Utica Free Academy - Academician Yearbook (Utica, NY)

Page 18 text:

Mzfffrmf M -if decided that each subscriber who plGd8' should be allowed a vote in choosing the location of the nelilv building. ln this .manner the lot on Chancellor Square PM 7 then but a bog through which ran a muddy ditch, Tecelved the largest number of votes, and upon this site the academical building, which was also to be the Town Court House, WELS ed five dollars or over erected. . . lt was not until 1818, however, that the building was finally completed at a total cost of SB8,000, most of which had been raised by popular subscription. The Academy building is described as a plain, unpretentious brick edifice - a low, rambling structure, rather less ornate than the present style of architecture demands. The building, however, was never too commodious and was ill adapted to serve the double purpose for which it was intended. In August, 1818, the Rev. Samuel T. Mills was chosen as the firstpreceptor of the Utica Academy at a salary of S800 per annum. A few months later an assistant was given him in the person 'of a Mr. Whiteside, who served at annual stipend of 3300. It is related with regard to Mr. Whiteside that on a certain Monday morning he failed to put in an appearance and his refractory pupils with joyful shouts of UCld Whiteside 's run away! marched off .the school premises, exultant at the unexpected prospect of a half holiday. By resolution of the trustees the right to hold court in the Academy building was formally conceded. .This was a most unwise move and one which resulted in mutual discomfort and disadvantage. Constables were obliged to restrain the boister- ous shouts of the exuberant youth during recesses, while pupils were often routed out of recitation rooms by jurors who werg about to cast lots or toss coppers for a verdict. th?ZqZi3iiEfeiifSSfYE1-'ZTI' if its existence, rules were adopted for appointed. e ca emy and a new teacher was also U e Academy, was formally recoo-- mzed as Hprincipayi- at a reduced salary, the extra dignity df title no doubt compensating for the lessened remuneration.

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our School T HE UTICA FREE ACADEMY has enjoyed an existence covering an extended period of years. It was in 1813, during the war with England, when Utica was a village of about 1,700 population, that nineteen of the foremost citizens presented to the Regents of the State of New York a petition for an academy. But it was not until the following year-1814 -that the charter was finally granted. The charter was grant- ed only on condition that an academic building be erected and an annual income of one hundred dollars be assured. Those thus interested in the cause of higher education deter- mined to raise the necessary funds by popular subscription. About 31,600 was thus procured, when subscriptions seemed to have fallen, oi, and it was proposed, to solicit subscriptions for an Academy, Town House and Court House. But even thus no large amount was realized and the building was finally com- pleted with the aid of the trustees. , W H., A The Qld Academy But, while subscriptions were yet being solicited, a violent contest arose over the selection' of the site. It was finally --13- ,-,-'. ,. if V ' 1- , A, , ,. . .,. ,, .... .,.. .,... .,...a ....4.. - ' -gg.r.Q -gm

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Mr. Mills had resigned because of failing health, and in April, 1824, Captain Charles Stuart, a half pay officer Who. had served in India, was appointed as principal. Captain Stuart was noted chiefly for his eccentricities and for the extreme simplicity of his manner of living, but was conceded by all to be earnest and sincere, though inclined to be a stickler' for discipline. At this time alsothe ,Academyboasted of its iirst and only resident janitor. Sergeant John Hanson and his numerous family - both bestial and human -Were constantly at loggerheads with the students, ,while wails of infants and evil odors of more evil cooking permeated the ill-constructed. building. Viewed from any standpoint, the experiment was not a decided success and was abandoned. In November, 1828, military drill was instituted in the Academy, the pupils using wooden guns in the exercise of' arms. The functions of the school were for a time interrupted in 1832 by a violent outbreak of cholera. The school building- itself was converted into a temporary hospital and not a few succumbed to the ravages of the disease.. The most important. result- as' it affected the Academy-was the loss of the- academic library, which was destroyed at this time. A proposition was put forth in 1838 to annex the Utica. Female Academy, then in charge of Miss Urania Sheldon. This was declined, however, as her school was then fairly pros-- perous, without any dubious male entanglements. It is inter- esting to note that, according to the new code of by-laws drawn. up at. this time, the use of translations by the pupils was for- bidden, andthe principal was required to compare the best. translations with the originalauthors. ' 1 During these years new apparatus was acquired by the school and new teachers had been appointed until in 1840 the faculty' consisted of five instructors. By legislative act in 1843 the control of the schools was taken out of the hands of the board of trustees and placed in the- hands of the school commissioners, which system is still in vogue. The following year, by resolution of the commisioners, the Academy building was closed to Sunday meetings. At this gg. .g f , . .. . ..,. ... .. V 11.4.1