The Academy

The building at 25 The Green, known as The Academy, was built by parishioners of Christ Church in 1846, moved to its current location in 1850, and has held a long and distinguished place in the community.  

Originally a private school, the building had many religious and secular uses over the years, including as the first town library, the first Watertown High School, and the Episcopal Church’s parish hall.

The cupola of this two-story high building originally held a bell which called children to the schoolroom located on its first floor. The seat of each pine desk was fastened to the back of the desk behind it, and a high teachers’ desk in the corner overlooked the students at work. A kitchen was added at the back when the building was used as a parish house, so it is considerably longer than it was originally.

The first principal of the Academy was S. B. Brownell. He was succeeded by George W. Burr, a brilliant man, who married the daughter of Hubert Scoville, and whose son, Prof. William H. Burr of New Canaan, is one of the most distinguished civil engineers of the country. He was succeeded by George A. Williams, then by Henry Pratt, who resigned in order to join the Union army at the time of the Civil War. Miss Marie Louise Townsend was principal of the Academy for several years, and is affectionately remembered by her former pupils. Rev. Charles Collard Adams, who was an assistant to Rev. Dr. William L. Lewis, rector of Christ church, came next; then Charles C. Barton, an especially successful young collegian, later a well known lawyer of Boston, and still later Rev. William L. Peck. The Academy, since his time, has been used for the higher department of the Center district, now the Baldwin School, and several private schools have also been conducted within its walls.

Over the years, the building has also been used by the Red Cross, the public school system, church and community organizations, sewing groups, scouts, and by the community at large for plays and recitals. Purchased by Taft School in 2010, and lovingly restored, it now serves as the business office for Taft.

This building is a quintessential example of a Greek Revival school house. Note the Doric entry, Greek Revival window in gable end, prominent bell-tower and 12/12 windows with prominent surrounds and corner pilasters. This is the only surviving large academic building in Watertown on a site that it has occupied for over 170 years. It is positioned on a vital corner of the Green and is one of the most important public structions in town, both architecturally and historically.