Special to The Star-Herald
In 1859, a small, wooden school on the corner of State and Third streets burned to the ground. Villagers decided to rebuild, but on a different site. That site was on a dirt road, later called Academy Street. The school was constructed, but only a few years later, the school was again given to fire. Again, the villagers rebuilt, this time a two-story; the upstairs was often used as the town hall. They named it Academy School.
It would serve all grades. The school was also used as a training ground for aspiring young teachers who attended St. John’s School, a high school for local students. St. John’s was located on the site where the University of Maine at Presque Isle is today. Later, the normal-school curriculum failed with decreasing attendance and the Academy was acquired by the town. Shortly thereafter, the town realized it needed a larger school to accommodate a growing student population. In 1893, the old school was removed, relocated onto Main Street to be used as a retail establishment and a new, much larger, three-story school was constructed. In 1903, St. John’s School was purchased by the town and the Academy was authorized by the state to reestablish a normal-school training ground. In 1911, the Academy was renamed Training School.
In March of 1927, fire consumed the school as it had twice before. The students were herded out and no student suffered any injury. Local churches accommodated the pupils for the remainder of the year.
With swift efforts by the town fathers and eight months later, the school was completed (brick) and opened in the late fall ahead of the expected time.
After 118 years (1860-1978) of service, the school was closed. In 1980, the building was acquired and remodeled for apartments.
THE ACADEMY SCHOOL, later known as the Training School around 1895.
Photo courtesy of Dick Graves
