Gettysburg Academy
Former names
  • Classical Preparatory School
  • Gettysburg Gymnasium
Active
  • Classical Preparatory School: June 25, 1827 (1827-06-25)
  • Gettysburg Gymnasium: 1829 (1829)
  • Gettysburg Academy: November 7, 1832 (1832-11-07)–1921 (1921)
FounderSamuel Simon Schmucker
Address
66–68 West High Street
,
Gettysburg
,
PA
,
17325
,
US

39°49′42″N 77°13′59″W / 39.828307°N 77.232982°W / 39.828307; -77.232982
CampusGettysburg College

Gettysburg Academy (also known as the Classical Preparatory School and the Gettysburg Gymnasium)[1] was an antebellum boys' boarding school for which the vernacular architecture schoolhouse (now "Reuning Hall") was the "first home" of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and Gettysburg College.[2][3]

The March 19, 1810 incorporation by the commonwealth appropriated $2,000,[4][5] and the academy opened in 1814 for the school year with Samuel Ramsay as the first teacher.[6]

By 1822 the boarding school had three dormitories, libraries, and a gymnasium and beginning in 1826, the academy trustees allowed the Lutheran seminary to use the facility — D. Jacobs established a preparatory school in June 1827 (his brother was a mathematics professor).[7][8]

The facility was purchased at Sheriff's sale in 1829 by Samuel Simon Schmucker and designated the "Gettysburg Gymnasium".[5][9] The 1829 headmaster was Dr. Charles H. Huber, and 2 sons of Mexico's president-elect attended.[10] The last graduation was in 1835.[11]

When the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg began, the Reuning House was being used by Rebecca Eyster's Young Ladies Seminary,[7] which acted as an American Civil War hospital for casualties during the battle. Eyster's "School Halls" were advertised for rent in 1877,[12] the house was used as World War I officers' quarters, and Reuning House is now a private residence protected by a 1972 borough ordinance extending the historical district to include the building.[13]

References

  1. ^ "College Gets Old Manuscripts". Gettysburg Times. 25 January 1921. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Gettysburg Borough, Adams County Pennsylvania (PA) 17325". Living Places. The Gombach Group. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  3. ^ "York's Convention". Gettysburg Compiler. No. 50. 18 August 1896. p. 2. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  4. ^ Beitel, Calvin G., ed. (1874). A Digest of Titles of Corporations Chartered by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, Between the Years 1700 and 1873 Inclusive: Giving the Dates of Acts of Incorporation, with the Several Supplements Thereto, with a Reference to the Pages of the Pamphlet Laws, where They May be Found (2 ed.). J. Cambbell & son. p. 5. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  5. ^ a b "100 Years in Brief Outline". Gettysburg Compiler. 7 March 1906. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Christmas Decorations at the Gettysburg Academy Building | Gettysburg Daily". Gettysburg Daily. 21 December 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  7. ^ a b ""Run Home as Quickly as You Can," 66-68 West High St". Gettysburg Times. No. 103. 30 June 2005. p. 20. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  8. ^ "Local History - Theological Seminary and Pennsylvania College" (digital). Gettysburg Compiler. No. 3. 21 September 1897. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  9. ^ Reily, John T. (1880). History and Directory of the Boroughs of Gettysburg, Oxford, Littlestown, York Springs, Berwick, and East Berlin, Adams County, Pa: With Historical Collections. J.E. Wible. pp. 13-14. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Sons of President-Elect of Mexico Students at Academy" (digital). Gettysburg Compiler. 23 November 1929. p. 1. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  11. ^ "Last Graduation Held by Academy Friday Morning" (digital). Gettysburg Compiler. No. 24. 8 June 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  12. ^ "Gettysburg Female Seminary" (Google news archive). Gettysburg Compiler. July 5, 1877. Retrieved 2013-08-28. The School Halls, corner of Washington and High streets, Gettysburg, so long occupied by Mrs. Eyster and others, as a FEMALE SEMINARY, are for Rent for school purposes. For particulars, inquire of MRS. EYSTER residing in the buildings.
  13. ^ "List 38 More Properties in Historic Area". Gettysburg Times. 15 April 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
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