The building was heated by a hot air furnace and had primitive plumbing, and only two or three bathtubs.

In the 1880s, Delaware Academy had in residence perhaps its most famous teacher: the Honorable Charles Evans Hughes.

Hughes, who was working on his law degree while teaching at DA, went on to become Governor of New York (1907-1910), Associate Justice of The Supreme Court (1910-1916), presidential nominee of the Republican party (1916), US Secretary of State (1921–25), and Chief Justice of The Supreme Court (1930-1941).

[1] Delaware Academy was leased to the Board of Education of Union Free School District number 16 on December 4, 1902, by the Regents of the university of the State of New York in Albany.

In September 1936 seventh and eighth grades were brought to DA from outlying districts.

On March 25, 1937, 300 acres (1.2 km2) referred to the Sheldon property were purchased by the tax payers for $15,000.

On June 21, 1938, plans were presented in preparation for construction on the recently bought Sheldon Plot.