Visiting the Academy
The Academy is open Saturday afternoons July through early September from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Visits at other times can usually be arranged by calling Mary McCuaig at 802 457-3779 or by email
2025 Events:
Sunday, July 6th, 2025 Contradance
Join us for the Second Annual Contradance: live music, dancing, strawberry shortcake, all under the big tent. More info on our events page
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Saturday, July 12th, 2025 Basketweaving Class
Sue Lenfest, local basket weaver and teacher, will be onsite for her basketmaking class. Join her class on July 12th and bring home a basket. More info on our events page
Saturday, August 2nd, 2025 History Hike
The 5th Annual History Hike. This time we will start at the Academy, talk about the Kedron Valley Inn, then up Fletcher Schoolhouse Rd. More info on our events page
Sunday, September 7th, 2025 Upwey History
Come and learn more at our Annual Meeting in September. Several locals will share their knowledge of this fascinating era of South Woodstock’s history. More info on our events page
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.
Our Historical Marker
Located at the bottom of Academy Circle, the marker aptly sums up the history of the Academy:
"Chartered as the Green Mountain Liberal Institute, the Academy was founded by community leaders and Universalist ministers. It provided secondary schooling to men and women ages 15 to 20. Pupils from the area and throughout the Northeast boarded out in nearby homes. The ringing bell announced the start of classes in the sciences, music, art, astronomy, and history. Greek and Latin were mandatory for a Classical education.
The first commencement was held in 1854 for ten students, with successive classes reaching 200. Many went on to college, most notably Tufts and Dartmouth. The school educated future farmers, craftsmen, teachers, physicians, judges, businessmen, and ministers, especially Universalists.
Land for the “liberal & scientific institute” was donated by Royal Cottle, a successful farmer. Local carpenter Otis Wood built the Greek Revival-style school building. In 1869 the name was changed to the Green Mountain Perkins Academy, in recognition of a bequest by Gaius Perkins, a tanner, shoemaker, and president of the Academy’s board of trustees.
With the advent of public high schools, attendance declined, and the Academy closed in 1898. Subsequently the building has served as the local grange, community hall, and South Woodstock’s historical center and museum. The interior was preserved much as it appeared in the 1880s with original desks, schoolbooks, maps, and portraits of the staff and students."
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.