Marine City in St. Clair County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Newport Academy

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, March 26, 2011

1. Newport Academy Marker

Inscription.
Emily Ward established the Newport Academy about 1845 to provide educational opportunities for area children. Miss Ward was a niece of Samuel Ward, the founder of Newport (now Marine City), and the sister of Eber Brock Ward, a shipping magnate and wealthy steel industrialist. She conducted the academy for about twenty years. This structure, erected in 1847, was one of the first school buildings in the community. The city bought it in 1868 and moved it from a nearby corner to its present location in 1870. It has served as both a private and public school, a village hall and jail, a hose house and a church. The Marine City Public Library has occupied this structure since 1939.

Erected 1980 by Michigan History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number L0683.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.

Location. 42° 42.959′ N, 82° 29.657′ W. Marker is in Marine City, Michigan, in St. Clair County. It is at the intersection of South Main Street and East St Clair Street, on the right when traveling north on South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 405 South Main Street, Marine City MI 48039, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan

and in one of the Lake Huron Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: New Orleans Anchor (here, next to this marker); Emily Ward Academy Bell (a few steps from this marker); Walking Plow (a few steps from this marker); United Methodist Church Bell (a few steps from this marker); Anchor Bay Anchor (a few steps from this marker); David and Laura Lester House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Marine City 1866 - 1880 (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Mary (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marine City.

Also see . . . Pride & Heritage Museum. Marine City website entry (Submitted on April 12, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, June 27, 2022

2. Newport Academy Marker

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, March 26, 2011

3. Newport Academy Marker

Newport Academy image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, June 27, 2022

4. Newport Academy

Credits. This page was last revised on April 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 882 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 27, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on March 8, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 3. submitted on March 27, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on March 8, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.