| The Mercersburg Academy Chapel |
The Mercersburg Academy is
one of the premier boarding
schools in the country. The
school occupies several hundred
acres on the east side of
Mercersburg. The Academy was
founded as a college preparatory
school with close ties to
Princeton University in 1893.
The Academy is home to 440
boarding and day students from
22 countries and numbers among
its alumni one Nobel prize winner
in physics, nine Olympic gold
medalists, two Academy Award
winners, seven Rhodes Scholars
and two governors. Many other
students have distinguished
themselves in the fields of
science, the arts, politics and
business.
Parents, families and friends
of Academy students stay at the
Steiger House while visiting in
Mercersburg.
one of the premier boarding
schools in the country. The
school occupies several hundred
acres on the east side of
Mercersburg. The Academy was
founded as a college preparatory
school with close ties to
Princeton University in 1893.
The Academy is home to 440
boarding and day students from
22 countries and numbers among
its alumni one Nobel prize winner
in physics, nine Olympic gold
medalists, two Academy Award
winners, seven Rhodes Scholars
and two governors. Many other
students have distinguished
themselves in the fields of
science, the arts, politics and
business.
Parents, families and friends
of Academy students stay at the
Steiger House while visiting in
Mercersburg.
The beautiful grounds of the Mercersburg
Academy are now home to the original cabin
in which James Buchanan, the fifteenth
President of the United States, was born.
Academy are now home to the original cabin
in which James Buchanan, the fifteenth
President of the United States, was born.
| Buchanan's birthplace |
| Lenfest Hall, the Academy library |
Education has always been an important part of the lives of the
citizens of Mercersburg. No exact date can be found but the first
reference to a school in Mercersburg is concerning the "Old Stone
Academy". In his autobiography, President James Buchanan relates the
following; "After having received a tolerably good English education, I
studied the Latin and the Greek language at a school in Mercersburg". As
Mr. Buchanan entered Dickinson College in the year of 1807, it has to
have been prior to that time that the "Old Stone Academy" was placed into
service. The building was a two story stone structure and stood on the
grounds of the Presbyterian Church. It seems that the local churches
played a large role in the beginnings of education in the area.
The "Old Stone Academy" was to become the first home of another
institution of learning. In the year 1834 the Reformed Church decided to
move their High School and Theological Seminary from York Pennsylvania
to Mercersburg. This was enthusiastically supported by the Seceders,
Lutherans, Presbyterians and Methodists. The first fourteen students
arrived by coach in 1835.
In March of 1836 Governor Ritner signed the charter for Marshall
College and the legislature established an endowment for the new
college. That summer construction began on the college building. The
campus now consisted of a preparatory school, a college and a seminary.
The school grew and by 1845 had 204 students. However, finances
were always a problem. By 1853, financial necessity prompted the union
of Marshall College with Franklin College of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and
the college was relocated to Lancaster. The Preparatory school and the
seminary remained. Two years later the preparatory school followed and
joined Marshall College in Lancaster, leaving behind only the seminary. In
1871 the seminary was also removed to Lancaster.
citizens of Mercersburg. No exact date can be found but the first
reference to a school in Mercersburg is concerning the "Old Stone
Academy". In his autobiography, President James Buchanan relates the
following; "After having received a tolerably good English education, I
studied the Latin and the Greek language at a school in Mercersburg". As
Mr. Buchanan entered Dickinson College in the year of 1807, it has to
have been prior to that time that the "Old Stone Academy" was placed into
service. The building was a two story stone structure and stood on the
grounds of the Presbyterian Church. It seems that the local churches
played a large role in the beginnings of education in the area.
The "Old Stone Academy" was to become the first home of another
institution of learning. In the year 1834 the Reformed Church decided to
move their High School and Theological Seminary from York Pennsylvania
to Mercersburg. This was enthusiastically supported by the Seceders,
Lutherans, Presbyterians and Methodists. The first fourteen students
arrived by coach in 1835.
In March of 1836 Governor Ritner signed the charter for Marshall
College and the legislature established an endowment for the new
college. That summer construction began on the college building. The
campus now consisted of a preparatory school, a college and a seminary.
The school grew and by 1845 had 204 students. However, finances
were always a problem. By 1853, financial necessity prompted the union
of Marshall College with Franklin College of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and
the college was relocated to Lancaster. The Preparatory school and the
seminary remained. Two years later the preparatory school followed and
joined Marshall College in Lancaster, leaving behind only the seminary. In
1871 the seminary was also removed to Lancaster.
To visit the Mercersburg
Academy website and learn more
about this fine institution
Academy website and learn more
about this fine institution
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