The Academy Building (Gorham Academy or Gorham Seminary) is an historic building located on the campus of the

University of Southern Maine The University of Southern Maine (USM) is a public university with campuses in Portland, Gorham and Lewiston in the U.S. state of Maine. It is the southernmost of the University of Maine System. It was founded as two separate state universitie ...

(USM) in Gorham,

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

, United States. Built in 1806 to house the Gorham Academy, it was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1973 for its fine Federal period architecture and its importance in local education.

Description and history

The Academy Building is set on the east side of the USM campus, between University Way and School Street (

Maine State Route 114 State Route 114 (SR 114) is a route through southern Maine from U.S. Route 1 (US 1) and SR 9 and SR 207 in Scarborough to US 302 and SR 11 in Naples. The entire route is in Cumberland County. Route description S ...

), a short way northwest of the Gorham town center. The campus is set on a hill, and the building's site gives it a commanding view down toward School Street and the town. It is a two-story wood-frame structure, about , and is topped by a gable-on-hip roof with a square wooden cupola at it center. The cupola has arched openings showing an open belfry, and is topped by a wooden spire. The building's walls are finished in wooden clapboards, and it rests on a granite foundation. The corners are finished with wooden quoining, and a modillioned cornice extends around all four sides. The main facade faces northeast, and has a detailed Classical style, with a projecting portico supported by four Doric columns and topped by a balustrade. Gorham Academy was established by an act of the state legislature in 1803, as a college preparatory school, and was the seventh to be established in what is now the state of

. This building was built by Samuel Elder and completed in 1806. Initially schooling only boys, it underwent several changes, sometimes serving both boys and girls, and sometimes only girls or boys. In its last incarnation, established in 1856 as the Gorham Seminary, it was coeducational. This school closed in 1877. In 1878, the building was sold to the state to be used for the normal college built around it, which became the university. Though on USM's campus, it is not owned by the university; it is the property of Gorham Academy Association.

References

{{National Register of Historic Places Buildings at the University of Southern Maine School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Maine Schools in Cumberland County, Maine School buildings completed in 1806 National Register of Historic Places in Cumberland County, Maine Historic district contributing properties in Maine

Description and history

See also

References