The Germantown Academy
Permanent ID:
9886Date:
1890Image Description:
Photograph of Germantown Academy showing once of the dwellings provided for teachers at the school.Inscription:
Germantown Academy.In the resolutions of the citizens of Dec. 6th, 1759 to build a commodius school house it says, "And there shall be convenient Dwellings built for the School Masters to reside." One of these we see in the photograph and another is on the west-side of the school. The entire cost of buildings etc. was $4814 and it was first occupied August 1761.
On August 2, 1777, an officer from Gen. Washington's army arrived in Germantown, saying he had orders to convert the building into a hospital. This the Board strenously opposed and Israel Pemberton went to Phila. the following day and got the order revoked. When the British were in possession of the town the troops of [illegible] were encamped in the neighborhood, and his marksmen were wont to amuse themselves by shooting at the ball on the spire of the steeple, which still shows the marks of their skill.
In 1837 the charter of the Academy was repealed: it had only allowed those having contributed 40S. the right to vote for Trustees. This being unsatisfactory to the public the said right was granted to all those persons entitled to vote at general elections. After nearly fifty years this was repealed and in 1883 the power of electing Trustees by the Board alone was substituted.
See account on of back of etching; also C.J. Wister's Memoir of his father. (on verso)
Thos. H. Shoemaker Collection
Portfolio 14 (on recto)