Old Academy

Old Academy. (Blairstown Presbyterial Academy). , Until 1848, the children in and around Blairstown attended classes in two locations: in a wood frame schoolhouse that was located near the Presbyterian church and, by 1822, in a brick schoolhouse that was built on the south side of the Paulins Kill. At that time, the state made few provisions for the educational needs of the villages that dotted the rural countryside of New Jersey. An act for free public education would not be established until April 1871., In a meeting on April 6, 1848, Reverend John A. Reiley of the First Presbyterian Church, carriage maker John Bunnell, and wealthy merchant John I. Blair met with other leaders of the town to decide on the purpose and location for a school. Mr. Bunnell and Reverend Reiley had been advocates of a school for some time. Mr. Blair's key role was to provide the funding for the building and the donation of a half-acre of prime land on a hill that overlooked the village. They decided to build a Presbyterian parochial school, with Bible studies to be a part of the regular curriculum. The building was built and in use by January 1, 1849. The interior had two rooms that were separated by a folding door, one side being used for a public school, the other side as the Academy. The first term lasted twenty-two weeks and attendance ranged from forty-six to eighty-five students. By 1855, wings were added at both sides of the school to accommodate the increase in attendance. (The wings were removed around 1898.), From its start, Blairstown Presbyterial Academy was intimately connected with public schooling and assumed the responsibility of educating the children of the local farmers and merchants until 1896. It was at this time that a wood frame public school was built for the community at the end of East Avenue on what is now Stillwater Road. The original schoolhouse at the Academy went on to serve many purposes, including a music hall. The building is now referred to as "Old Academy" and stands as a historic landmark for Blair Academy and the community. From its humble beginnings as a schoolhouse on the hill, Blair Academy has grown to become a world-renowned college preparatory school. , Blairstown School . 1848-1850s , Blairstown Presbyterial Academy . 1850s-1867 , Blair Presbyterial Academy . 1867-1904 , Blair Academy . 1904-to present