Farmington Academy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Farmington Academy was a secondary school for boys which opened in 1812 in Farmington, Maine. Plagued by financial problems, the property became part of the State Normal School system in the 1860s. Merrill Hall is located on the site of what was the Farmington Academy.[1]
Early in 19th century a number of individuals felt the importance and necessity of providing a higher institution of learning, not only for the training of young men and women as teachers, but to furnish a preparatory school for students who might wish to enter college. The men of the period foresaw that the establishment of an academy at Farmington, Maine would be of advantage to the rising generation, consequently they took measures to procure a charter from the General Court of Massachusetts, which was granted February 13, 1807. The Academy was opened for instruction January 1, 1812. [2]
During the existence of this institution, young ladies were admitted to its instruction, sometimes in a separate department under the tuition of a preceptress, but more frequently in the main department. An additional half township of land was granted to the Farmington Academy by a resolve of the legislature of 1850, and this added some $52,000 to the endowment of the institution, which had suffered during its entire existence from lack of funds. However, the school was generously patronized, drawing students from every part of the State.[3]
