Darnestown in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Andrew Small Academy
Darnestown
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 22, 2013
1. Andrew Small Academy Marker
Inscription.
Andrew Small Academy. Darnestown. The years following the Civil War were a booming time for Darnestown. Local residents repaired damages from the war and returned to their daily means of livelihood. Andrew Small was a C&O Canal contractor and became familiar with Darnestown during his career. In 1867 upon his deathbed, he bequeathed $35,000 to the community to construct a school. His gift was used to found the Andrew Small Academy, on of the few accredited college preparatory schools in Montgomery County and a rarity for a rural area before the public school system was created., The Academy building was constructed in 1869 to the southeast of the Darnestown Presbyterian Church and soon began to draw pupils from outside of the community. The third floor was used as living quarters for boarding students. Day students from Darnestown and neighboring communities also attended. The academy was a cultural center for the community, providing avenue for plays, concerts, recitals, and even a literary society., Though the Academy was closed in 1907, the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners of Public Schools took over the building and used it as a high school until 1927, when it became an elementary school. The building was demolished in 1955 and replaced by the existing Darnestown Elementary School, which stands only a few hundred feet from the (sic) where the academy was once located., Textbook Learning, Children learned the alphabet, expanded their vocabulary, and were given daily spelling 'slate work' courtesy of the McGuffey Reader, the most popular American textbook in the 19th century.
The years following the Civil War were a booming time for Darnestown. Local residents repaired damages from the war and returned to their daily means of livelihood. Andrew Small was a C&O Canal contractor and became familiar with Darnestown during his career. In 1867 upon his deathbed, he bequeathed $35,000 to the community to construct a school. His gift was used to found the Andrew Small Academy, on of the few accredited college preparatory schools in Montgomery County and a rarity for a rural area before the public school system was created.
The Academy building was constructed in 1869 to the southeast of the Darnestown Presbyterian Church and soon began to draw pupils from outside of the community. The third floor was used as living quarters for boarding students. Day students from Darnestown and neighboring communities also attended. The academy was a cultural center for the community, providing avenue for plays, concerts, recitals, and even a literary society.
Though the Academy was closed in 1907, the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners of Public Schools took over the building and used it as a high school until 1927, when it became an elementary school. The building was demolished in 1955 and replaced by the existing Darnestown Elementary School, which stands only a few hundred feet from the (sic) where the
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academy was once located.
Textbook Learning
Children learned the alphabet, expanded their vocabulary, and were given daily spelling 'slate work' courtesy of the McGuffey Reader, the most popular American textbook in the 19th century.
Erected 2012 by Montgomery Parks M-NCPCC.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.
Location. 39° 6.198′ N, 77° 17.452′ W. Marker is in Darnestown, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Marker can be reached from Darnestown Road. Marker is in Darnestown Square Heritage Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14029 Darnestown Road, Gaithersburg MD 20878, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Close-up of photo on marker Montgomery County Historical Society
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 22, 2013
4. Washington Post Display Ad for the Academy, 1903
Andrew Small Academy
Darnestown. Montgomery Co., MD.
Incorporated 1867. Ideal location, remarkable for its healthfulness and freedom from undesirable influences. Prepares for college, for business, and for life. A limited number of boys board with the principal. Excellent instructors. Very low rates.
W. F. McIlwee, B. S. Principal.
Close-up of photo on marker Montgomery County Historical Society
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 22, 2013
5. Cover of McGuffey's First Eclectic Reader
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 22, 2013
6. Relief Print and Slate Work From Lesson XLI
Some horses can trot very fast. Would you like to ride fast? One day I saw a dog hitched to a little cart. The cart had some corn in it.
Close-up of photo on marker McGuffey's First Eclectic Reader
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 22, 2013
7. The Teacher
Scuplture by Cheryl Foster. One of six sculpted portraits in Darnestown Square Heritage Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 695 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 25, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7. submitted on October 26, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.