Hill's Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hill's Academy
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 22 Prospect St., Essex, Connecticut |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1832 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001831 |
| Added to NRHP | August 23, 1985 |
Hill's Academy is an old school building in Essex, Connecticut. It's located at 22 Prospect Street. Today, it is home to the Essex Historical Society. This building was also known as the Red Men's Hall. That's because it was once used by a group called the Improved Order of Red Men.
The building was constructed in 1832. It has a special style called Greek Revival architecture. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. Hill's Academy was used as a school until 1910. Later, from 1915 to 1954, the Improved Order of Red Men used it. After that, the town created the Essex Historical Society. They wanted to save the building and local history. In 1985, Hill's Academy was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical places in the United States.
Building Style and Features
The academy building stands in an important spot in Essex. It looks out over Main Street. The building is made of brick and has two stories. Its roof is sloped, and it has a small bell tower on top.
The front of the building has three sections. These sections are separated by white brick pillars. These pillars go up to a decorative band and a triangular roof part. The bell tower also has pillars at its corners. It has rectangular openings with slats. The main door is in the middle section. The sides of the door are plain.
Inside, there is a small entrance area. From here, narrow stairs go up to the second floor. Each floor has one large room. These rooms were used as classrooms when it was a school. The building still has its original wooden floors and staircase decorations.
History of Hill's Academy
The idea for Hill's Academy started in 1831. A local businessman named John Hill helped make it happen. The building was finished the next year, in 1832. It was one of the first secondary schools in southern Connecticut. Students came from far away, even from states in the American South. They received an education similar to what junior high students get today.
By 1892, the town had its own public high school. Because of this, Hill's Academy closed down in 1902. The building was then given to the town of Essex.
See also
- Pratt House (Essex, Connecticut), another historic building owned by the Essex Historical Society
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, Connecticut
- List of Improved Order of Red Men buildings and structures
