Center Strafford in Strafford County, New Hampshire — The American Northeast (New England)
Strafford Union Academy
1833-1903
⎯⎯⎯
Austin-Cate Academy
1904-1981
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 2, 2024
1. Strafford Union Academy side of marker
Strafford Union Academy, founded in 1833, served as a private secondary school in a building that is today known as Austin Hall. In 1848, the Academy became Strafford Seminary, which both educated local students and served as a seminary for the Free Will Baptist denomination. The school's name changed again to Austin Academy in 1866 for benefactor the Rev. Daniel Austin of Portsmouth. The Academy's association with the Free Will Baptists ended in 1881. In 1903, the school moved to this hillside campus.
Austin-Cate Academy
After visiting the campus of private boarding and day school Austin Academy, successful shoe manufacturer George Cate donated funds to expand its campus. Following his death, the school was renamed Austin-Cate Academy. After fires destroyed several structures, architect J. Edward Richardson designed new buildings in brick in the 1930s. Attendance by Strafford students declined steadily in the late 1960s and by the mid-1970s it was a private boarding school with very few day students. The school closed in 1981.
Erected 2024 by New Hampshire Division of
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the New Hampshire Historical Highway Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1833.
Location. 43° 16.307′ N, 71° 7.672′ W. Marker is in Strafford, New Hampshire, in Strafford County. It is in Center Strafford. It is at the intersection of Parker Mountain Road (New Hampshire Route 126) and Austin Cate Drive, on the right when traveling north on Parker Mountain Road. Marker is in front of the New Hampshire National Guard Training Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1079 Parker Mountain Rd, Strafford NH 03884, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on New Hampshire’s Seacoast. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 2, 2024
2. Austin-Cate Academy side of marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Canaan Chapel (approx. 4.8 miles away); LaFayette's Tour (approx. 5.4 miles away); Northwood NH WWII Honor Roll (approx. 5.4 miles away); Northwood NH War Memorial (approx. 5.4 miles away); Northwood NH WWI Honor Roll (approx. 5.4 miles away); Northwood Parade 1775 (approx. 5.4 miles away); Northwood Congregational Church (approx. 5½ miles away); First New Hampshire Turnpike (approx. 7.2 miles away).
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 2, 2024
3. Strafford Union Academy / Austin-Cate Academy Marker
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 2, 2024
4. Austin Hall
This was the academy's original home, holding classes here from 1833 to 1903. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 (link to nomination below).
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Unknown via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain), circa 1912
5. Austin-Cate Academy
A picture postcard view of the campus.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,624 times since then and 149 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 14, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
