Derby Center in Orleans County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)

Derby Academy

1840-1967

— The Oldest Incorporated School in Orleans County —

Derby Academy Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Kevin Craft, July 21, 2014

1. Derby Academy Marker

(front side)

Inscription. On this site the Derby Literary and Theological Institute - a private boarding school - was founded by the Danville Baptist Association on one acre of land given by Lemuel Richmond and Benjamin Hinman. Colonel Chester Carpenter led a campaign for support as citizens readily came forth with money, labor, and their produce to build a secondary school. Donated cattle were driven to a Brighton, Massachusetts market to help raise funds.
Countless numbers of students and this community have lived and prospered under the school motto
Qualis Non Quantus

Chronology

1840 Classes began in September with 147 students
1842 The Lyceum organized for debating society
1845 Name changed to Derby Academy
1853 Orleans County Historical Society founded and given space for meetings and display
1918 Derby Academy became the public junior-senior high school
1921 Judge Nathan Hunt gave six acres for the athletic field
1957 Early building replaced with brick structure
1967 Derby Academy merged with four other schools into North Country Union High School District 22

Erected 1990 by Derby Academy Alumni Association and Derby Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.

Location.

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44° 56.991′ N, 72° 7.949′ W. Marker is in Derby, Vermont, in Orleans County. It is in Derby Center. Marker is on Main Street (Vermont Route 105) 0.3 miles south of U.S. 5, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Derby VT 05829, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Derby Academy Bell (here, next to this marker); Congregational Society of Derby (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dedicated to all Veterans of the Iraq War (approx. half a mile away); Dedicated to all Veterans of the Desert Storm War (approx. half a mile away); Dedicated to all veterans of the Afghanistan War (approx. half a mile away); Willie Johnston (approx. half a mile away); Derby Civil War Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Dedicated to all Veterans of the Vietnam War (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Derby.

Regarding Derby Academy. "Qualis Non Quantus" loosely translated means "Quality Not Quantity"

Photographed By Kevin Craft, July 21, 2014

2. Derby Academy Marker

(reverse side)

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, May 17, 2022

3. Derby Academy Marker

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, May 17, 2022

4. Derby Academy Marker

Derby Academy Marker and Derby Academy Bell image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Kevin Craft, July 21, 2014

5. Derby Academy Marker and Derby Academy Bell

Plaque underneath bell reads:
"Presented June 2001 by the Derby Academy Alumni
Derby Academy Bell
Cast by George H. Holbrook in Midway, Mass, in 1841. Moved from the old boarding house about 1869, it hung in the Academy building until the building was replaced by the present Junior High building in 1957.

Photographed By Kevin Craft, July 21, 2014

6. Derby Academy Marker and Derby Academy Bell

(Derby Historical Society is in the background)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2014, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. This page has been viewed 675 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 22, 2014, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. 3, 4. submitted on May 18, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 5, 6. submitted on July 22, 2014, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.