Hazel Green Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hazel Green Academy Historic Buildings
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kentucky Route 191, Hazel Green, Kentucky |
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| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1910 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001047 |
| Added to NRHP | July 18, 1979 |
Hazel Green Academy was an important school located in the small town of Hazel Green, in eastern Wolfe County, Kentucky. It was started a long time ago, in 1880, and helped educate many students in the Appalachian mountains for over 100 years.
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What Was Hazel Green Academy?
Hazel Green Academy was a private school that served students in a large area of eastern Kentucky. It was known for providing education when there were not many other schools around.
How It Started
The school was officially created in 1880 by a special law from the Kentucky government. This law was introduced by Senator W.O. Mize, who lived in Hazel Green. The people who helped start the school were Senator Mize and his wife, a local business owner named J. Taylor Day, and Green Berry Swango.
At first, classes were held in the Hazel Green Masonic Hall. But by 1885, the school had its own building in the center of town. The very first principal, or head of the school, was N. B. (Napoleon Bonaparte) Hays. He later became the Attorney General of Kentucky, which is the state's top lawyer.
A Helping Hand from the Church
In 1886, the school was having money problems. So, the Kentucky Christian Woman's Board of Missions (CWBM) stepped in to help. This group was part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). They took over running the school.
Because it was such a big job to support the school in the mountains, the Kentucky Board asked for help from the national CWBM group. Later, in 1919, the CWBM became part of a new organization called the United Christian Missionary Society (UCMS), which continued to support the Academy.
The School's Legacy
In its early days, Hazel Green Academy was sometimes called the "Athens of the West." This nickname meant it was a center of learning, like the ancient city of Athens. It was also known as the "Mother Mountain School." This was because it was one of the first private and missionary schools in its area. It opened many years before other public schools were common in the 20 counties it served.
When the School Closed
Hazel Green Academy closed its doors for good on August 31, 1983. The last person in charge of the school was Robert "Sandy" Goodlett. The last principal was Bob Dailey, who served from 1980 to 1983. Before becoming principal, Mr. Dailey taught math and science at the school for two years.
A Historic Landmark
In 1979, many of the buildings at Hazel Green Academy were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of places in the United States that are important because of their history. The Academy was recognized for its significant role in the history of the area.
