Fessenden Elementary School

The Fessenden Elementary School is a historic school established previously known as Fessenden Academy in the outskirts of Ocala, Florida, between Martin and Zuber. It is part of the Marion County Public Schools district. On September 29, 1994, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Old Fessenden Academy Historic District The district covers 150 acres (0.61 km2) and has 3 buildings and 1 structure.

Old Fessenden Academy Historic District
Location4200 NW 89th Place,[1]
Ocala, Florida
Coordinates29°16′50.4″N 82°11′28.4″W
Area150 acres (0.61 km2)
NRHP reference No.94001141[2]
Added to NRHPSeptember 29, 1994

A school has existed at the current location since 1868, when Fessenden was founded as a private academy for African-American students.[3]

History

In 1868, the school that would become Fessenden Academy was founded by a group of freedmen led by Thomas B. Ward.[4] The school was initially staffed by young, white women from the northeast and Florida.[5] The first African American teacher was appointed in 1877.[5] Ferdinand S. Fessenden, upon seeing the conditions of the school while on a walk in 1890, agreed to build a two-story building as well as provide desks and learning materials. Two years later, Fessenden deeded the school in 1892, under the auspices of the American Missionary Association of the Congregational Church. There is a memorial stone to F. S. Fessenden on the school grounds, and he is presumed to be buried under this memorial.[6] The main building was built in 1909 with funding from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.[3] Joseph L. Wiley, principal of Fessenden, was responsible for securing the $6,500 grant. This funding, plus $1,500 raised in donations, built the main building that included the library, accommodations for female boarders, a dining hall and more classrooms. Fessenden Academy ceased operations in 1951, when the school became part of the Marion County School System.

Alumni

Archival material
  • In the American Missionary Association archives, Amistad Research Center, Tulane University, there are 37 boxes of records of the Fessenden Academy, 1911–1964. They include individual student files, budgets, and school publications.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Fessenden Elementary School". Marion County Public Schools. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. "Fessenden Academy 1, Ocala, FL". University of North Florida Digital Commons. 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  4. Richardson, Joe M. "Joseph L. Wiley: A Black Florida Educator."The Florida Historical Quarterly Vol. 71, No. 4, (Apr., 1993), pp. 458-472.
  5. Amistad Research Center. http://amistadresearchcenter.tulane.edu/archon/?p=creators/creator&id=94
  6. "F. S. Fessenden memorial, Ocala, FL". University of North Florida Digital Commons. 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  7. American Missionary Association (1911–1964). "merican Missionary Association archives addenda, 1849-1991". Retrieved June 11, 2018.


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