River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1925-12-17
Mrs. TOzer Complies
Interesting History Sketch
OF The Old Academy
By Mrs. Sarah TOzer

This school was the Oldest incorp-
Grated institution in Northwestern
Wisconsin, having been chartered by
the legislature in 1855.
Tho hoard of trustees and ineorpor-
ators was composed of nine members,
Prof. G. w. Pratt, G. B. Cox, VIM
Powell, N. N. Powell, Joel Foster,
Daniel w. Currier, Duncan McGreg-
or. S. H. Burr and Jacob Shepard.
Prof. Pratt was elected president
and C. B. Cox secretary and tfeasur-
err.
Nathaniel N and Oliver S. Powell
donated the land and in 1856 the
building was competed.
school openad re ecord Monday
in December OF the same year
Ire first Giro = " Issued was neal
ed thus: "Prof. Benjamin Wilcox, A.
NJ, President"
It then stated, 1--WE are fortunate
in securing the services of Prof. VII
cox, whose skill and ability as an
educator have long been tested. he
has been principal of the Wilson
Collegiate Institute of Niagara
County, New York. for eleven years"
The academic year was divided in
to four terms, of eleven weeks each,
tuition for the some being:
S4.O0-Common English Branches
5.50-Higher Branches
7.00-Languages
The school was well attended and
successful in every way with such a
highly educated and Christian man
at the head.
Prof. Wilcox remained six years,
then resigned and moved to Vaipar-
also, Ind, where he continued teach
ing a number Of years until his
death.
He was as beloved by his pupils,
who came, not only from River Falls,
but from the east and elsewhere,
that when the Congregational church
iilding was erected on Third and
Elm streets in this city, a memorial
window was placed there for him by
former students of the Old Academy.
About the time of his going from
us, the little school house, built by
waite subscription in 1855, on
Fourth street, became too small for
the growing community.
The Academy building would just
fill the bill, and soon after was
bought by the district.
The Powell brothers then decided
the land to Joint School District No.
/, Towns of River Falls and Troy.
Mr.. Abner Morse was the teacher
at this time, and one morning,
teacher and pupils marched together
from the little brown school house
to the larger building on the West
Side of town.
/ believe We sang as we marched
along, for Mr.. Morse was very fond
of music and taught US many school
songs. often composing the words to
fit the occasion. The school of those
early days won the honor of cham
pionship in spelling matches, being
the champion of Pierce county.
The second year in the new build
ing the school became a graded
school of three departments. Prof.
Allen H. Weld, his wife and their
son, Allen Palmer Weld, were the
members of the faculty for a num-
Der of years.
The same words of esteem and
commentator said of Prof. Wilcox
could truthfully be spoken of the
Weld family. The building, always
spoken of now as the Old Academy,
was destroyed by fire on the evening
of Oct. 6, 1879. .a
The old bell rang while the fire
ragged until the tower fell. singing its
"swan song" to the citizens of Ri
yer Falls and vicinity. Temporary
barracks were soon built, so the
school was not long interrupted.
The new building was erected on
the spot where the old one had stood
end is now the location of the River
Falls High School.