Fryeburg Academy

Fryeburg Academy
Address
745 Main Street Fryeburg, Maine, 04037 United States
Coordinates	44°01′12″N 70°58′31″W / 44.0200°N 70.9754°WCoordinates: 44°01′12″N 70°58′31″W / 44.0200°N 70.9754°W
Information
Type	Private, Boarding
Religious affiliation(s)	None
Established	1792
Head of school	Erin Mayo
Faculty	53
Enrollment	575 total 164 boarding 411 day
Average class size	15 students
Student to teacher ratio	11:1
Campus	Rural, 238 acres (1 km²)
Color(s)	Blue and White
Athletics	46 sports
Mascot	Raider
Website	www.fryeburgacademy.org

Fryeburg Academy, founded 1792, is one of the oldest private schools in the United States. It is located in Fryeburg, Maine. One of the first headmasters was Daniel Webster, who taught at the school for a year.

Boarding students come from across the United States, North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Academy also serves as the high school for the MSAD 72 school district.^[1]

Gymnasium fire

In the early morning hours of October 12, 2005, fire destroyed the Gibson Gymnasium at Fryeburg Academy. The fire was determined to be arson, and two former students were charged.^[2] As a result of the fire, a major capital campaign was begun to fund a new and better athletic facility.

2007 fieldhouse

The new facility was opened in May 2007 and is currently in use. Featuring new basketball courts, it also has the benefits of a fitness center, wrestling room, many locker rooms, offices, and a lobby - among other things. The new multi-purpose fieldhouse is widely considered to be one of the finest in the state of Maine at the high school level. The new gym was used in its first public event since opening to hold the Commencement ceremonies for the graduating Class of 2007.

Center for the Arts

With the new Fieldhouse/Arena project completed, the school broke ground on a new theater complex in 2007. Known as the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center, the building serves more than just the theater production program. Aside from a full stage and auditorium style seating for 381, it includes three art galleries and a student gallery space, a seminar room, a scene shop, and full backstage facilities. The performing arts center opened for its first performance in January 2009 and was officially dedicated in May 2009.^[3]

Notable alumni and faculty

• Nathaniel S. Benton, New York politician^[4]
• John W. Dana, former Maine Governor^[5]
• James Farrington, US Congressman^[6]
• Harvey Dow Gibson, financier^[7]
• Spalding Gray, actor and monologist^[8]
• Joseph M. Harper, US Congressman and Acting Governor of New Hampshire^[9]
• Rufus Porter, painter and founder of Scientific American^[10]
• Marc Murphy (chef), Celebrity Chef^[11]
• Michael Gallagher, comedian and storyteller
• James W. Ripley, US Congressman^[12]
• David S. Rohde, New York Times investigative reporter^[13]
• Casey Sherman, NY Times bestselling author of The Finest Hours, Bad Blood and Search for the Strangler, [Boston Strong] ^[14]
• Daniel Webster, lawyer and politician (Former headmaster)^[15]

Images

• 

  The bell tower atop the oldest part of the school.

• 

  The Bion R. Cram Library at night.

• 

  The Fryeburg Academy athletic fields/scoreboard.

• 

  Fryeburg's Snow-covered athletic fields.

References

1. http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/229
2. http://archive.bangordailynews.com/2006/08/22/fryeburg-academy-fire-trial-begins
3. http://www.fryeburgacademy.org/podium/default.aspx?t=111806
4. Harlow, Samuel Ralph and Boone, H. H. (1867). Life Sketches of the State Officers, Senators, and Members of the Assembly of the State of New York, in 1867. Weed, Parsons, Printers. p. 50.
5. "Maine Governor John Winchester Dana". National Governors Association. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
6. "FARRINGTON, James, (1791 - 1859)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
7. "Gibson Music Hall". Fryeburg Academy. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
8. Gray, Spalding (2012). The Journals of Spalding Gray. Random House LLC. p. 40.
9. "HARPER, Joseph Morrill, (1787 - 1865)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
10. Hammond, Karen T. (2011). Backroads & Byways of New England: Drives, Day Trips & Weekend Excursions (Backroads & Byways). The Countryman Press. p. 212.
11. "Check out Marc Murphy '88 on Good Morning America". Twitter. 2011. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
12. "RIPLEY, James Wheelock, (1786 - 1835)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
13. "Scenes Fall 2011" (PDF). Fryeburg Academy. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
14. "It's A Crime Radio". It’s A Crime Radio. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
15. "Webster Hall". Fryeburg Academy. Retrieved December 13, 2013.

External links

• Website of Fryeburg Academy