Monson Academy
Monson Academy, circa 1900
"In the year 1848, the first Academy was erected [in Monson], thus affording the scholars of the this town and vicinity an opportunity to attend school at seasons of the year when the district schools were not in sessions, and also to pursue those studies not taught in the common schools ... ."
Charles Davison, April 1872
"Monson owes much to the Academy and to the public-spirited men who founded it. Let it never be forgotten that society does not rest upon lumber and slate, but upon these civil and religious institutions which have been the true glory of New England."
Dudley P. Bailey, 1895
A Brief History of Monson Academy
On June 14, 1847, John H. Rice, Alpheus Davison, and Ephraim Flint, on behalf of 54 incorporators, signed and submitted a petition to establish Monson Academy in the Town of Monson, ME, “for the education and improvement of Youth.” The petition was granted, and in September of that same year, a more permanent organization of those 54 “Stockholders of Monson” came about and construction of Monson Academy began.
The building for Monson Academy, built at a cost of $935.51, was completed and dedicated in August, 1848. The first class of Monson Academy then entered that fall, with Willis H. Seavey as its first Preceptor.
In March of 1860, this original building was burned to the ground when “a deflective flue” caused a fire in the attic of the school. Construction of a new, larger school began almost immediately. This new Monson Academy was completed in 1861, in time for the Fall session to begin under the leadership of Reuben A. Rideout, who “revived the earlier and supposedly better days of the Academy.”
In 1872, in accordance with a grant made by the town, Monson Academy was united with the local public school, Monson High School, increasing its size and endowment and affording that same quality academy education to all the students of Monson.
Monson Academy’s school colors are Orange and Black, and students became known as “Slaters,” so named for Monson’s then primary industry, the slate quarries. It’s “Annual,” The Pharetra (Greek meaning “quiver”), was first published on March 1, 1895. “May success crown the efforts of the future editors, and long live the Pharetra,” it was hoped; and long did it live, more than seven decades, when the school closed its doors in 1969 and her students were transferred to Foxcroft Academy in neighboring Dover Foxcroft to continue their “Academy” education.
The Monson Academy Alumni Association
formed in 1947.
Monson Academy Alumni Association Officers for 2016-2017
President - Toby Nelson
Vice-President - Dawn MacPherson-Allen
Secretary - Elaine Harris Roberts
Treasurer - Cynthia Jones Turner
Executive Committee:
Richard Marshall, Richard Williams, Susan Greenleaf Flynn,
Deborah Nelson Ward, Judith Nichols Robichaud, Jillaine Robinson Ward,
Carl Ponkala, Alan Bray, John Pullen, Nancy French Taylor,
Estella Kronholm Bennett, Colby Brown, Marion Lindie Brown, and James Ranta
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For pictures from earlier Alumni Banquets, click on the picture of Monson Academy at the top of this page.
Attached below are the minutes from the annual meetings of the Monson Academy Alumni Association
and Lists of Monson Academy Alumni by Last Name and by Class.
"Monson owes much to the Academy and to the public-spirited men who founded it. Let it never be forgotten that society does not rest upon lumber and slate, but upon these civil and religious institutions which have been the true glory of New England."
Dudley P. Bailey, 1895