Marymount Military Academy
Encyclopedia
Marymount Military Academy was a boys' military school in Tacoma, Washington
that was in operation first as a military academy, then as a private boys' school from 1923 to 1976.
on the outskirts of Tacoma, Washington
in present day Parkland. The remote .jpg|100 acre (0.404686 km²) plot on which it stands was bought from the Shields family in 1920. The property was known as "Wright's Acre Tracts", owned by the people who built Annie Wright School
. The Shields' property was located on the John Mahon Road, now known as Military Road
. The inadequacy of the boys' school (St. Edward's) necessitated the building of the present Marymount Academy
in 1922. At that time, Parkland was mostly prairieland. What is now Marymount was then a farmhouse, some outbuildings and rolling fields. The original two administrators of Marymount, Mother Mary Thomasina and Mother Mary de Chantal, chose the present location as a site for a school for boys, to replace Saint Edward's Hall in Tacoma.
The groundbreaking was in May 1921. On July 2, 1922 the cornerstone was laid and it was dedicated as St.Edward's Boys' school at Mary Mount on May 30, 1923. Later the name was shortened to just Marymount.Thus began Marymount's 54 years as a military academy for boys. The school originally catered to pre-schoolers through ninth grade
, and the students boarded in what is now the E-shaped building's west wing. The school is an outgrowth of St. Edward's hall, a pioneer Tacoma educational institution
which was also opened and operated by the Dominican Sisters. The administration of the school and direction of the educational program
were in the hands of the Dominican Sisters, whose Motherhouse was annexed to the academy.
Curriculum:
A 1940 Tacoma News Tribune article quoting the Dominican Sisters described the educational facilities and policies of the school as follows:
"The student body is composed of boys from six to sixteen years of age. A very high scholastic standard is maintained in all studies. The curricula includes the elementary grades and junior high school studies required for accreditation by the state. The academy is also a charter member of the National Rifle association. Manual training is provided for the boys and a well organized industrial arts department maintained. Private instruction in music is a part of the daily schedule."
Early Enrollment and Curriculum:
When the school opened there were about 30 boys in attendance. The number fluctuated over the years. During World War II
the number of students rose to 110. The students enjoyed a fine music program, and in addition to their choir, Marymount sponsored a band. Once a week the boys held a parade review, demonstrating the marches and drills that they had mastered that week. They also had a tradition of performing annually in the local Daffodil Parade. A full schedule kept the boys active from reveille at 6:40am each morning until their bedtime at 9:00pm. This rigorous life proved beneficial to many students who went on to become successful in a variety of careers.
Decline:
Marymount was run as a military school until 1971; and five years thereafter as a private boys' boarding school
. The academy eventually became economically infeasible. In 1974 it became a boarding school catering to the wealthy. For example, students from the Mexican elite came to learn English
. By 1976, even the boarding school had become too expensive to maintain.
The following decade, Marymount was basically a retirement home
and convalescent center for the nuns. By the late 1980s, a series of catastrophic maintenance problems convinced the church to sell Marymount because it couldn’t adequately care for the facility and grounds. When the nuns solicited proposals from potential buyers, Harold LeMay’s proposal was not only the lone bid that would preserve the buildings and grounds, but he promised to maintain and improve them. The decisive element of the proposal was that the nuns were promised access to Marymount as long as they wished.
Today, several non-profit groups share space at Marymount, including two church congregations and a senior center
, in addition to the LeMay Museum. It is also one of the locations for the annual car show
and auction held on the last Saturday of August.
At one time, the Dominican sisters of Marymount operated four schools in the Tacoma area: Marymount and Aquinas Academy
, a girls' school, St. Patrick's school and Holy Cross School
. On September 21, 1942, they also purchased Haddaway Hall (the former J.P. Weyerhaeuser home) and opened Tacoma Catholic College, a junior college
for girls. In 1974, Aquinas Academy, one of three Catholic high school
s in the Tacoma area at the time, and St. Leo's, combined with Bellarmine Academy which was operated by the Jesuits.
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
that was in operation first as a military academy, then as a private boys' school from 1923 to 1976.
History
Marymount was purchased in 1919 by the Sisters of St. DominicSaint Dominic
Saint Dominic , also known as Dominic of Osma, often called Dominic de Guzmán and Domingo Félix de Guzmán was the founder of the Friars Preachers, popularly called the Dominicans or Order of Preachers , a Catholic religious order...
on the outskirts of Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
in present day Parkland. The remote .jpg|100 acre (0.404686 km²) plot on which it stands was bought from the Shields family in 1920. The property was known as "Wright's Acre Tracts", owned by the people who built Annie Wright School
Annie Wright School
Annie Wright School is a preschool-12th grade independent school of about 450 students. It is a co-ed day program through grade 8, and an all-girls day and boarding school in grades 9-12. The upper school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme...
. The Shields' property was located on the John Mahon Road, now known as Military Road
Military Road
-Australia:* Military Road, part of Route 39, Melbourne* Military Road on the North Shore of Sydney Harbour, to connect with the military installations on Middle Head* Military Road, off Wanneroo Road just north of Yanchep National Park, Western Australia...
. The inadequacy of the boys' school (St. Edward's) necessitated the building of the present Marymount Academy
Marymount Academy
Marymount Academy is a private secondary school in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Directed by the English Montreal School Board , Marymount offers an International Program of Studies based on the philosophy of the International Baccalaureate Organization but still following Quebec Ministerial...
in 1922. At that time, Parkland was mostly prairieland. What is now Marymount was then a farmhouse, some outbuildings and rolling fields. The original two administrators of Marymount, Mother Mary Thomasina and Mother Mary de Chantal, chose the present location as a site for a school for boys, to replace Saint Edward's Hall in Tacoma.
The groundbreaking was in May 1921. On July 2, 1922 the cornerstone was laid and it was dedicated as St.Edward's Boys' school at Mary Mount on May 30, 1923. Later the name was shortened to just Marymount.Thus began Marymount's 54 years as a military academy for boys. The school originally catered to pre-schoolers through ninth grade
Ninth grade
Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
, and the students boarded in what is now the E-shaped building's west wing. The school is an outgrowth of St. Edward's hall, a pioneer Tacoma educational institution
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
which was also opened and operated by the Dominican Sisters. The administration of the school and direction of the educational program
Educational program
An educational program is a program written by the ministry of education which determines the learning progress of each subject in all the stages of formal education....
were in the hands of the Dominican Sisters, whose Motherhouse was annexed to the academy.
Curriculum:
A 1940 Tacoma News Tribune article quoting the Dominican Sisters described the educational facilities and policies of the school as follows:
"The student body is composed of boys from six to sixteen years of age. A very high scholastic standard is maintained in all studies. The curricula includes the elementary grades and junior high school studies required for accreditation by the state. The academy is also a charter member of the National Rifle association. Manual training is provided for the boys and a well organized industrial arts department maintained. Private instruction in music is a part of the daily schedule."
Early Enrollment and Curriculum:
When the school opened there were about 30 boys in attendance. The number fluctuated over the years. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the number of students rose to 110. The students enjoyed a fine music program, and in addition to their choir, Marymount sponsored a band. Once a week the boys held a parade review, demonstrating the marches and drills that they had mastered that week. They also had a tradition of performing annually in the local Daffodil Parade. A full schedule kept the boys active from reveille at 6:40am each morning until their bedtime at 9:00pm. This rigorous life proved beneficial to many students who went on to become successful in a variety of careers.
Decline:
Marymount was run as a military school until 1971; and five years thereafter as a private boys' boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
. The academy eventually became economically infeasible. In 1974 it became a boarding school catering to the wealthy. For example, students from the Mexican elite came to learn English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. By 1976, even the boarding school had become too expensive to maintain.
The following decade, Marymount was basically a retirement home
Retirement home
A retirement home is a multi-residence housing facility intended for senior citizens. Typically each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. Additional facilities are provided within the building, including facilities for meals, gathering, recreation, and some...
and convalescent center for the nuns. By the late 1980s, a series of catastrophic maintenance problems convinced the church to sell Marymount because it couldn’t adequately care for the facility and grounds. When the nuns solicited proposals from potential buyers, Harold LeMay’s proposal was not only the lone bid that would preserve the buildings and grounds, but he promised to maintain and improve them. The decisive element of the proposal was that the nuns were promised access to Marymount as long as they wished.
Today, several non-profit groups share space at Marymount, including two church congregations and a senior center
Old age
Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle...
, in addition to the LeMay Museum. It is also one of the locations for the annual car show
Auto show
An auto show, or motor show, is a public exhibition of current automobile models, debuts, concept cars, or out-of-production classics. It is commonly attended by automobile manufacturers. Most auto shows occur once or twice a year...
and auction held on the last Saturday of August.
At one time, the Dominican sisters of Marymount operated four schools in the Tacoma area: Marymount and Aquinas Academy
Aquinas Academy
Aquinas Academy is a private coeducational Roman Catholic school located in Livingston, New Jersey that serves students from preschool through eighth grade. The school was founded in 1952 by Monsignor William McCann and the educational guidance of the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell, New...
, a girls' school, St. Patrick's school and Holy Cross School
Holy Cross School
-Australia:* Holy Cross Primary School, Woollahra, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia* Holy Cross Primary School, Trinity Park, Cairns, Queensland, Australia-Bangladesh:* Holy Cross Girls' High School , Tejgaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh...
. On September 21, 1942, they also purchased Haddaway Hall (the former J.P. Weyerhaeuser home) and opened Tacoma Catholic College, a junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
for girls. In 1974, Aquinas Academy, one of three Catholic high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s in the Tacoma area at the time, and St. Leo's, combined with Bellarmine Academy which was operated by the Jesuits.