Founded in 1826 through lottery subscription and constructed the following year, it became part of the public school system in 1876 and was closed in 1929.

The original building was a five bay, two and half story structure topped with an octagonal belfry (since converted into a closed cupola).

[4] The exterior walls are brick covered in stucco, the result of a trip to Philadelphia by a trustee sent to investigate the possibility.

In that year the building was leased to the two local public school districts, and the private academy was abandoned.

[2][4] The town purchased the property in 1960, and over the years used it to house offices, a library, a police station and a meeting hall.