South Salem Academy
Encyclopedia
The South Salem Academy is a historic former school in South Salem
, Ohio
, United States
. Built in 1842, it is a stone building constructed in the Federal style
of architecture.
Throughout nineteenth-century Ohio, churches played a major part in founding educational institutions. Because no upper level schools were present in southwestern Ross County
in 1842, a local Presbyterian
minister, Hugh Stewart Fullerton, called a meeting to remedy the situation. Both the members of his congregation and the remaining local residents responded heartily to his proposal; by the end of the year, the present structure had been constructed. It is a two-story
rectangular building of cut limestone, five bays
wide on the front and ornamented with a cupola
in the middle of the roof. The Salem Academy's first classes began meeting in 1842, following the classical model
of education. Students were able to enroll in preparatory
and normal
departments; included in the curriculum
were courses on mathematics
, various science
s, and English
, all of which were taught from a Christian perspective. As the years passed, the village of South Salem grew up around the school, having been plat
ted in 1846 primarily to serve the needs of the school's students and teachers. After the academy came under the supervision of the Chillicothe Presbytery
of the Presbyterian Church in 1859, students pursued a two-year course of instruction and, upon graduation, departed for other schools. During the second half of the nineteenth century, the school declined. Many students left to fight in the Civil War
in the 1860s, and rising numbers of high schools elsewhere in the area reduced the demand for a school in South Salem. After the academy's doors closed in 1907, it was converted into a community center
. Among its 1,500 alumni was Joseph B. Foraker
, a future Governor of Ohio.
At an unknown date, long after the construction of the original building, the academy was expanded. When its original four rooms — two per floor — became too small for the school, two concrete block wings were added to the building. Despite this modification, it was designated a historic site
in 1979, being added to the National Register of Historic Places
. It qualified for inclusion on the Register both because of its well-preserved historic architecture and because of its leading place in local history.
South Salem, Ohio
South Salem is a village in Ross County, Ohio, United States. The population was 213 at the 2000 census.-History:In 1842, local Presbyterian minister Hugh Stewart Fullerton orchestrated the establishment of a school in southwestern Ross County...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built in 1842, it is a stone building constructed in the Federal style
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
of architecture.
Throughout nineteenth-century Ohio, churches played a major part in founding educational institutions. Because no upper level schools were present in southwestern Ross County
Ross County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,345 people, 27,136 households, and 19,185 families residing in the county. The population density was 106 people per square mile . There were 29,461 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
in 1842, a local Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America was a Presbyterian denomination in the United States. It was organized in 1789 under the leadership of John Witherspoon in the wake of the American Revolution and existed until 1958 when it merged with the United Presbyterian Church of North...
minister, Hugh Stewart Fullerton, called a meeting to remedy the situation. Both the members of his congregation and the remaining local residents responded heartily to his proposal; by the end of the year, the present structure had been constructed. It is a two-story
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
rectangular building of cut limestone, five bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
wide on the front and ornamented with a cupola
Cupola
In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....
in the middle of the roof. The Salem Academy's first classes began meeting in 1842, following the classical model
Classical education movement
The Classical education movement advocates a form of education based in the traditions of Western culture, with a particular focus on education as understood and taught in the Middle Ages. The curricula and pedagogy of classical education was first developed during the Middle Ages by Martianus...
of education. Students were able to enroll in preparatory
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
and normal
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
departments; included in the curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
were courses on mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, various science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
s, and 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...
, all of which were taught from a Christian perspective. As the years passed, the village of South Salem grew up around the school, having been plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted in 1846 primarily to serve the needs of the school's students and teachers. After the academy came under the supervision of the Chillicothe Presbytery
Presbyterian polity
Presbyterian polity is a method of church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session or consistory, though other terms, such as church board, may apply...
of the Presbyterian Church in 1859, students pursued a two-year course of instruction and, upon graduation, departed for other schools. During the second half of the nineteenth century, the school declined. Many students left to fight in the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in the 1860s, and rising numbers of high schools elsewhere in the area reduced the demand for a school in South Salem. After the academy's doors closed in 1907, it was converted into a community center
Community centre
Community centres or community centers or jumping recreation centers are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialised group within...
. Among its 1,500 alumni was Joseph B. Foraker
Joseph B. Foraker
Joseph Benson Foraker was a Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 37th Governor of Ohio from 1886 to 1890.-Early life:...
, a future Governor of Ohio.
At an unknown date, long after the construction of the original building, the academy was expanded. When its original four rooms — two per floor — became too small for the school, two concrete block wings were added to the building. Despite this modification, it was designated a historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
in 1979, being added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It qualified for inclusion on the Register both because of its well-preserved historic architecture and because of its leading place in local history.