Limington Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Limington Academy
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | ME 117, Limington, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1854 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000380 |
| Added to NRHP | June 23, 1980 |
Limington Academy is an old and important building in Limington, Maine. It's located right in the middle of town on Maine State Route 117. This building was once a private school, or academy, founded way back in 1848. The building itself, with its cool Greek Revival style, was finished in 1854. Even today, the building is still used for learning! It became a special historic place when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
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Discovering Limington Academy's History
The Limington Academy building stands on the west side of Cape Road (Route 117). It is a short distance south of where Route 117 meets Maine State Route 11. This meeting point is considered the center of the small, country town.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The academy building is made of wood and has two stories. Its outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. It sits on a strong granite foundation. The roof is sloped, ending in a point, and has a cool eight-sided tower called a cupola on top.
The front of the building faces east and has four sections. The two outer sections have porches that are set back into the building. These porches also extend along the sides. Square posts support the porches. Similar flat columns, called pilasters, are found at the building's corners. The front roof section is shaped like a triangle, with a fan-shaped vent in the middle.
How Limington Academy Began
Limington Academy started in 1848. It was a special school where people paid a fee to attend. The main people who helped start it were Dr. Samuel M. Bradbury and Rev. J. H. Garmon. Others included Arthur McArthur, James McArthur, Gideon L. Moody, and Isaac L. Mitchell.
William G. Lord was the head of the school for a long time, from 1851 to 1894. At first, there were no specific grade levels. Students stayed at the academy until they were ready for college or a job. The school first met in a village school building. Then, it moved to a Masonic hall. The current building was finally built in 1854.
The Academy's Later Years
By the end of the 1800s, the school was very popular. Students came from many nearby towns to study there. In 1895, the academy became the main public high school for the area.
Today, the academy no longer operates as a high school. However, the people who manage the academy's property still own the building. The local public schools now rent space there. This means the historic Limington Academy building is still used for teaching elementary school classes.
