Governors Academy - Milestone Yearbook (Byfield, MA)

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X S X J? 119' l708 ,X V. N- xx 'X , X. xx -. Xt X X X 1 Txgxf ' f f , X ' ,, '. f ' f , X, - X g cg U. X X, Xt Q. g T fl ,A , f 4 . M I tg es?-Q Jef .4 '2 ef ,Q-'TN 1 3 A f . 1' -' f-f P' -1 -Xx x He' X . L A ,i'y., .u lu' i : up ,-X. 2 ,, 1 A f ' j sp - M Y P' x r V A W . -s The Academy Buildings and Environs This year the MILESTONE has thought fitting to publish a full-page picture of the new building, yet unnamed and with two additional wings not built, as a frontispiece. This building is the most recent edifice to be constructed on the campus, and appreciation for the amount of effort expended in raising funds for it, and for the convenience with which we are now provided, has inspired this publication to investigate the dates of origin and other historical factors surrounding our older buildings. It was hoped that a continuous account of the growth of the grounds and structures could be presented for the benefit of the school. But investigation has shown unfortunately that at present the facts are too scarce to weave into a com- plete story. When the times beyond the memory of living graduates are penetrated, the information about changes in location of buildings and the changes in the ap- pearance ofthe Academy is not clear enough. It is, however, with enthusiasm that we present the facts that have been gathered, in unembellished form, at the end of this article. We are indebted to Mr. Joseph N. Dummer of Rowley, a trustee of ours to whom this book is dedicated, for the larger part of these facts. Several of our older graduates, among whom are Mrs. Ambrose, Mr. Dummer, and Mr. Kilvert, have on occasions given their recollections of what the school was like between the years 1872-1885, and even by glancing back to that comparatively short time ago we can see how the facilities of the Academy have progressed, and after knowing what the campus was then we can feel very thankful for our present group of buildings. During the years mentioned, there were only three main build- ings used for the actual operation of the school. These were the Mansion House, the Commons, and the School House. A person standing to the East of these buildings and looking out towards Plum Island would then have seen little but the open marshes stretching to the sea. There was, however, at that time a small wooden building, for human convenience placed somewhere near where the Mansion House flower garden is now found. The thought of this small building reminds us that the Parker River provided one of the few means of satisfactory ablution in those times in the same way as it had during the very early days of the preceptorship of Master Moody. Mr. Moody used to excuse his classes at high tide in order that they might bathe. There was also a small lane to the East ofthe three buildings, indi- cating the path of the old turnpike, which was dealt a deathblow at the opening of the Eastern Railroad in 18-10. The marshes would also have been visible further to the south than today. No buildings stood where Pierce Hall and the Lang Gymnasi- um now are located. Just beyond, in the vicinity of the present Mason cottage and Duncan House, a large chicken run could be seen. On the opposite side of the campus Moody House did not then have Perkins as a companion. Nor was the little red schoolhouse in its present imposing position but was part of the carriage house attached to the old farm building which preceded .. . 1 1 .-0.73 k f X- -, . . ,L ,.,l ,cl R n ' 'a- ef ,,Y' 'l ,' N Afigxqll' A I I In H 7

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S X X X X X7 X N B l708f -2 x ' N. at ' X ' I ' 1 f' 1 -' .f . f rf , x, xxx XVXX, X NX ck N 1. A ' ,ff f V 7 X .,- XS X , X QXX X N X ,H .K I If , J f ff- 13 ,fri , - A l - f , - ' f xx, -S 4 X xlg X ' xr. sg .V K X 1 ,f x,?. 1. 6 X r , L X X Cx ,lg - N N A . U . - Y V , .N ,X . , X ae N .V ,T , -V -s 1 K .- 'Q-v 7 : 5- 'xiao V T f ' P. TX H ' I Y I ' ' .. , Moody on the same site. A long barn, which was later moved alongside Moody and taken down as recently as 1929, was then located in about the position of the parking space near the present Newbury war memorial. The Mansion House lawn presented a very different view from what it does now. At about the center of the area of grass was the third Schoolhouse with its front doors pointing west-ward. A fairly high bell tower rose at the west end. It is still a mystery how the pupils were able to reach the bell, turn it upside down and pour water into it in order that the water might freeze and cripple it during the cold weather. The lawn was surrounded by a wicket fence and the athletic field extended from the corner of the milestone to a point near the present junior hockey pond, which was then only marshy ground. This small field, compared with the modern facilities, provided an opportunity for baseball contests in which Mr. Dum- mer, and Mr. Kilvert, and even Mrs. Ambrose took part. The stirring games of those days had a much more narrow compass in which to transpire-a good hit to left field would land against the Schoolhouse, and a foul might even reach the Mansion House. A tennis court of somewhat shrunken proportions was placed be- tween the Mansion House and the Commons building, and directly at the back of the old Schoolhouse. This ancient court was a popular spot. It is easy to imagine that the students then had to wait even longer than they do now to get an oppor- tunity for playing. Those who were waiting for a game had the chance, however, to amuse themselves on the swing, which hung from the old Sycamore, still fighting for life near the center of the lawn, and a fellow tree, now no longer with us. There was, of course, no building where Parsons now stands. Parsons was, in fact, contructed from the old Schoolhouse in the middle of the lawn. Consequently there was no road leading from the milestone around to the south side of Commons. The other roads which branch from the intersection at the Newbury memorial were, however, all in existence. The County or back,' road on which today the cross country races take place was constructed in 165-1 at the same time as Thurlow's Bridge, the road from the Academy leading past Mrs. Ambrose's was built in 1722, and the one which leads down by the junior hockey pond and eventually to the turnpike was made in 1831. The path by Degen House, which is now overgrown in the woods, was then also out ofuse. It had been constructed in 1710 and discontinued in 1856. Not only was the appearance of the campus different in the years between 1872 and 1885, but two ofthe buildings, the Mansion House and the Commons, were used for different purposes from what they are now. The former was solely a dormitory. It had been one most of the time since Master Moody and his brother resided there. The latter, before 1885, was known as the Preceptor's House, and was not used for any other purpose than for the benefit of the teacher. The transverse section was added to this building in 188-1, and where the rear part is now there was a carriage house with its doors facing south. There was no porch on the Commons until after 1900. 5 -. , J -' LV, , .- -. , , 15' 7.37, 1 '.,-Mol 'my' if' 'Y Q3fj.Ll xi' , X ffl, ' 'Q N- I 5. ,. 9