Utica Free Academy - Academician Yearbook (Utica, NY)

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But in 1888 an enlargement was made to facilitate the crowded condition of the Academy. About 35,000 was thus expended in erecting an addition on the Bleecker Street side of the building. But even thus it was soon felt that a new building was neces- sary. In 1898 work was begun upon a new building on the site of the present Utica Free Academy. The building had been completed and was almost ready for occupancy, when for the second time in the history of the school, a destructive fire of incendiary origin broke out, and, despite all efforts of the firemen, the splendid new building was reduced to a heap of smouldering ruins. It was y a staggering blow, but, with indomitable courage, the people of Utica rallied and built the 'edifice anew. The building as it now stands is a model of perfect construction and is a credit to the community, repaying over and over again all the cost of the structure in the educa- tion of those entrusted to its care. A - . Prof. Sawyer, who for so many years had served so ably in the capacity of principal at the old Academy, was succeeded by Prof. Goodrich. He in turn served until 1903, when Dr. Benedict was appointed as his successor. Having served but a year in this capacity, he was summoned to a higher office, that of Superintendent of Utica 's public schools. Professor E. L. Mead, the present principal, has filled his place most acceptably, and to him great credit is .due for the present high standard of scholarship in the school. Un Monday evening, the twenty-seventh of April, nineteen hundred and eight, just ten years and twenty-two days after the last fire, the new Academy was burned. This was the third time in the history of the school and the second on the new Academy site, that the school has been totally or partially destroyed by flames. The fire was discovered soon after six o'clock, when Mr. Bigelow, of the commercial department, saw smoke coming from the roof. He entered the building with others, but they were unable to do anything on account of the smoke, so by the time the firemen arrived the fire had a good start and only the

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grif 4.21475 ff' ,1f.fl'f7?'4'l11'Lgqf1ffjAff'.fC'l fffeg. Y, -- ef H 455' H - I . ' ' had lon also. extensive repairs and alterations, Whlfih g time, been necessary, were m2LClG- 111 1350, Ellis H. Roberts, a graduate Of Yale University and later Treasurer of the United StateS, WHS 01105911 as PUD' cipal of the Academy. He continued in his duties, however, 1311-t 3 year, after which he resigned. V The New Academy The site upon which the Academy Was built included front- age upon John Street, and in 1851 this portion of the lot Was sold to the county, which erected thereupon the presentcourt house. . A destructive fire of incendiary origin, completely destroyed the Academy building in 1865, and the students Were again exposed to the Well meant, but harassing hospitality' of a court house. Here the school Work vvas pursued under many diffi- culties, long vacations sometimes being necessitated by the occupancy of the building for legal purposes. But the Academy worried along until 1867, When by liberal appropriations a new building was erected upon the same site, enlarged by the purchase of the adjoining lot on Academy and Bleecker Street. In February, 1868, the new building was dedigated to the cause of higher education, appropriate exercises being held. From this time there is but litle that commands the attention of the historian, the school movi . ng peacefully along in its pre- destined course.

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ree hours could bring the flames under C011JEI'Ol- hard Work of th c The loss to the city Was first estimated to be about SIXU' thousand dollars, but this Was greatly increased by the f-3111113 of a fire Wall, Which Was blown over, and Went crashing through the three floors to the basement. The fire for the most part Was kept in the third story, excepting in rooms tWenty-six and tWenty-eight, Where it burned through the ceiling. The greatest damage Was in the science department, Where all the valuable instruments Were kept-these Were destroyed. The commercial and drawing departments also Were completely destroyed, While the as- sembly became merely a pile of burnt timbers. The loss to the students Was comparatively small, except to the Post Graduates and those Who sat in room tWenty-sin, this room Was so demolished that the books could not be taken out. 'With the Academy building rendered useless by the fire, it Was necessary for the students 'to have their recitations outside their oWn building. One of the first generous offers was from the President of the Oneida Historical Society, Who offered the Munson-Williams Memmorial Building, and the Thorn Memmorial Chapel of the Tabernacle Baptist Church. So With the lllunson-Williams and the Thorn Memmorial Buildings, together With the Advanced School and part of the Administration Building,.the school opened on the folloWing Monday, at 8 o'clock, to complete the last eight Weeks of the school year. 4 All the arranging and planning Was done by our principal, wtslwill this fall, commence his iifth. year as head of the beatittlgisll ligttiritrgaitlcally new bulldmgl that Wm be more .2 Pted to our needs, and more modern than the one Just burned. -E. M. B., '09, -18-