Lincoln Academy (Newcastle, Maine)

Lincoln Academy
Finis Opus Coronat (The End Crowns the Work)
Address
81 Academy Hill Newcastle, Maine, Lincoln County 04553 United States
Coordinates	44°02′20″N 69°32′22″W / 44.0388°N 69.5395°W / 44.0388; -69.5395Coordinates: 44°02′20″N 69°32′22″W / 44.0388°N 69.5395°W / 44.0388; -69.5395
Information
Founded	February, 1801
Opened	October, 1805
Head of school	David Sturdevant
Grades	9-12
Number of students	585
Color(s)	Black and white
Mascot	Eagle
Nickname	LA
Accreditation	New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Publication	Aerie Magazine.
Website	http://www.lincolnacademy.org

Lincoln Academy is a private high school located in Damariscotta, Maine serving students in Midcoast Maine, the United States, and nations around the world. Founded in 1801, the school serves 18 towns in the Lincoln County area of Midcoast Maine and 16 countries. Lincoln Academy is the fourth oldest secondary school in Maine The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of several secondary school associations, including the following:

• the National Association of Independent Schools,
• Maine Association of Independent Schools,
• the National Association of Secondary Schools, and
• the Maine School Management Association.

The majority of Lincoln Academy students live in local sending towns, including Newcastle, Damariscotta, Bristol, Jefferson, Nobleboro, South Bristol, Nobleboro, and Edgecomb. In the tradition of town academies, the sending towns pay tuition for these local students. The school also has residential students who come from China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, Spain, Turkey, Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, and the U.S. 84 residential students live in two dormitories on campus: the Hall House, renovated from a classroom building in 2013, and a new dormitory built in 2015.^[1]

Lincoln has 585 students, 64 teachers, and 30 supportive staff members. The school mascot for Lincoln Academy is the eagle and the school colors are black and white. Finis Opus Coronat was originally adopted as the motto of the Class of 1907, eventually used as the school motto. Lincoln Academy publishes an annual alumni magazine called Aerie.

Founders

• Rev. Kiah Bayley
• Samuel Nickels
• Rev. Jonathan Ward
• Rev. Alden Bradford
• Hon. Thomas Rice
• Rev. William Riddle
• Thomas McClure
• Rev. John Sawyer
• William McCobb
• David Dennis
• Mr. Matthew Cottrell
• Henry Knox
• Mr. Moses Carlton

History

In 1801, the General Court of Massachusetts established Lincoln Academy in regards to promoting "Piety, Religion and Morality." 178 people from nine towns signed the original petition and donated over $3,000 to found the school. Lincoln Academy opened in October of 1805 in a wooden building on River Road in Newcastle with 74 student attending that year. The tuition costed $257 per year and was paid by students' families. Later in 1828, a fire destroyed the original building and a new one was constructed on Academy Hill road. To this day, the building supporting the bell tower serves as the central building of the high school.

Postcard of Lincoln Academy in 1912

Lincoln Academy formerly served as a "fitting school for Bowdoin College" from 1805 until 1903. The Maine Legislature then passed a law that mandated secondary education be funded by the local towns. As a result many adults enrolled at LA causing an increase in enrollment and a dramatic change in the nature of the student body. By 1906, the school body was composed of those preparing for Bowdoin College with a required exam for admission. The exam was later discontinued in the 1930s resulting in Lincoln becoming a public high school. Enrollment increased during the 50s and 60s and increased again upon the closure of Bristol High School in 1969.

In the 1970s, the school eliminated differentiated diplomas and course and graduation requirements were increased. Later, the school joined the Bath Regional Vocational Program and then Rockland Vocational Center. Today, Lincoln Academy serves as a private high school for students from surrounding towns. .^[2]

2015 Expansion

Aerial view of the campus with the field and new dormitory (bottom middle)

On April 17, 2015, Lincoln Academy celebrated with Maine state senator Angus King the grand opening of the newly constructed Cable-Burns Applied Technology and Engineering Center (abbreviated as ATEC) and a new dormitory for residential students. The ATEC building offers flexible, modern classroom space for traditionally-offered course such as Digital Media Production, Small Engines, Digital Photography, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), as well as new courses such as Engineering, Invent to Learn, and Metal Sculpture.

The new dorm houses 54 residential student and five faculty families. Having 84 residential student on campus has expanded the diversity of the Lincoln Academy student population and has allowed the school to maintain its budget and wide range of classes during a time of shrinking student population of the Midcoast.^[3]

On September 25, a new synthetic surface field was dedicated in honor of Lincoln Academy graduate, William A. Clark II. The field's construction was possible because of an anonymous donation. Prior to the construction of the field, Lincoln Academy "has struggled with maintaining an adequate baseball and soccer field." Because of construction of the new dormitory and ATEC building, the conditions of the fields declined, according to school officials. The school also plans on building a new baseball field. ^[4][5]

Notable alumni

• Kate Aldrich, class of 1992, opera singer
• Anna Belknap, CSI: NY. class of 1990, actress
• Don Carrigan, class of 1969, local news reporter^[6]
• Glenn Chadbourne artist
• Jessica Delfino, class of 1994, comedian
• Edwin Flye (1817–1886), U.S. Representative
• Ryan Gaul, actor. Class of 1992
• Van Reid, class of 1975, author of The Moosepath Saga, including the New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Cordelia Underwood.

References

See also

• Facts about Lincoln Academy
• History of Lincoln Academy
• http://www.lincolnacademy.org/alumni/class-lists/