Washington Academy's proud history:
Early Years at Washington Academy
Nineteenth Century
Twentieth Century
Twenty-first Century and Beyond
The history of Washington Academy began shortly after the United States of America became a new nation. The following quote is from correspondence with the State of Massachusetts, which governed the region at the time.
“To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives:
The petition of the subscribers in behalf of themselves and the inhabitants of the County of Washington respectfully shows: that it is with the highest degree of satisfaction your Petitioners observe the attention of the Legislature to the object of spreading the opportunities and advantages of Education in the different parts of the State and amongst all orders of people.
Your petitioners reside in one of the  most distant counties in a part of the country which ‘till very lately has been inhabited by native savages. They made great exertions to subdue the wilderness and reduce the stubborn soil to a state of cultivation. In this, however, they made greater progress than in the means of educating their children. In accomplishing this end they find difficulties which at present they conceive to be insuperable without the aid of Government.
They therefore, look to the political Fathers with confidence that neither their distance nor poverty will prevent them from receiving the favorable attention of this Honorable Court; and pray that an Academy may be instituted in the town of Machias, where exertions have for sometime been making for that purpose, and that some of the unlocated lands in these parts may be granted for the support of such Institution; that wisdom, knowledge and virtue may find their way and be generally diffused amongst the children and youth of this distant part of the Commonwealth; and your petitioners in duty bound will ever pray.
Alexander Campbell
Phineas Bruce
Theodore Lincoln
John Foster
These men all prominent in social, political and professional life; Col. Campbell, soldier and jurist, representing the Narraguagus valley; Phineas Bruce, a learned lawyer of Machias; Theodore Lincoln, son of Gen. Benjamin Lincoln of the Revolution, of Dennysville; John Foster, active in trade and mercantile circles of Eastport, probably not four other men in the Country of larger influence could have been selected for this important work.” (1)
“In 1792, with the consent of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and under the Act of Incorporation of Washington Academy, the Trustees appointed to establish and direct the school chose Township #11, which is now called Cutler, to be sold to fund the school. The land was sold for a total price of twelve hundred pounds (approximately $0.40 per acre), approximately four thousand dollars.” (2)
“For various reasons no effectual move was made to secure a building and locate the school until 1823, thirty years after the incorporation. One provision of the act allowed the Trustees to use the income of the fund to support a school when and where they should see fit.” (1) As a result, between 1792 and 1823 classes were held at the Burnham Tavern in Machias as well as at the Masonic Hall in East Machias.
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“In 1823 new life was infused in Academic interests. West Falls (Machias) and East Falls (East Machias), each wanted the Academy in earnest. A contest was on, not only between the hamlets, but included nearly every settlement in the county. Gideon O’Brien of West Falls offered $2500.00 if the Academy should be located in his village. Twelve of the leading citizens of East Falls volunteered to expend $4,500.00 in a building the plan of which was to be furnished by the Trustees. These men also offered to guarantee board of non-resident pupils at prices to be fixed by the Board.
The Trustees after careful deliberation accepted the generous offer of East Falls and the school building was erected as per contract on September 8, 1823 and was opened as an all-boys school.” (1)
“In 1899 a new wing was added to the Academy building at a cost of approximately $6,000.00. The architect for this addition was Mr. Alfred Stone, a Washington Academy graduate. This new addition provided an assembly room capable of seating 120 students, a library with a capacity for 1500 volumes, Chemical and Physical laboratories and Lab equipment. The athletic fields were purchased across the street from the Academy and $75.00 was spent to make them usable.” (2)
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“The Disciples Church was purchased in 1934 by the Academy. This building is located halfway down Academy Hill on the right. The building was used for the Commercial, or Business courses offered at Washington Academy.
The construction of the Alumni Building in 1958-59 was the next building project to be undertaken by Washington Academy. Mr. Austin Cary (1883) and his nephew Charles A. Cary (1906), who was later to become an executive in the Dupont Corporation, donated extensively to help alumni and friends raise the money for the new gymnasium, which constituted the entire top floor of the new building. The gym when it was completed was the first home court the Raiders basketball team ever had. The lower level of the building was divided into three sections: the Home Economics Room, the Banquet Room and the Commercial section. In 1966 the $156,000 it had taken to construct the Alumni Building had been paid off and the mortgage was burned. Following this, the library-classroom addition to the Alumni Building was completed.
The next building phase at Washington Academy began in 1973 when the north wing was added to the Alumni Building. Upon its completion all of the classes, except band were held in the Alumni Building. The Vocational Education Building was constructed in 1982-1983 and housed the Marine Vocational Education Program. In 1989 the original Academy Building was named to the National Register of Historic Places enabling it to become eligible to receive funds for preservation.” (2)
The most recent building projects at Washington Academy were planned during our bicentennial year 1992. These plans involved purchasing property adjoining the campus, and constructing a new gymnasium. It was also decided to renovate the Marine Technology Building to accommodate the addition of a new Industrial Arts Building, and to renovate the Academy Building. These projects were completed in November of 1994 at a cost of $2,700,000.
In 1996 declining population and enrollment around Washington County presented Washington Academy with a unique opportunity for development and recruitment of students in an ever-changing world. To meet those challenges, a new computer lab was established through the generous contributions of W.A. Alumni and friends. Our declining enrollment was bolstered with in influx of residential students seeking to learn English as a Second Language prior to entering college. This enabled Washington Academy to maintain a stable enrollment and continue to offer programs of study being eliminated in other schools due to declining enrollment and decreasing revenue.
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The residential program at Washington Academy became a reality in 2001. It was decided to set a goal of 10 to 15 residential students for that initial year of the program. The success of that program academically and socially led the Academy to purchase the house of former Trustee Dr. Karl Larson and renovate it in 2002 to accommodate up to eighteen boarding students. The Cates house, which had formerly been used as the headmaster’s residence was also renovated in 2003 to accomodate seventeen students and become the girl’s dormitory.
To better prepare the students for the challenges they would face after graduation, Washington Academy established an Advanced Placement Study program for college bound seniors who wished to receive college credit prior to their graduation.
Buildings, books, faculty, staff and students are the visible components that define this institution as a school. However, with over two hundred years of history behind us, Washington Academy represents much more than these - - it represents a legacy of success. “Supporting Success” is the goal and responsibility of Washington Academy today and throughout the twenty-first century.
- Drisko, George W. History of Machias, Maine. Machias, ME: Press of the Republican, 1904.
- Bragg, Judd. ‘92 “A History of Washington Academy” Class assignment, junior English: Washington Academy.
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