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deciding instead to purchase a lot from Dili and Houston for $125. where the Academy Avenue School now (1988) stands. Franklin Williams commented on this location: "There was, doubtlessly, much fault to be found with the decision, inasmuch as the site was then situated in the center of a pasture field some distance from the village, and facing a newly planned cemetery (Academy Avenue Park was originally a cemetery). It was the pride of the citizenry, however, that the building, when completed was in full view of the trains of the Erie, and thus serve to advertise the prosperity of the village." Academy Avenue, as such, was not yet in existence. The school fronted on what is now Academy Avenue, with what are now Washington Street and Little Avenue on either side connecting with East Avenue.
Two stories and a basement were planned, but it was decided to add a third floor. David Clark was the contractor. Construction began in August, 1841, and the building was accepted as complete in October, 1842. Total cost was about $5,700. It was later said, "the building had never been soundly constructed." (Ruttenber and Clark, in their 1881 history, refer to another poor construction job by Mr. Clark.)
"The school was about in the center of the lot, in front of the present Academy Avenue School. The second floor contained one large room for assembly and two smaller rooms for recitations. On the first floor lived the principal and his family; they had the use of the basement also. The third floor was partitioned into eleven rooms for use of female students who wished to live in. The building was surmounted by a cupola which contained the bell for calling students to classes and, according to stories carried down, male students were always trying to
ring the bell out of hours." The first principal was Rev. Phineas Robinson. In 1843, 154 students were enrolled; 68 boys and 86 girls. There were six teachers. The fifth principal of the Academy was D. Kerr Ball who served in that position from 1856 to 1868. It was during his administration the following legend began:
"... one of the scholars was a Miss Clarendon who had an amiable disposition and was esteemed by the other students. However, she was inclined to be mischievous and at times wayward, which traits did not endear the girl to her teachers. On one day, when she was most mischievous and disobedient, Mr. Bull took her to the third floor, placed her in a vacant room and locked the door. Soon afterward, he was called away on urgent business. In the rush to depart, he forgot