Black River Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Black River Academy
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 14 High St., Ludlow Village, Vermont |
|---|---|
| Built | 1888 |
| Architect | Clinton Smith |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Richardsonian |
| Website | Black River Academy Museum |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000108 |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 1972 |
The Black River Academy is a really old school building. You can find it on High Street in the village of Ludlow, Vermont. It first opened its doors in 1835. For many years, it was the main high school for the town.
The building you see today was built in 1888. It has a special old-fashioned style called Richardsonian Romanesque. Because of its unique look and important history in education, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Today, this historic building is home to the Black River Academy Museum. The Black River Historical Society runs the museum, which shares local history.
Contents
About the Black River Academy Building
The Black River Academy building is a large, impressive structure. It stands on the south side of High Street, not far from the Ludlow village green. The building has three stories and is made of strong brick. It sits on a solid granite foundation.
The roof has a classic gabled shape. There are also parts of the roof that stick out with their own hip-shaped sections. A tall, four-story tower stands at one corner. It has a pointed, pyramid-like roof on top. The windows come in different sizes. Most of them are set in round-arched openings. Bands of cut stone run across the building, making it look even more grand. The main entrance is set back deep inside a large, round archway. The edges of the roofs have decorative brickwork.
A School with a Long History
Black River Academy first started in Ludlow in 1835. It served as the public high school for the town of Ludlow. This continued until 1938, when a brand new school was built.
The very first academy building burned down early in the school's history. After that, the school operated in a church for 44 years. Then, in 1888, this beautiful new building was constructed.
Famous Students
Many important people once studied at the Black River Academy. Here are a few of them:
- Calvin Coolidge: He became a President of the United States!
- Paul P. Harris: He was the person who started Rotary, a huge worldwide service organization.
- John Garibaldi Sargent: He served as the U.S. Attorney General (the country's top lawyer) when Calvin Coolidge was president.
- William W. Stickney: He became the Governor of Vermont.
- Ernest Willard Gibson: He served as a United States Senator.
- William H. Walker: He was a judge on the Vermont Supreme Court.
- Abby Maria Hemenway: She was a famous author and historian.
After the school moved out, the building was used for a while as a place for people to recover from illness.
The Black River Academy Museum
Since 1972, the building has been home to the Black River Academy Museum. This museum is dedicated to sharing the local history of the area. It's a great place to learn about the past of Ludlow and the surrounding communities.
