[7] Notable alumni from the school include Nobel Prize winning physicist Walter Houser Brattain (graduated 1920[8]) and influential architect John Yeon.

[9] In November 1932, after installing a laboratory in the basement of the Wilson Hall, an explosion destroyed the building.

[5] The school would file suit against the Standard Oil company alleging that the explosion was due in part to defective equipment provided by Standard Oil, and the use of poorly trained employees to test the installation.

In addition to a normal high school curriculum, the academy included classes in seamanship, sailing and drill.

Some portion of the school was converted to the "Messenger House" retirement home,[11] which was scheduled to close in 2018.