Warren County Local
History by Dallas Bogan |
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Dallas Bogan on 6 September 2004 |
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original article by Dallas Bogan |
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With education being placed at the forefront in early Lebanon, an academy
of learning was discussed, a committee appointed, and in October 1835, a dream
of the Lebanon forefathers was brought to light.
The Western Star of October 16, 1835, published an account of this occurrence.
It recorded the event as follows:
"Public Notice:
"At a meeting of the citizens of Lebanon, convened at the town-hall on the evening on the 12th inst. George J. Smith was called to the Chair, and Thomas Corwin appointed Secretary.
"The object of the meeting being stated, the following resolutions were adopted.
"Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to ascertain the most suitable site for an academy in Lebanon; the quantity of ground necessary therefore and the price at which it may be obtained, whether any, and what donations can be obtained in land or money to such purpose, and report to an adjoined meeting of the citizens of Lebanon and its vicinity, to be held at the town-hall at early candlelight on Thursday the 22nd of October, inst."
The announcement stated in simple terms that a plan be outlined that would
be suitable for an academy. Costs and voluntary donations were discussed, and
the formation of a joint stock company was introduced.
The next meeting was to be held at the same location on Thursday, October 22,
with an invitation to the public.
Appointed to a committee regarding the adopted resolutions were Thomas
Corwin, A.H.
Dunlevy and William M. Charters. George
J. Smith was appointed Chairman and Thomas
Corwin was selected as Secretary.
Not until Dec. 12, 1843, was an actual report written and signed by the town
officials. It read:
"We the citizens of Lebanon and vicinity, desiring to promote the cause of knowledge and sciences, and have their estimable blessing to our posterity, do hereby associate ourselves together under the name of 'The Lebanon Academy.'
"The object of the institution shall be to educate Males and Females in higher branches of learning that are usually taught in the common schools of our country, and to instruct them in the elements of morality and the great truths of the Christian Religion."
Capital stock for the project was not to exceed $20,000, each share amounting
to $20.00. Payment of the first share was due on March 1, 1844, and the other
monies were to be distributed in equal installments annually, until total payment
was made.
Each stockholder was to have one vote up to nine shares. Ten shares would count
two votes, and one vote for every share over ten. Nonpaying stockholders were
to be deprived of their vote.
An article in The Western Star, dated March 1, 1844, described in effect the
practicality of an academy. It stated that:
"The interest felt by a community on the subject of education is generally indicated by the facilities afforded for the acquisition of knowledge, especially that first requisite, a good house, without suitable buildings especially dedicated to the uses of learning few schools ever acquire stability or character.
"It is with no small satisfaction, therefore, that we have witnessed the success which has attended the recent effort for erection of an academy in Lebanon. Subscriptions to the amount of five or six thousand dollars have been obtained, as we learn, for that purpose, and a building is to be put up as soon as practicable."
The subscription committee consisted of William Charters, Amos Barr, William Russell, Joseph Anderson and Robert Boake. Notice for an election was to be given when subscriptions reached $5,000.
The Academy was incorporated February
19, 1844. Twelve trustees were elected. The charter said in effect "the
four oldest shall hold office until March 1845. The next four oldest until March
1846. The next four oldest until March 1847, and these shall be replaced at
annual elections."
Stockholders numbered 117, with subscriptions totaling 265 shares. An amount
of $5300 was actually received. J. Milton Williams was among
the original list of stockholders with 10 shares. Other shareholders were Thomas
Corwin, 15; George J. Smith,
5; Jacob Morris, 2; Mathias
Corwin, 3; Durbin Ward, 1; Ebed
Stowell, 10, etc.
Construction was begun on the Academy shortly after incorporation. Ebed
Stowell and his wife, Polly, deeded 2.27 acres of
land on New Street for the project. Stowell exchanged the selling
price of $200 for ten shares of stock.
The deed was not recorded until 1883, just after the fire that destroyed the
new University Hall. It was at this time that John C. Dunlevy
found the deed among his papers and sent it on to be recorded.
The Lebanon Academy was built on
New Street in 1844, and officially opened on Sep. 1, 1845, with Mr. G.C.
Giles as principal. His assistants were William N. Edwards,
Miss Julia Bliss and Miss Rowena Lakey.
(In a writeup found in the Warren County Museum, Hazel Spencer Phillips noted
that she thought Amos Bennett, builder of Glendower, built
the building. She wrote that the material, workmanship and the architectural
detail seemed to endorse this belief. She also commented that the simple dignity
of recessed panels and the lines of the two-story brick building closely resembled
Glendower.)
John Norton Pomeroy, afterwards a famous legal writer, was
later an assistant to Principal Giles, and afterwards served
under John A. Smith, who succeeded Giles.
Judge George R. Sage succeeded Mr.
Pomeroy. Principals Giles and Smith
each served three years.
The courses offered and the teachers assembled were commendable. At one time
attendance grew to nearly 200, and for a period the Academy prospered, but slowly
it began to decline. Between 1851 and 1855, several efforts were made to carry
on a private school, but each failed.
John Locke, M.D., in 1854, who had been Professor of Chemistry
in an Ohio Medical School, moved to Lebanon and made an effort to introduce
a school of science. He was quite old at the time and his project proved unsuccessful.
The Southwestern Ohio State Normal School Association was organized under the
authorization of the Teachers Association in 1855. A meeting of the eight trustees
and stockholders of the Academy was announced; an agreement was drawn up, signed
and recorded in the recorder's office.
This arrangement allowed Mr. Alfred
Holbrook, who was chosen as Principal of the new school, to use the facilities
of the Lebanon Academy for a period
of ten years, with the condition that he would "maintain a suitable school
for the education of the youth of Lebanon and vicinity." This resolution
also mandated that 80 pupils from the county were to attend the school the first
two years.
An agreement was also reached that would transfer to Principal
Holbrook a controllable interest in the stock. If he should move away, or
fail to keep his part of the agreement, the stock would then revert back to
the school.
On May 24, 1860, a meeting was held, of which J.B. Graham was
chairman and W.W. Wilson was secretary that ratified the continuation
of the former ten-year agreement.
Holbrook's school was an impressive accomplishment. It soon
outgrew the old Academy building and a new facility was built across from the
courthouse. It was eventually named the National
Normal University.
The old Academy building was abandoned in May 1895, and on September 20, 1897,
the Warren County Common Pleas Court recorded the dissolving of the Lebanon
Academy Corporation.
On February 10, 1900, W.F. Eltzroth accepted the role of "receiver"
for the Lebanon Academy, with Josiah
Morrow acting as Master Commissioner. On April 30 of the same year,
the property was sold at public auction to Miss Beatrice Edmonds
for $2,125. The Academy stockholders, or their heirs, were paid $5.90 per share
on the stock after court costs and attorney fees.
The Lebanon Village School District then rented the Academy from Miss
Edmonds.
Records show that Samuel P. Monfort submitted a bill of $70.65
on Aug. 28, 1913, to Miss Edmonds for labor on the property.
Also, entries show that on Sept. 25, 1913, three months rent was paid, less
cleaning and repair, which amounted to $47.83.
On Dec. 22, 1913, she received $60.00 for three months rent, and on Sept. 24,
1914, she received $75 for another three months rent.
From Sept 27, 1917, through 1919, rent on the building was paid monthly at $25.00.
The Lebanon Board of Education purchased the Lebanon
Academy property from Beatrice Edmonds on Jan. 24, 1920,
and on Jan. 12, 1973, the City of Lebanon bought the property.
Apparently the building was used as a kindergarten for many years. I don't know
if any other grades were taught there or not.
The Lebanon Academy building stands
today as a monument to Lebanon's superior educational system. I'm sure that
many fond memories of the school have been treasured and preserved.
A special thanks to John Zimkus, Warren County Historical
Society historian, for his assistance regarding this article.
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This page created 6 September 2004 and last updated
28 September, 2008
© 2004 Arne H Trelvik
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