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 a very old school building located at 22 Prospect Street in Essex, Connecticut. Today, it is where the Essex Historical Society keeps local history safe. This building was also once called the Red Men's Hall. That's because a group called the Improved Order of Red Men used it as their meeting place.
The building was constructed in 1832. It has a special design style called Greek Revival. It was used as a school for many years, until 1910. Later, from 1915 to 1954, the Improved Order of Red Men used it. After that, the town of Essex created the Essex Historical Society. This society took over the building to help save and share the town's history. Hill's Academy was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it's an important historical site.
What Hill's Academy Looks Like
The Hill's Academy building stands in a great spot. It looks out over the main street of Essex. It is a two-story building made of brick. The roof has a pointed shape, called a gable. On top of the roof, there is a small tower with a bell, called a belfry.
The front of the building has three sections. White brick columns, called pilasters, decorate the front. These columns go up to a fancy border and a triangular roof section. More pilasters are on the corners of the belfry. The belfry has rectangular openings with slats. The main door is in the middle section. The sections on either side of the door are plain.
Inside, there is a small area near the entrance. From here, narrow stairs go up to the second floor on the right side. Both floors have one large room. These rooms were used as classrooms when the building was a school. You can still see the original wooden floors and staircase decorations.
The Story of Hill's Academy
Hill's Academy was started in 1831. A local businessman named John Hill helped make it happen. The building itself was finished the next year, in 1832. It was one of the first schools for older students in southern Connecticut. Students came from far away, even from states in the American South. They came to get an education similar to what we call junior high school today.
By 1892, the town of Essex had its own public high school. Because of this, Hill's Academy closed down in 1902. The building was then given to the town. It has been an important part of Essex's history ever since.
Other Interesting Places Nearby
- Pratt House (Essex, Connecticut), another historic building owned by the Essex Historical Society. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, Connecticut, a list of other important historical places in the area.
- List of Improved Order of Red Men buildings and structures, a list of other buildings used by the Improved Order of Red Men.
- List of historical societies in Connecticut, a list of groups that save history in Connecticut.
