Appleton Academy Dedication - 1942

Article published in the "Union"

Feb 8, 1942

Article about the dedication of the new Appleton Academy building

NEW IPSWICH, Feb. 8.-

   With a history spanning 87 years of educational service to this town, the new structure of Appleton academy was dedicated Saturday evening at a ceremony attended by 300 residents of this area, many of whom were former students. 

The new structure, which closely resembles on the exterior the original building completed in 1855, replaces that destroyed by fire Jan. 23, 1941. The exercises were held in the gymnasium from 8 to 9, and Sen. Charles W. Tobey of Temple was the principal speaker. 

Reminiscent Sketches

   His address concerned a series of reminiscent sketches of personalities connected with the school's long history, and he brought the war before his listeners, telling them it involves a survival of the type of American life of which the academy is a part. 

   C. Ralph Taylor, West Roxbury, Mass., president of the board of trustees, was unable to be present, and Supt. Vernon S. Ames of Wilton presided in his absence. John F. McCuddy, Greenville, chairman of the building committee, presented the keys of the building to Senator Tobey, who accepted them in the name of the trustees. The invocation was offered by Rev. William E. Steckel, pastor of the New Ipswich Congregational church, and Rev. Andre Doucet, pastor of the Sacred Heart church, Greenville, delivered the benediction.

   The dedication ceremony was followed by a public inspection of the building and a dance in the gymnasium. The building committee was in charge of the program, and members of that group are Mr. McCuddy, Superintendent Ames, Mrs. Susan Maynard, Mrs. William Patterson and Headmaster Lester E. Smith. 

   On the ground floor of the building there are two classrooms; a science laboratory, furnished in memory of Robert B. Walton, a member of the building committee at the time of his death, and a library, in memory of Harriet Upham Spofford. On the top floor is the domestic science suite, the commercial suite and a girls' lounge room. The basement, finished by the boys of the trades and industries class as a mechanics arts project, houses dressing rooms and a cafeteria and lunchroom.

Students of Appleton Academy

Painting chairs

Boys working on refinishing basement at Appleton

One Hundred Formulas -

George Carmichael donated a copy of Stephen A. Thayer’s “One Hundred Formulas” which was published in 1883. It contains recipes from everything from printing ink to pain killers. This “Elixir” will cure your troubles with a mixture of alcohol and opium.

This book sold for a dollar and was one of the many enterprises that Steven A, Thayer was involved with (He had a cigar factory too). He had some advice for preparing the recipes.

James Roger diary entry

October 19^th 1908 (Monday)

Cooler and air full of smoke from wood fire near “Pratts” station.  I took May and the children to Depot for noon train with Mr. Bucknan’s horse and brought grain. Burned weeds in forenoon and leveled the Gordon’s old lot in afternoon.