Blees Military Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Blees Military Academy
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Blees Military Academy in 1900
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | U.S. 63, Macon, Missouri |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | Kirsch, R.G. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001380 |
| Added to NRHP | October 11, 1979 |
Blees Military Academy, also known as Still-Hildreth Osteopathic Sanatorium, was a unique school for boys in Macon, Missouri. It operated as a military academy between 1899 and 1907. The main buildings, the Academic Hall and Gymnasium, are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites in the United States.
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About Blees Military Academy
Blees Military Academy was started in September 1899 by Colonel Frederick W. V. Blees. He was an immigrant from Prussia (a historical German kingdom) who came to Macon in 1889. Before starting his own school, he was the headmaster of St. James Academy, another military school for boys.
In 1896, Frederick Blees inherited a lot of money from his father's coal and iron businesses in Germany. He used his new wealth to help the city of Macon. He built new commercial buildings, the town's first theater, and even helped create a sewage system. He also supported a local car factory, the First National Bank of Macon, and helped pay for paving the town's streets.
Building the Academy
In 1898–1899, Blees began his biggest project: building the Blees Military Academy. He hoped it would be his lasting gift to the community. The Academic Hall and Gymnasium were built in a special style called Romanesque Revival architecture. This style uses elements from old Roman and medieval buildings, like rounded arches and strong, heavy walls. It was quite unusual to see such grand architecture in a rural area like Macon.
The Academy was built on a large property of about 400 acres. This land included orchards, a working farm, gardens, and a dairy. This natural setting made the impressive buildings stand out even more.
Life at the Academy
Colonel Blees wanted the best for his students. The cadets at Blees Military Academy had very luxurious accommodations for their time. They even rode famous saddle horses named Rex McDonald and George Washington. The students also played polo, a sport usually associated with wealth and prestige.
Blees made sure no expense was spared in building the Academy. Both the Academic Hall and the Gymnasium showed off the Romanesque Revival style. They had decorative features like walls that looked like castle battlements (called crenellated gables and parapets) and special stone supports (corbel tables and bartizans).
The Main Buildings
The Academic Hall was built to be very strong and fireproof. It used concrete and steel beams, with outer walls made of buff brick and limestone. The roof was made of red asbestos shingles. Inside, most features like window frames and doors were covered in molded copper, not wood, to prevent fires.
The Academic Hall had three floors and a basement. The first floor had high, decorated ceilings supported by strong iron columns. A grand iron staircase led to a sun parlor on the second floor. The building included 110 small sleeping rooms for students, 12 apartments for teachers, laboratories, a darkroom for photography, a study hall, a hospital, and a large dining room and kitchen.
The Gymnasium was also built with buff brick and limestone. It had a red-tiled roof. Inside, it featured an indoor running track, a shooting gallery, the main gymnasium area, and a swimming pool. There were also showers and other rooms. A concrete tunnel connected the Gymnasium to the basement of the Academic Hall.
What Happened Next?
Sadly, Frederick Blees passed away in 1906. The Academy continued to list graduates until the spring of 1913, but it faced challenges after his death.
In 1915, the buildings found a new purpose. Dr. Arthur G. Hildreth and Charles E. and Harry M. Still, who were sons of Andrew Taylor Still (the founder of osteopathic medicine), opened a sanatorium there. A sanatorium is a type of hospital, and this one focused on treating nervous and mental health issues. This sanatorium operated until 1968.
Today, the historic Academic Hall and Gymnasium of Blees Academy are still on the National Register of Historic Places. They now serve as housing for people in Macon.
Notable alumni
Some well-known people who attended Blees Military Academy include:
- James P. Kem, who became a United States Senator for Missouri from 1947 to 1953.
- Barney Pelty, a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1903 to 1912.
- Wendell Stephens, who served in the Colorado state legislature from 1908 to 1913.
- Dr. Rudolph M. Anderson, a famous zoologist (someone who studies animals).
- Macon Chronicle-Herald, June 30, 1973, p. 1
- General History of Macon County, Missouri, pp. 146–149.
