It will Probably be Torn Down in the Course of a Year or so to Give Place to a New Building – New Trustees Elected Tuesday Night
The Greenwich Academy is doomed if the plans carry. A new building will be erected in the course of a year or two, arrangements to that effect are now being made.
The old school house is a landmark. It has stood opposite the old stone church for seventy-five years, and many who have sat within its doors as boys and girls are now scattered far and wide, and its going will bring back tender memories, and hard lessons to those who learn "of the passing" of the building.
At a meeting held last Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock in the Academy building Rev. Washington Choate, Reverend Josiah Strong and Mr. E. H. Baker were elected trustees for the ensuing year.
The oldest existing educational institution in Greenwich, and among the oldest in the state of Connecticut, Greenwich Academy has seen many years of useful service; and has borne well its part in the education of the young in this vicinity.
The academy was incorporated in 1827. The first building was erected just 75 years ago at the present site just opposite the Second Congregational Church, on the corner of Maple and Putnam avenues. The old building is still occupied for the purpose for which it was built. It has been thoroughly renovated during the past year, and two new rooms, one occupied for a gymnasium, have been added.
The first principal of the academy was the late Rev. Mason Grosvenor and the second the Rev. William Bushnell. Since that time the school has had as principals Rev. William B. Sherwood, Rev. Eben Clark, Rev. Mr. Pearson, Mr. Alexander Reynolds, Mr. Jeremiah Spencer, Mr. Philander Button, Mr. Gilbert Stocking, Mr. William D. Penfield, Mr. William Webster, Mr. E. H. Peck, Mr. J. H. Root, and the present principal, Mr. Newton B. Hobart.
Mr. J. H. Root took charge of the school in 1880, and an 1884 purchased the controlling interest. Puplis have been entered to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Amherst, Columbia, Cornell, Oberlin, Smith, Wellesley and Mount Holyoke colleges.
The following record of its establishment still exists:
We, the subscribers, feeling interested in the continuance and permanent establishment of an Academical school, severally agree and promised to pay to Davis Mead, the sums set to our respective names for the purpose of erecting a suitable house for the accommodation of such school; to set on the public ground eastwardly from the meeting house, or wherever the proprietors shall designate to be owned by the proprietors; the money invested, to be divided into shares of twenty-five dollars each; each and every person subscribing and paying the said sum for the above specify purpose, to be a proprietor and entitled to one vote in all meetings of the proprietors; each and every person subscribing and paying two, three or more shares to be entitled to as many votes in all meetings of the proprietors as he pays shares, the profits of the house to be divided among the proprietors according to their joint stock, at the school to be under the direction of a board of trustees appointed by the proprietors. Provided the sum of $600 be not subscribed, the above instrument be null and void.
The subscribers' names with number of shares taken follow:
Shares
Darius Mead................................... 2
Joseph Brush ................................. 2
Alvan Mead ................................... 2
Eben Mead...................................... 1
Daniel S. Mead............................... 2
Augustus Lyon ............................... 2
Zophar Mead ...................................1
Rachel and Sarah Mead ...................1
Elizabeth R. Mead ...........................1
Thomas A. Mead .............................1
Jerusha C. Graham ...........................1
William Husted ................................1
Jabez Mead, Jr. .................................2
James Waring ...................................1
T. L. Brush (for painting) .................1
Stephen Waring ................................1
Amy Mead ........................................1
Shadrach Mead .................................2
Jonas Mead .......................................1
Silas Davis ........................................1
Isaac Lewis, senior ...........................1
John J. Tracy ....................................1
William H. Mead ..............................1
James Smith .....................................1
Alma Mead .......................................1
William Husted ................................1
Last fall Mr. Root gave up the active interest in his school, and Mr. Newton B. Hobart was secured as principal. The other members of the faculty at present are Miss Elizabeth S. Dickerman, a graduate of Smith and a PhD of Yale; Miss Harriet Reynolds, Miss Olive Green, Mr. James P. Kelly and Mr. Walter M. Anderson. Miss Dickerman has charge of the Intermediate department and teaches higher mathematics; Miss Reynolds and Miss Greene, primary department; Mr. Kelley teaches Latin and higher English; and Mr. Anderson English and history. Mr. Hobart teaches classes in Greek and German.
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