GMPA’S HAPPENINGS 2024:

THE ACADEMY WILL  BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC EVERY SATURDAY DURING THE SUMMER FROM 2PM TO 5PM STARTING JULY 6TH.  Admission to the Academy and special events is free and accessible to people with disabilities.

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL EVENTS:

SUNDAY, JUNE 30TH:  OPENING CELEBRATION WITH CONTRA DANCE & STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE   4 - 6:30pm       Join us under the big tent on the Academy lawn.  Bring a picnic basket.  Experienced caller David Millstone will be there with 3 musicians playing traditional dance jigs.  Fiddle, accordion & piano!

SATURDAY JULY 20TH:  BASKET WEAVING WITH SUE LENFEST  1 - 5pm.  Registration and fee required, class is limited in size.

SATURDAY AUGUST 3RD:  SLAYTON HILL HISTORY HIKE  3pm.   Meet at the Academy.  The guided hike will be approximately two miles round trip on Morgan Hill Road.  Discover early roads, houses, cellar holes, the Walker-Jaquith cemetery & the mysterious stone chamber atop the hill!

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7TH: ANNUAL MEETING AND PROGRAM 2pm.  After a short meeting the program will feature the renowned Anne Bosworth Greene (1878-1961), an author, painter, horse farmer, activist and former owner of Star Hill Farm in South Woodstock.  We will read excerpts from a couple of her books and show slides of her farm.

For more information contact Mary McCuaig at marymaple13@gmail.com

GMPA'S HAPPENINGS 2023:

THE ACADEMY WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC EVERY SATURDAY DURING THE SUMMER FROM 2 PM TO 5 PM BEGINNING JUNE 24TH.

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL EVENTS:

ACADEMY OPENING DAY WITH BAND CONCERT AND STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE--JUNE 24TH                              The doors open at 2:00 pm for tours and viewing of the inside of our beautiful building.  The Newmont Military Band Concert starts at 4 pm on the big lawn and strawberry shortcake is to be served prior and during the concert!  Guests are welcome to bring their own picnic, folding chairs and blankets.  Bring the whole family--turn of the century games will be set up!  The Band is a replica of the bands popular in the 1890's--a perfect fit for the Academy!

HISTORY WALK -- SATURDAY AUGUST 5TH, 3:00 PM.                                                                                                                   We will be starting at the Academy and walking down Kendall Road, taking in some of the oldest homes in the area, and the Kendall Cemetery.

 Musicians ANNUAL MEETING -- SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2:00 PM.                                                                                              Local author Bill Boardman will talk about his book WOODSTOCK COUNTRY SCHOOL, A HISTORY OF INSTITUTIONAL DENIAL.  It's a fascinating look at the school based in the Upwey Farm buildings in the 1960's and '70's.

GMPA'S HAPPENINGS 2022: 

The Green Mountain Perkins Academy is again offering a full summer program with events for the outdoors and in, as well as our usual SATURDAY visiting hours beginning June 25, 2 - 5 pm.  Please check our Events link and mark your calendars now!

For some time we have been very excited about the project of getting official historical recognition for the Academy.  To that end, we applied to the Vermont Division of Historical Preservation for a new marker to be located in front of the Academy--the first marker in South Woodstock!  Our plans included a two-sided sign that gives a brief history of the Academy.  And now, at last, thanks to the efforts of Mary McCuaig, Board President, and Board member Hunter Melville, the plans have been realized and the marker has been unveiled at our opening event, June 25, 3pm.  The event has been given very fine coverage by the Vermont Standard.  To read the complete article, click HERE

                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                      

It should be noted that in light of this historic event, we have not been idle in housekeeping.  Window repair and replacement has been completed with all the windows on the south and left sides and six windows on the front side; work on the foundation of the building has been completed, and we had Board volunteers repaint the steps and ramp at the front of the building.  We are receiving funds from our recent Annual Appeal letter, and are very grateful to all who have contributed to the window project.  You can still buy a window for $1000 and memorialize it with an engraved plate.  However you wish to preserve this wonderful community resource, we hope you will become a member or renew your membership.  And, obviously, we hope you will join in our activities and events as the situation permits.  All stay safe and well.

Visit The Academy

We are open every Saturday afternoon from 2 - 5 pm throughout the summer, and by appointment.

Our Location

We are located at 32 Academy Circle
in the village of South Woodstock.

Our mailing address is Post Office Box 143, South Woodstock, VT 05071.

Living History

Preserved as an historic example of mid-19th century education, the Green Mountain Perkins Academy reflects the life and times of a community and its school more than 100 years ago.

The schoolroom where so many students learned so much.

GMPA's Book of Historic Photos

The Rural Landscape Revealed

"The Rural Landscape Revealed"
Read more...

Welcome to the Green Mountain Perkins Academy

The GMPA's Mission

The mission of the Green Mountain Perkins Academy and Historical Association is to educate by preserving the Academy building, artifacts, personal papers, and records pertaining to the Academy, students and the South Woodstock area, for researchers, tour guides, and the general public.

The Academy Now

The three-story Green Mountain Perkins Academy building, in original condition, serves as a repository and archival center for material related to the Academy and to 19th-century community activities in South Woodstock, Vermont.

The families of many of the Academy students or faculty are still represented in our local community of South Woodstock. Through their interest, the Historical Association was formed in 1956 to restore the interior of the building, preserve its historic contents, and add much additional material directly relating to the Academy and to the life and times of the community.

The handsome Academy building, frequently used for community activities over the years, has never been used for any other purpose. It remains a unique example of a successful effort to offer boys and girls an educational opportunity beyond primary and grade school levels before the development of public schools.

Visiting the Academy

The Academy is open during July and August on Saturday afternoons from 2:00-5:00 p.m. The first floor is accessible to the disabled. Visits at other times can usually be arranged by telephoning (802) 457-3779, or by email.

Visitors customarily make a small donation toward the maintenance and preservation of the Academy, but no admission is charged.

Please visit our Events page for more information!