Lawrence Academy (Falmouth, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lawrence Academy
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Lawrence Academy
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 Location in Cape Cod
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Falmouth, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1834 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000123 |
| Added to NRHP | February 20, 1998 |
The Lawrence Academy is a very old building in Falmouth, Massachusetts. It was built way back in 1834. This building is a great example of a style called Greek Revival architecture.
At first, it was a private school. Later, it became Falmouth's high school for a few years. After that, it was used by groups for military veterans. Today, the building is home to the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 because of its important history.
A Look at Lawrence Academy
The Lawrence Academy building is located on Academy Lane in downtown Falmouth. It is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a special front that looks like an ancient Greek temple. This part is called a portico.
The portico has four tall columns that support a triangular roof section. This design makes the building look grand and important. On top of the building, there is a two-part bell tower. The bottom part is square, and the top part is shaped like an octagon. This bell tower was rebuilt to look like the original one from old photos.
The Story of Lawrence Academy
The Lawrence Academy was built in 1834. This was a time when many private schools were starting up in the area. The school officially became a company in 1835.
Later, in the 1870s, new rules meant that towns had to provide high school education. So, in 1890, the town of Falmouth bought the academy building. They used it as their high school until a new school building was ready in 1896.
After its time as a high school, the building was used by different groups. It was leased to the local chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic. This was a group for veterans of the American Civil War. Later, other veteran groups, like the Sons of Union Veterans and the American Legion, also used the building.
Some changes were made to the building over the years. In the 1940s, an addition was built to make the building longer. The bell tower was rebuilt in the 1960s. It was also repaired in the 1990s after a storm called Hurricane Bob caused some damage. As of August 2025, the building is used by the local chamber of commerce.
Images for kids
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Lawrence Academy
