Posts Tagged ‘Phillips Academy’

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Photo of the Week

Wednesday, April 10th, 2013

2009.019.03

Located near the center of town, the tower shown here is passed by local Andover residents daily.  The Memorial Bell Tower located at the Phillips Academy campus is often the first thing people notice while driving by the school. The tower is the result of a donation by Sam Fuller, and stands as a memorial for the eighty-five Andover veterans who died in service during World War I. The tower was originally designed by architect Guy Lowell in 1919. It was placed at the site of the old training ground where Andover soldiers prepared for the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

The tower was made in 1923,  composed of steel covered in brick. This tower would later undergo reconstruction in 2005. The tower contains a 37 bell carillon, one of the largest in the world. During re-construction, the carillon was replaced with an electronic system. The tower today plays the opening melody of the Andover Hymn every quarter hour. This tower is one of the most magnificent sites in Andover and is worth driving by if in town.

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Photo of the Week

Wednesday, December 26th, 2012

1996.543.06

This picture shows the entrance to the Cochran Wildlife Sanctuary located on the grounds of Phillips Academy. This  one and a half mile long trail  has also been called Bird Sanctuary and provides an excellent space for outdoor enthusiasts.

Despite going to Andover High School, I have visited this trail as part of the Andover Cross Country team.  Officially known as Moncrieff Cochran Sanctuary, trails here can be used for running, walking,  and cross country skiing.

The 125 acres of land within the wildlife sanctuary were given to Phillips Academy in 1929 by Thomas Cochran, a graduate of the class of 1890.  Thomas stated that he wished to make this land a natural piece of ground intersected by trails and adorned by ponds, trees, birds, and wild flowers. He named the sanctuary after his brother Moncrieff, and today, it is exactly what Cochran wanted. The gate of the sanctuary is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is located between the Nathan Hale and Fuess houses, at the end of Chapel Avenue. If you are looking for a place where you can walk or run, the Cochran Wildlife Sanctuary is an excellent choice. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes because the trail is covered in rocks.

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Photo of the Week

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

1992.1134

The structure shown above was the Andover Theological Seminary, which shared its campus with Phillips Academy in Andover for 100 years.

The Andover Theological Seminary was founded in 1807 when Orthodox Calvinists fled Harvard College after it appointed a figure that was against their religious views to the Professorship of Divinity.  As a result of this appointment, Eliphalet Pearson, the first principal of the Andover Theological Seminary, gathered enough funding to build a seminary.

The seminary’s primary goal was to counter the rising force of Unitarianism and stick to traditional views that the Calvinists supported. The students studied for three years learning about the bible, church history, and doctrinal theology. The Andover Theological Seminary had alumni from all over the world, including countries such as China, India, and Japan. Eventually, the seminary became known worldwide, but was moved back to Cambridge in 1908, after 100 years at the Phillips Academy campus. It eventually merged with the Newton Theological Institution and became known as the Andover Newton Theological School.  It is still known by that name today.

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Photo of the Week

Sunday, June 17th, 2012

1999.501

This is William Blair Graves, a revolutionary Science professor at Phillips Academy.

Graves was born in 1834, and graduated from Amherst in 1862. He spent all of his career in education. After teaching in high schools such as Medfield and Holliston, Graves returned to Amherst to teach math. He quickly left this position, however, to organize and direct a Natural Sciences department at PA. After four years he accepted a teaching position at Marietta College, where he taught natural sciences. Finally in 1881, Principal Bancroft of PA, asked Graves to return to assume the leadership of the Science Department. Upon his return, Graves raised funds to build a Science building with laboratories. It was finished in a few years and named Graves Hall. Although the building is now home to the Music Department, Graves Hall is still beloved among the talented musicians on campus.

He stayed at Andover until 1908, when failing health forced him into retirement. He died in Andover on May 5th, 1911 at the age of 81. Graves revolutionized the study of Science, and was praised among his students and peers. Thanks to Graves, Science is still going strong at PA.

Hooray for Week 3 of PA Month, brought to you by the Photo of the Week Blog!

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Photo of the Week

Sunday, June 10th, 2012

It’s week two of PA Month! This is Eliphalet Pearson, the first headmaster at Phillips Academy. I took Latin for two years in Pearson Hall, the Classics building in the middle of campus.

Pearson was born in Newbury in 1752. He graduated from Harvard in 1773 at the top of his class. His graduation speech against slavery was so amazing that his teachers published it into a pamphlet. During the Revolutionary War, Pearson and his friend Samuel Phillips ran a powder mill and supplied soldiers with 1,000 pounds of gun powder per week. When Phillips Academy was founded in 1778, and Pearson became the first principal. He lead on the principle (still sighted today by my headmaster Barbara Chase), “…goodness without knowledge is weak and feeble, yet knowledge without goodness is dangerous, and that both united form the noblest character, and lay the surest foundation of usefullness to mankind.”

Pearson was a brutal man, often nicknamed “Elephant” for his large frame, loud voice, and brusque manner.  Students feared him, but peers respected him. After eight years as principal, Pearson was offered a position to teach foreign languages at Harvard. After expanding the campus so that more than 60 boys could enroll, Pearson stepped down as headmaster and rejoined the Harvard community. He stayed with Harvard for 20 years, becoming president in 1804. He quickly lost this position, however, because his Calvinistic views were opposed in the Unitarian environment. In a fit of fury, Pearson resigned and returned to Andover to found the Andover Theological Seminary in 1808. He remained in Andover until 1820, when he retired to a farm in Harvard, MA. The Seminary was a huge success, gaining the attention of the world with its research and publications. Although the seminary merged with the Newton Theological Seminary in 1965, the Seminary campus is now the heart of the PA campus.

Pearson truly transformed American education.

All info gathered from our archives.

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Photo of the Week

Sunday, June 3rd, 2012

1996.543.36

Almost every day, I see this hallway in Bulfinch Hall, the English building at Phillips Academy. As you’ve probably figured out by now, I attend Phillips Academy. I am currently finishing up my junior year. To celebrate my last month of blogging for the Andover Historical Society, I’m going to write about my favorite thing: my campus. Welcome to PA Month on the Photo of the Week blog!

Surprisingly, a guy named Bulfinch did not build this hall. Charles Bulfinch, an iconic Boston architect, designed the Boston Common, Faneuil Hall, and the Massachusetts State House. One of Bulfinch’s students, Asher Benjamin, designed this hall and built it in 1819. Before holding the English department, Bulfinch Hall was a dining area and a gym. Renovations took place last year to make room for more classroom space. I hope the inside gets a paint job, because right now this hallway is bright pink.

This photo shows the debate room in the background, often used for presentations and movies. The rug in the forefront of the photo leads to the main entrance, although I hardly use this door. Most students use the side door, which follows the rug on the left. Also to the left are the stairs, which lead to multiple classrooms on the top floor. The basement also houses a few classrooms. Bulfinch is one of the oldest structures on campus, and certainly one of the most beautiful, too.

Sources:

http://www.andover.edu/About/Newsroom/Pages/BulfinchHallRenovationPlan.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillips_Academy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bulfinch

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Photo of the Week

Sunday, May 13th, 2012

1992.1130

Although this lovely structure no longer stands, its site is in the heart of Phillips Academy. This is the Andover Theological Seminary, the first graduate institution in the nation. It was founded in 1808. 

In Boston, a conflict was rising between Congregationalism and the new beliefs and Unitarianism. Eliphalet Pearson, the first principal at Phillips Academy, got funding from Phillips to build the Seminary to counter Unitarianism. The Seminary trained hundreds of ministers and thousands of missionaries in four major subjects: the Bible, doctrinal theology, church history, and practical arts. Students first obtained an undergraduate degree, then studied under a minister. This structured religious immersion counteracted Unitarianism around the world.

Andover missionaries traveled around the world to spread Congregationalism and publicize Andover. Thanks to the work of these missionaries, the Bible was translated into 13 new languages, and Andover students had the oppurtunity to learn 10 languagues.

In the 1880′s, enrollment dwindled as conservitism swept the country. In 1908, the school moved to Cambridge, but eventually merged with The Newton Theological Institution to become The Andover Newton Theological School. Although today Andover is known for Phillips Academy, The Andover Theological Seminary really put Andover on the map.

See the school here: http://www.ants.edu/

Source: http://www.andovertownsman.com/local/x935816127/Andovers-Stories-Andover-Theological-Seminary-put-Andover-education-on-world-map

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Photo of the Week

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

1991.901

Happy birthday to me! For my 17th birthday, which was yesterday, I’m going to write about one of my favorite topics: the history of Phillips Academy.

This is a print of George T. Eaton, taken in 1924 in Andover. Eaton Cottage is one of the most beautiful dorms on campus, located in the Quads. I assume that the Cottage was named for this man and his family, as they are all Andover alumni. Eaton was born in 1856 and his father James, an English teacher at PA, enrolled his son at the age of 8. James wanted to keep a close eye on his son’s education. At age 17, George officially graduated, but he stayed at Andover for another year to fulfill a supplementary course including a few languages and Chemistry. At age 18, principal Cecil F. P. Bancroft, who I wrote about a few weeks ago, asked Eaton to stay and teach. Eaton declined and instead enrolled at Amherst College.

After teaching at Monson Academy, Eaton returned to Andover in 1880. Although he taught other subjects, Eaton spent his later years teaching mathematics, and eventually became head of the department. Eaton’s true legend, however, rests with the thousands of alumni he graced. Eaton became the statistical secretary of the Alumni Association. He became an expert on the student body and graduates, remembering every name, family, and story. His vast community of friends was devastated when he was hit by a car and killed in 1937.

The Academy honored his 50 years of an Andover legacy in the Cochran church with a service from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Stearns taught with Eaton for 25 years and wrote his eulogy.  George spent many happy summers in his own cottage, making Eaton Cottage a perfect memorial.

Research gathered from an Andover Townsman article in our archives.

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Photo of the Week

Sunday, February 26th, 2012

Abbot Academy was founded in 1829 by Sarah Abbot. This was the first completely female school in the country. Ms. Abbot gave all of her widow’s money to the school’s committee, mostly powerful men in Andover, and named the school after her for her generosity.

Abbot had a shaky start. The school had 6 headmasters in its first 15 years. But the school entered a golden age under Philena and Phebe McKeen in the 1950′s. The McKeen sisters expanded the campus and improved the academics. The curriculum matched or surpassed that of Phillips Academy, especially in modern languages.

Abbot Academy pushed the students into the Andover community. Many of the women attended town meetings and heard lectures at the Theological Seminary. The thoughtful and powerful women, including the first 70 graduates, launched themselves into the community.

In 1973, Abbot Academy merged with Phillips Academy. Though today many don’t know that Abbot even existed, that part of campus remains large and beautiful. The Abbot Academy Association honors the old academy by funding many of the projects within the Andover bubble. Last year, my hockey captain even got a grant to get speakers in our locker room at the ice rink. Thanks, Abbot!

Andover Stories saves the day again: http://www.andovertownsman.com/local/x1498155410/Andover-Stories-Abbot-Academy-a-leader-in-its-own-right-for-150-years

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Photo of the Week

Sunday, February 19th, 2012

This is Warren Fales Draper, an townie who changed the Andover Schools forever. Draper was born in Dedham in 1818 and attended Phillips Academy. After high school he went to Amherst College in 1847, and upon graduating he began his dream of studying at the Andover Seminary. After one year, however, Draper had to change career paths due to his failing health.

Draper entered the bookselling business in 1849, and from there he started printing books in Andover. In 1850, he published the Bibliotheca Sacra, and later, Littell’s Living Age.

His wife, Irene Rowley Draper, attended Abbot Academy (more on Abbot next week) at the same time he attended Phillips. They wed in 1848.

Draper could be considered a typical New England Christian: frugal, loving, energetic, and charitable. He strongly believed in education, and donated to many of the schools in town. He granted a scholarship to the seminary and the Draper Prize Speaking for forty years at PA. He also gave Phillips Draper Cottage, a dorm that is still used today. Draper was also the treasurer at Abbot Academy for 25 years, and gave many funds, including money to the McKeen Memorial building and Draper Hall. Draper even supported public schools by giving $1000 to Punchard Free School (see last week’s post for more on this school).

Draper was a simple man. He did not splurge on any luxuries, but instead invested in the town he cared about. A newspaper reported about Draper on his death and said, “He loved Andover and all of its institutions. Her hills were his pride and her forests his joy.”

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