Dow Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dow Academy
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Academy St., Franconia, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1903 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001675 |
| Added to NRHP | August 31, 1982 |
Dow Academy was a special school located in Franconia, New Hampshire, in the United States. It was founded in 1884 and served as the town's main high school for many years. The school's building, built in 1903, is a beautiful example of Colonial Revival architecture. After the school closed in 1958, the building became a key part of the Franconia College campus. Later, in 1983, it was turned into homes called condominiums. The building was recognized as a historic place in 1982 and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Dow Academy: A School's Journey
How Dow Academy Began
Dow Academy was started in 1884 by Moses Dow. He was a magazine publisher who wanted to create a secondary school. This school would welcome both local students and those who needed to board (live) there. Mr. Dow gave $15,000 to build the first school building. It was finished in 1885 and stood at the corner of Church and Academy streets.
A New Building for Learning
Sadly, the first school building was destroyed by fire in January 1902. But the community worked together to build a new one the very next year. This new building was paid for by both public and private money. Because the town helped fund it, students from Franconia could attend the school. Over time, the town took over running the school completely. Dow Academy continued to be the main school for both younger and older students until 1958.
Life After the School Closed
After 1958, the Dow Academy building became part of Franconia College. It was a central spot for the college's lower campus. The building was used for different art departments, like Theater, Dance, and Ceramics. It also housed the Sculpture Department until 1975.
Franconia College later faced financial problems and closed in 1978. The Dow Academy building was then changed into condominiums, which are individual homes within a larger building. The town of Franconia still cares about the building. In 2014, the town helped pay to fix the building's famous clock tower.
The Academy Building's Design
What the Building Looks Like
The Dow Academy building is on the south side of Academy Street. It's a two-story building, meaning it has two main floors. It's shaped like a square and has a sloped roof. The building sits on a tall brick foundation. The roof has a decorative edge with many small blocks called modillion blocks.
The front of the building has seven sections, with tall, flat columns at the corners. These columns also stand on either side of the middle section. The central part of the building has a low, triangular shape above it. The main entrance is very fancy, with pairs of columns around a rounded doorway and a special window called a Palladian window.
The Famous Clock Tower
Rising from the middle of the roof is a wide, eight-sided tower. This tower has clock faces on four of its sides. The other four sides have openings with slats, like vents. The clock sides are topped with small gables, which are triangular shapes. A dome sits on top of the tower.
The clock itself was a gift from Charles Greenleaf. He was also the person who helped fund Franconia's Abbie Greenleaf Library. The clock was made by a company called E. Howard & Co. in Boston, Massachusetts.
People Who Attended Dow Academy
- Jessica Garretson Finch (graduated 1893): She was an author and someone who worked for women's right to vote (a suffragette). She also founded Finch College.
