Freedom Academy
The old Freedom Academy, one of
the veteran schools of Maine, was located in Freedom Village, and was
incorporated by an act of the Maine State Legislature on February 19, 1836.
George Rigby and Bradford S. Poster were chosen to go to Augusta and advocate
the Petition after citizens of the community voted to petition Legislature. The
land for the building was given by John True, who became the first president of
the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees had 24 members.
A building
was proposed and plans drawn up by Lincoln Hussey, who was also a first member
of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Hussey estimated the cost at $1,175. Funds were
solicited and in September the building was ready for occupancy.
The past
records of instructors are incomplete. Loring B. True is the first name which
appears on the records in the spring of 1840. In 1844 began a ten year period of
service by Rineldo Elder, self-made Scholar and distinguished citizen. Mr. Elder
is said to have mastered mathematics and Spanish and read his Bible in Latin,
all without the aid of teachers. These early instructors were obliged to collect
their own pay from the students in the form of tuition. Their salary thus varied
in direct proportion to their ability as teachers to draw students to the
school.
During the first 50 years there were no graduations. Students
entered and remained as long as their circumstances allowed. In school they were
called by numbers rather than by their names. There were no restrictions as to
age, preparation or extent of study. A student could learn as much as the
preceptor could teach. Following the Civil War, two officers were in school.
They were Captain Alvana Lowell of Unity and First Lieutenant Daniel Bowen of
Morril. With the coming of Prince E. Luce as instructor in 1884, graduation
exercises were begun.
The original building had no belfry; this was added
some years later. Through the years other changes were made as many generations
of the same families entered its doors to seek knowledge.
With a gift of
$5,000 from Carter B. Keene of Washington, D. C., some much needed repairs were
made. The floor boards, worn by the feet of many young people, were replaced by
hardwood floors. A system of indirect lighting with 21 units and approved by the
State Department of Education was installed. A course in home economics was
added to the curriculum. The laboratory was renovated for the new course, and
the science classes were moved to a room in the basement of the gymnasium. The
repairs also included new doors and stair treads The old double seats of wood
were removed, and individual adjustable seats purchased for the study
hall.
Perhaps the most significant change of all was the removal of the
platform upon which for many years had been the principal's desk. To it have
been summoned students whose conduct was not exemplary. From it students
delivered addresses or debated on lyceum days which were held weekly. On these
programs students frequently debated with townspeople on questions of current
interest. A paper of essays, editorials, and jokes prepared by students was
read. The second copy of this paper, dated October 14, 1878, bears this
introduction on its opening page, "A fireside journal, its purpose, to elevate,
to instruct, and to amaze. This periodical is published weekly by an association
of scholars. Terms, good attention while reading and liberal contributions from
each. This paper finds its way into every hamlet in the land, making it one of
the very best advertising mediums." Alumni have vivid recollections of these and
other associations connected with the old platform.
Two other men who
gave unselfishly of their time and efforts for the advancement of the academy
were Dr. Billings and Dr. A. M. Small.
The building was destroyed by fire
on January 25, 1947. After the fire of the first academy in 1947, the academy
trustees, with Chairman William A. Thompson of Freedom and Archie T. Knight of
Freedom as building chairmen, sought ways and means for building a second
academy. Insurance on the building came to $10,000. $5,000 was added from the
estate of the late Carter B. Keen, a prominent official and a graduate of the
school. The committee had a bond of $1,000 which was sold, and the State
Legislature voted $29,000 to aid rebuilding. This total of $45,000 was deemed
not quite sufficient to make the school ready for use. However, being sure the
balance would be forthcoming, Roscoe Penny, as supervisor, with a crew of
fourteen men started work in August 1947. They were assisted by Norman Elliot
who designed the school and drew the plans. The new academy was a modern,
self-contained building. It opened in 1948. In the meantime. the 70 pupils were
taught in other halls in the village. The academy burned again in January 1957.
The first Freedom, fire trucks were housed in the basement of the
academy.
Dormitory
Before 1908 girls as well as boys
attending the Academy from outside secured rooms in private homes in the
village. Sufficient rooms were a problem until the fall of 1908, when through
the indefatigable energy of the Academy Trustees and the generosity of ever
responsive friends, the girls dormitory opened.
The dormitory was built
on the site of the Hotel Maine. It had three stories, plus a basement and attic.
The dining room was in the basement with a capacity for 100 persons and there
was also a kitchen where the girls prepared their meals. The basement also
provided a store room, woodshed, and a pantry.
Six rooms for students or
teachers, a reading and reception room were on the first floor. The second and
third floor each had eight large rooms. At first the fourth floor was used as a
trunk storage room; later boys were allowed to use this floor for rooms. The
entrance to their floor was an outside stairway. A matron and two lady teachers
had charge of the dormitory and lived there.
The girls provided a cot bed
and any other furnishings required. Also, they brought their own bedding,
towels, etc. Stoves for heat were furnished by the Dormitory Association. The
price of a room ranged from 40 cents to 60 cents per week, if two girls shared a
room. Later steam heat was installed throughout the entire building.
The
dormitory operated with minor changes until the early or mid 1930's when
transportation by car became a more popular means for out-of-town students to
attend the academy.
When students no longer used the dormitory for
living, it provided housing for families seeking rents in the village and was
occupied until around the middle 1950's.In 1958 the town sold the dormitory for
$5 and it was used to grow chickens in. It was demolished around the early
1970's.
Norman Elliot
from Historical Scrapbook Freedom Maine
1794-1976