was de-
manded.
The manual training idea found
early birth at the academy, because
as early as 1929. it was voted that a
committee be chosen to look into the
plan of buying extra land. upon
which the pupils might work their
way through school. Two years
later, a mechanic shop. connected
with the academy, was considered.
The first academy building, which
had long been considered made
quate. was removed in 1889 to the
north end of Foycroft bridge. The
very next year, 1860, a much larger
and more commodious building was
erected. Subscriptions were freely
given but even at that. the funds Of
the academy were greatly reduced.
An annuity of $50. from a $1,000
appropriation from the State, in HS6S.
relieved the situation. somewhat. In
1891, general repairs were made upon
the second building. A cellar was
dug, good foundation was placed,
furnace installed and the rooms
generally rem6deled
The piazza was n Eift of the late
Eliza Ann Mayo. who later joined
her husband, Hon. Josiah b. Mayo, in
presenting to the trustees the three
story structure. which annexed to the
former, stands today and is in good
use.
The voters of Dover discontinued
their high school in 1903 and voted
to eXpend their free high school
money in FoXcroft academy. TO pay
tuition for such of their high school
students who wished to attend the
FoXcroft institution.