Monson Academy - Academy Bell Yearbook (Monson, MA)

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W School History DN E hundred and twenty-five years is a long period and to write the history of Monson Academy fully from its incorporation, June 21, 1804, until now would re- quire more space than is permitted in this sketch. There are, however, milestones along the way that we can call attention to. ' From the records it appears that in 1804 there seemed a need for a new Academy between Westfield on the west and Leicester on the east. Both Monson and Brimfield were eager for the honor. One pledged as much money as the other, but the choice fell on Monson and the Commonwealth granted the new school an endowment of a half township in the then Province of Maine. The young people of Monson were in- duced to take up farms in this township and they went out as pioneers to clear the land and make homes for themselves. So far as any record shows there did not arise any large income from this source but it constituted the first endowment fund of the Academy. Dr. Hammond says in his historical address in 1854, Monson Academy had its origin, undoubtedly, in a general movement in favor of education which took place near the close of the eighteenth century and in consequence of which a distinct, and in some respects a peculiar class of schools was established, which then received the new and somewhat ambitious title of Academies. The Academy was not a local school but a State institution. It could receive its pupils from any town or State although it was established to meet the needs of a certain section of the State. The interests of the Academy were confided to a permanent board of trust like those of most colleges, composed of men of learning and substantial character. Only one name among the list of original trustees is repeated on the board of today 1-the name of Elynt. ln 1804 Rufus Elynt, in 1929 Henry N. Elynt, his great grandfsong and in between the stretch of years the son and grand-son of Rufus Elynt served as trustees, so for four generations the family has been connected with the board of trustees :-an unequalled record. Close to it is the name of Norcross, serving for three generations and in the early history of the school Joel Norcross is named as its largest benefactor. lt is impossible to measure service by years or generations but it seems fitting here to recall the long service of Dr. Alfred Ely in behalf of the church and school. A trustee for sixty years he gave liberally of himself and his means. To him is given the credit for the establishment of the Charity Fund, or Education Fund as it is now called. Its original purpose was to aid young men studying for the ministry but the Court has ermitted a freer use of the income in these later years. A fine portrait of Dr. Ely hangs in the Academy chapel and is familiar to the student body. Well might the student of today pause before it and say Great is the gift that I owe to you. . It is fitting here to mention the names of three other former trustees whose portraits also hang in the cha el 1-Hon. William N. Elynt, Mr. E. E. Morris, and Mr. C. W. Holmes, jr., each oipwhom showed his love and devotion to the school through long years of service. The Holmes name is associated with the Gymnasium and is still rep- resented on the board of trustees, Miss Esther R. Holmes being the only woman ever elected to that office. To her and to her family Monson Academy owes much of its present equipment and prosperity. As further evidence of the loyalty of the trustees during the one hundred and twenty-five years there have been but 11 presidents, 7 treasurers and 10 secretaries. A list of headmasters and instructors is of value but this is not the time for enum- erating them. Sufhce it to know that such a record is preserved and from this list no PAGE SEVEN Q 6 Qi E Qi Q Qi Q Qs Q Q Q Qi E gigs in 9 Q Qr Q Qs Q Qs Q Qs C Q Qs Q Qs Q Q QQ

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FQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ 503-B Y Q SCHOOL HISTORY-Continued l one can object to our pausing long enough to pay tribute to Dr. Charles Hammond, 7' Qi first a student and later principal for three different terms of service. He was a leading B13 educator of his day. During his service as principal there came to Monson Academy Q in 1847 three from the first group of Chinese boys sent to America to be educated. Dr. Qi Q Yung Wing was one of these. Q What a long procession it would be if the thousands of teachers and students of 1 .l Q the one hundred and twenty-five yeari could paislin revieiwlbefore us! Tchere would be 1 these strangers from across the seas, t ere wou e note c erg men an missionaries, Qi there would be distinguished lawyers and judges, there would, be successful business EQ Q men and college professors and there would be college builders like Dr. Charles Sumner, Q, f largely responsible for Pomona College in California, and Rev. Cushing Eels Ca co- C QQ laborer with Marcus Whitmanj active in establishing Whitman College in Oregon. E3 And there would be the large number from humble homes and households whose Q lives were enlarged and sweetened by the student years in Monson Academy. Qs f . . . . Y i I In Dr. Hammond's semifcentennial address he speaks of the condition and ap- 105 Q pearance of Monson as seen by the earliest graduates. The entire village was con- 3, Q stituted by the church, the Academy, a tavern, a stolrle, anddhalf a dlozenhdwelgngsf' Qi 1 lt seems strange to think of only one house between t e Aca emy an Cus man treet. Qi That house is now in the rear of the Bank building but formerlyhstood on the street ED Q5 line. The manufacturing business had not been developed and the inhabitants of one QF Q5 hundred and twentyfhve years ago lived nott in thel villages in the vale but dwelt E 1 apart from each other on the hills, as tillers o the soi . Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q53 Q Q? Q Q? Q Q Q Q It is interesting to note that in the early days no Central Vermont Railroad dis- turbed the tranquility of the village. An early catalogue says, The stage goes from Springfield to Providence on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and returning the following days passes through Southbridge soon after the stage from Boston. The catalogue of today says, Excellent automobile roads converge near Palmer so that Monson may be reached in a day's travel from many points three hundred miles away. When the 150th anniversary comes around the catalogue may say, Ample facilities for landing are provided at the aviation field! Dr. Hammond thus concludes his address in 1854: The young in great numbers, from all parts of the land, will in all the future continue to carry from this institution, as we have carried, the pleasant remembrances of this pleasant vale, which will doubt- less be to many of them, as it may have been to some of us, like the happy valley of Rasselas, from whence he went forth, the young and ardent aspirant for the wisdom and honors of the world, to find, in his wanderings, no place on earth to him so lovely as the vale he had left. It is seventy-five years since Dr. Hammond wrote thus but again and again have returning alumni testified to their love for Dear old Monson. The original Academy building was built by general subscriptions. It was a square wooden building standing on the site of the present building and costing about S4000.00. In 1863, after the Academy had been closed temporarily because of the war, Dr. Hammond was induced to return for his third term as principal and the building was enlarged by the addition of two wings. In 1886 this original building was burned and the future looked uncertain but funds were raised and from the ruins arose the building of today. In 1888 Dr. Hammond's old home was purchased to provide a residence for the headmaster and accommodations for other teachers and students. While the property was thus used it was designated as Hammond Hall. Then in 1900 came the gift of the Holmes Gymnasium, followed in 1903 by the erection of Cushman Hall. When this building was ready for occupancy Hammond Hall passed out of existence and in PAGE NINE Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q2 Q QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ