Academy Hill Historic District (Andover, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Academy Hill Historic District
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Phillips Academy
Memorial Bell Tower |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Andover, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1780 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Other, Federal |
| MPS | Town of Andover MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000475 |
| Added to NRHP | October 7, 1982 |
The Academy Hill Historic District is a special historical area in Andover, Massachusetts. It includes the old campuses of three important schools from the 1700s and 1800s. These schools were very important. They helped shape not only the town's education but also how schools worked across the United States.
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Discovering Academy Hill's Historic Schools
The Academy Hill Historic District is famous for its old school buildings. These buildings show us how education has changed over hundreds of years. Let's explore the three main schools that make this district so unique.
Phillips Academy: A School with a Long History
Phillips Academy was the very first school started in Andover. It opened its doors in 1778. This makes it one of the oldest and most respected schools in the country. Its campus has many interesting buildings from different time periods.
- Early Buildings (1810-1830): Some of the oldest buildings were built around 1810 to 1830.
- Bulfinch Hall (built 1819) is named after a famous architect, Charles Bulfinch.
- Samaritan Hall (built 1824) was first used as a place for students who were sick. Later, it was used for other school activities.
- Stowe House (built 1828) was later changed by the famous writer Harriet Beecher Stowe in the 1850s. It was even used as an inn for a while!
- Newer Buildings (Early 1900s): More buildings were added in the early 1900s.
- These include the beautiful Bell Tower, Morse Hall, and the Addison Gallery. These buildings show a different style of architecture.
Andover Theological Seminary: A Place for Learning and Faith
The Andover Theological Seminary was founded in 1807. This school focused on training people for religious leadership. Its campus has the oldest building in the entire district.
- Foxcroft Hall (built 1808) is the oldest building.
- Pearson Hall (built 1818) and Bartlet Hall (built 1820) are also important.
- These buildings are great examples of Federalist academic architecture. This is a style popular in the early days of the United States.
- Pearson and Bartlet Halls were originally four stories tall. Later, they were made shorter, to three stories. This helped them fit better with the other buildings on campus.
- The campus also has the Phelps House (built 1809). This house was home to the school's first president. Later, a professor named Austin Phelps lived there.
Abbot Academy: A Pioneer for Girls' Education
The Abbot Academy was founded in 1828. It was very special because it was a school specifically for young women. This was quite rare at the time.
- In 1973, Abbot Academy joined with Phillips Academy.
- Even though they merged, the original Abbot Academy campus still feels like its own place.
- It has three main buildings around a central area called "Abbot Circle":
- Abbot Hall (built 1829) was the very first building for the academy.
- Draper Hall (built 1890) was a dormitory where students lived.
- McKeen Hall is another important building on the campus.
Why is Academy Hill Important?
The Academy Hill Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site in the United States. It helps us remember the long and rich history of education in America.
