Historic Landmark Brings $200 -- Town Preserves Bell
Hampton Union, July 18, 1940
[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]
With only a small group of citizens on hand Saturday afternoon as witnesses, the historic Hampton Academy building was sold at public aucion. Workmen started this week razing the building.
For generations the Academy building has been a landmark in Hampton and a vital force in the town's history. Many citizens of prominence received their early schooling in the old building which was sold to a wrecking concern for a reported sum of $200. The historic bell will be preserved, but its ultimate resting place has not yet been determined.
The East End schoolhouse
The old East End school at the junction of Winnacunnet and Locke roads was also sold to the wrecking concern for $120. This building was closed when the Center School was opened in 1921 and was later sold to private interests, being operated as a tearoom for some time, ultimately being transferred back to town ownership.
Not Original Building
Although the Academy was founded in 1810, being preceded only by Phillips Exeter and Atkinson Academies, the original building, situated on the memorial green, was burned on Aug. 29, 1851, for some unknown cause. Funds were solicited and the present building was erected.
On June 22, 1883 the building was moved by 80 pair of oxen to its present site and on Sept. 14, 1885 the school opened as a free high school.
Prominent Grads
The first class to graduate under the new regime was in 1887, and each succeeding graduation has added a new group to the alumni until there are now nearly 600.
Many young men, afterwards of high repute in professional and political life, graduated from here. Amos Morrill, Judge of the U.S. District Court in Texas; Daniel Clark, who held like office in New Hampshire for 25 years, was a founder of the Republican Party and a U.S. Senator; Moses Norris, member of Congress; James Jay, railroad king; James Grimes, for 3 years governor of Iowa; Amos Tuck, and many more.