Erskine Academy third trimester honor roll (2025)

Erskine Academy

Grade 12

High Honors: Emmett Appel, Emily Bailey, Bryana Barrett, Noah Bechard, Octavia Berto, Jayda Bickford, Lauryn Black, Brooke Blais, Olivia Brann, Carter Brockway, Madison Cochran, Lauren Cowing, Lillian Crommett, Gabrielle Daggett, Aydan Desjardins, Aidan Durgin, John Edwards, Ryan Farnsworth, Hailey Garate, Brandon Hanscom, Serena Hotham, Kailynn Houle, Alivia Jackson, Ava Kelso, Sophia Knapp, Chase Larrabee, Brooke Lee, Jack Lucier, D’andre Marable, Eleanor Maranda, Jade McCollett, Abigail McDonough, Shannon McDonough, Lilas Moles, Addison Mort, Makayla Oxley, Gavyn Paradis, Noah Pelletier, Elsa Redmond, Lillian Rispoli, Nathan Robinson, Laney Robitaille, Carlee Sanborn, Joslyn Sandoval, Aislynn Savage, Achiva Seigars, Jordyn Smith, and Clara Waldrop.

Honors: Geneva Beckim, Kaleb Bishop, Dylan Cooley, Andra Cowing, Trinity DeGreenia, Josiah Fitzgerald, Kenneth Fredette, Kaylene Glidden, Rion Kesel, Shelby Lincoln, Owen Lucier, Madison McNeff, Thomas Mullens, Sadie Pierce, Victoria Rancourt, Carter Rau, Kyle Scott, Zoey Smith, Emily Sprague, Parker Studholme, Katherine Swift, Grant Taker, David Thompson III, and Kaleigh Voyles.

Grade 11

High Honors: Connor Alcott, Emily Almeida, Brock Bowden, Addyson Briggs, London Castle, MacKenzie Chase, Nathan Choate, William Choate, Madeline Clement-Cargill, Claire Davis, Joshua Denis, Audryanna DeRaps, Charles DeSchamp, Lauren Dufour, William Ellsey Jr., Ethan Frost, Madison Gagnon, Stephen Gould, Madison Griffiths, Evan Heron, Mia Hersom, Alexus Jackson, Halle Jones, Kasen Kelley, Timothy Kiralis, Jacob Lavallee, Ava Lemelin, Jaden Mizera, Jack Murray, Elijah Nelson, Ruby Pearson, Elijah Pelkey, Isabelle Pelotte, Emily Piecewicz, Taisen Pilotte, Hannah Polley, Desirae Proctor, Jackie Sasse, Edward Schmidt, Benjamin Severy, Kathryn Shaw, Madelynn Spencer, Kayla Stred, Abigail Studholme, Donovan Thompson, Kammie Thompson, Addison Turner, Oryanna Winchenbach, Addison Witham.

Honors: Faiza Afrin, Savannah Baker, Gavin Bartlett, Anders Bassett, Landon Boynton, Logan Breton, Benjamin Carle, Saunders Chase, Lillian Clark, Timothy Clavette, Sylvia Davis, Mason Decker, Riley Dixon, Jacob Faucher, Kolby Griatzky, Aiden Hamlin, Willow Haschalk, Cadence Homstead, Aidan Huff, Kayle Lappin, Nathaniel Levesque, Kloie Magoon, Brayden McLean, Paige McNeff, Bayley Nickles, Phoebe Padgett, Jordyn Parise, Jacoby Peaslee, Abigail Peil, Jackson Pelotte, Chase Pierce, Logan Poulin, Owen Robichaud, Leahna Rocque, Kameron Rossignol, Trenton Smith, Benjamin Sullivan, Leah Targett, Phoebe Taylor, Charles Uleau, Ella Winn, Brody Worth, and Maddilyn York.

Grade 10

High Honors: Isaac Audette, Olivia Austin, Jeremiah Bailey, Jackson Blake, Silas Bolitho, Hailey Boone, Madeline Boynton, Cassidy Brann, Delaney Brown, Liam Burgess, Olivia Childs, Hunter Christiansen, Landon Clements, Jilian Desjardins, Ryley Desmond, Robin Dmitrieff, Bella Dutilly, Isabella Farrington, Danica Ferris, Gianna Figucia, Audrey Fortin, Aina Garcia Cardona, Adalyn Glidden, Cody Grondin, Madison Harris, Lilly Hutchinson, Johanna Jacobs, Ivy Johns, Callianne Jordan, Maverick Knapp, Sawyer Livingstone, Jasai Marable, Annie Miragliuolo, Alexis Mitton, Kienna-May Morse, Jacoby Mort, Bryson Pettengill, Caylee Putek, Sovie Rau, Lailah Sher, Bryson Stratton, Gabriel Studholme, Sabrina Studholme, Hellena Swift, Kaleb Tolentino, and Eryn Young.

Honors: William Adamson IV, Ariana Armstrong, Ashton Bailey, Delia Bailey, Linnea Bassett, Benjamin Beale, Lucas Beale, Luke Blair, Seth Bridgforth, Emma Casey, Khloe Clark, Collin Clifford, Owen Couture, Slayde Crocker, Connor Crommett, Logan Dow, Kelsie Dunn, Delaney Dupuis, Tesla Every-Blanchard, Madison Field, Nicholas Gould, Kaylee Grierson, Addison Hall, Eva Hayden, Auburn Horn, Reid Jackson, Evan James, Chantz Klaft, Mason Lagasse, Bryson Lanphier, Jack Malcolm, Gage Miller, Gaven Miller, MacKenzie Oxley, Madeline Oxley, Molly Oxley, Layla Peaslee, Noah Pooler, Dylan Proctor, Gabriel Ratcliff, Samuel Richardson, Colton Ryan, Lucas Short, Ian Smith, Braeden Temple, Cayden Turner, Carter Ulmer, and Tyler Waldrop.

Grade 9

High Honors: Joshua Bailey, Madeline Berry, Ella Beyea, Dominic Brann, Ryan Carle, Lily Chamberlain, Ryleigh French, Shelby Gidney, Kolby Glidden, Katherine Granger, Christina Haskell, Bristol Jewett, Bella Lefferts, Dylan Maguire, Mason Marable, Stella Martinelli, Skyler McCollett, Ayla McCurdy, Ava Miragliuolo, Grant Munsey, Paige Perry, Brandon Piper, Jakobe Sandoval, Parker Smith, Khloe Soucy, Maxine Spencer, Ethan Studholme, Reid Sutter, Benjamin Theberge, Audrey Tibbetts, Hannah Tobey, Kayleigh Trask, Kallie Turner, Kinsey Ulmer, Sorrel Vinci, Mackenzie Waldron, and Leah Watson.

Honors: Clifton Adams IV, Landon Alexander, Megan Bailey, Hunter Baird, Brooke Borja, Mackenzie Bowden, Aiden Brann, Nicholas Carle, Jack Coutts, Daegan Creamer, Zoey DeMerchant, Dylan Dodge, Heleana-Marie Doyon, Trevor French, Taylor Gagnon, Tyler Gagnon, Jasmine Garey, Riley Gould, Myla Gower, Chase Grant, Rachel Grant, Amiah Graves, Bruce Grosjean, Micah Hartley, Jackson Hussey, Baylee Jackson, Landon Larochelle, Marlin Lawrence, Dorothy Leeman, Mason Mattingly, Alexander Mayo, Orin McCaw, Max McKenlogue, Annaleysha McNeil, Annabella Morris, Grace Oxley, Carter Peterson, Nolan Pierce, Kevin Robinson, George Roderick, Thomas Roe, Jacob Rogers, Jacob Shanholtzer, Hunter Small, Jaylynn St. Amand, Landon Sullivan, Leigha Sullivan, and Eli Vallieres.

Renaissance awards at Erskine Academy (2025)

June Seniors of the Trimester recipients, from left to right, Andra Cowing, Carlee Sanborn, Chase Larrabee, and David Thompson III. (contributed photo)

On Friday, June 6, Erskine Academy, in South China, students and staff attended a Renaissance Assembly to honor their peers with Renaissance Awards.

Renaissance Recognition Awards were presented to the following students: Stella Martinelli, Sabrina Studholme, MacKenzie Chase, Shannon McDonough, Brandon Hanscom, Jordyn Smith, Kaden Crawford, Victoria Rancourt, Lillian Crommett, Kaiden Kronillis, Josiah Fitzgerald, and Eleanor Maranda.

In addition to Recognition Awards, Senior of the Trimester Awards were also presented to four members of the senior class: Carlee Sanborn, daughter of Jennifer and Robert Sanborn, of China; Andra Cowing, daughter of Kirsten and Anthony Cowing, of Palermo; Chase Larrabee, son of Carrie and Jeremy Larrabee, of China; and David Thompson III, son of Laura Thompson, of Jefferson. Seniors of the Trimester are recognized as individuals who have gone above and beyond in all aspects of their high school careers.

In appreciation of their dedication and service to Erskine Academy, Faculty of the Trimester awards were presented to Celina Page, Foreign Language Instructor; and Ryan Nored, English Instructor.

Congratulations to all award recipients!

June Faculty of the Trimester recipients Ryan Nored, left, and Celina Page. (contributed photo)

PHOTO: Achieves milestone

Belle Pelotte, a junior from Erskine Academy, recently accomplished quite an achievement. She made her 100th goal in lacrosse! Pelotte is the daughter of Jerad and Shasta Pelotte, of China. She has made many assists as well to this date. (photo courtesy of Mark Huard)

Erskine presents Renaissance awards (2025)

Senior of the Trimester recipients, from left to right, Echo Hawk, Joslyn Sandoval, Sadie Pierce, Paige Clark, and Lillian Rispoli. (contributed photo)

On Friday, April 4, 2025, Erskine Academy students and staff attended a Renaissance Assembly to honor their peers with Renaissance Awards.

Renaissance Recognition Awards were presented to the following students:

Aiden Reny, Layla Peaslee, Lilly Clark, Nathan Choate, Jayda Bickford, Achiva Seigars, Carter Brockway, Kailynn Houle, and Bodi Laflamme.

In addition to Recognition Awards, Senior of the Trimester Awards were also presented to five members of the senior class:

Echo Hawk, daughter of Mary and Jonah Hawk, of Vassalboro; Joslyn Sandoval, daughter of Rachelle and Aaron Marable, of Windsor, and Jose Sandoval, of Gardiner; Paige Clark, daughter of Joshua and Amanda Clark and Sarah and Ben Foster, of Chelsea; Sadie Pierce, daughter of Ryan Pierce and Natasha Littlefield, of China and Cortney Gould and Kevin Haskell, of Palermo; and Lillian Rispoli, daughter of Maureen and Bill Rispoli, of Palermo.

Seniors of the Trimester are recognized as individuals who have gone above and beyond in all aspects of their high school careers.

In appreciation of their dedication and service to Erskine Academy, Faculty of the Trimester awards were presented to Brian Dutil, Math Instructor; and Randy Pottle, Director of Maintenance.

Faculty of the Trimester recipients, from left to right, Brian Dutil and Randy Pottle. (contributed photo)

Erskine Academy 2nd Trimester honors (2024-25)

Erskine Academy

Grade 12

High Honors: Emmett Appel, Emily Bailey, Bryana Barrett, Geneva Beckim, Octavia Berto, Jayda Bickford, Lauryn Black, Brooke Blais, Madison Cochran, Lauren Cowing, Lillian Crommett, Gabrielle Daggett, Aydan Desjardins, Aidan Durgin, John Edwards, Ryan Farnsworth, Josiah Fitzgerald, Hailey Garate, Brandon Hanscom, Serena Hotham, Kailynn Houle, Ava Kelso, Sophia Knapp, Bodi Laflamme, Brooke Lee, Jack Lucier, Owen Lucier, Eleanor Maranda, Jade McCollett, Abigail McDonough, Madison McNeff, Addison Mort, Thomas Mullens, Makayla Oxley, Elsa Redmond, Justin Reed, Carter Rau, Lillian Rispoli, Nathan Robinson, Laney Robitaille, Carlee Sanborn, Joslyn Sandoval, Aislynn Savage, Achiva Seigars, Jordyn Smith, Zoey Smith, Larissa Steeves, and Clara Waldrop.

Honors: Noah Bechard, Rylan Bennett, Kaleb Bishop, Carter Brockway, Dylan Cooley, Andra Cowing, Kaden Crawford, Trinity DeGreenia, Brady Desmond, Chloe French, Wesley Fulton, Ellie Giampetruzzi, Kaylene Glidden, Abbi Guptill, Jonathan Gutierrez, Echo Hawk, Landen Hayden, Emma Henderson, Alivia Jackson, Montana Johnson, Rion Kesel, Kaiden Kronillis, Chase Larrabee, Shelby Lincoln, D’andre Marable, Shannon McDonough, Colin Oliphant, Noah Pelletier, Ava Picard, Sadie Pierce, Victoria Rancourt, Kyle Scott, Emily Sprague, Katherine Swift, Grant Taker, David Thompson III, Grace Vashon, and Kaleigh Voyles.

Grade 11

High Honors: Connor Alcott, Emily Almeida, Brock Bowden, Addyson Briggs, London Castle, MacKenzie Chase, Nathan Choate, William Choate, Madeline Clement-Cargill, Claire Davis, Sylvia Davis, Joshua Denis, Audryanna DeRaps, Lauren Dufour, William Ellsey Jr., Ethan Frost, Madison Gagnon, Stephen Gould, Madison Griffiths, Willow Haschalk, Mia Hersom, Halle Jones, Kasen Kelley, Timothy Kiralis, Kayle Lappin, Jacob Lavallee, Ava Lemelin, Jaden Mizera, Jack Murray, Elijah Nelson, Bayley Nickles, Ruby Pearson, Elijah Pelkey, Emily Piecewicz, Taisen Pilotte, Hannah Polley, Desirae Proctor, Jackie Sasse, Edward Schmidt, Kathryn Shaw, Madelynn Spencer, Kayla Stred, Abigail Studholme, Donovan Thompson, Kammie Thompson, Addison Turner, Oryanna Winchenbach, and Addison Witham.

Honors: Savannah Baker, Gavin Bartlett, Anders Bassett, Lucas Berto, Landon Boynton, Logan Breton, Benjamin Carle, Drew Clark, Lillian Clark, Timothy Clavette, Lucas Crosby, Mason Decker, Riley Dixon, Jacob Faucher, Kolby Griatzky, Aiden Hamlin, Easton Houghton, Aidan Huff, Jacob Hunter, Natthaya Khositanont, Savannah Knight, Kloie Magoon, Paige McNeff, Parker Minzy, Tucker Nessmith, Phoebe Padgett, Jordyn Parise, Jacoby Peaslee, Abigail Peil, Isabelle Pelotte, Jackson Pelotte, Allianna Porter, Logan Poulin, Owen Robichaud, Leahna Rocque, Kameron Rossignol, Autumn Sawyer, Jaelyn Seamon, Benjamin Severy, Eva Simmons, Trenton Smith, Benjamin Sullivan, Leah Targett, Phoebe Taylor, Isaac Vallieres, Finnegan Vinci, Brody Worth, and Maddilyn York.

Grade 10

High Honors: William Adamson IV, Isaac Audette, Olivia Austin, Jeremiah Bailey, Jackson Blake, Silas Bolitho, Madeline Boynton, Cassidy Brann, Delaney Brown, Liam Burgess, Olivia Childs, Hunter Christiansen, Landon Clements, Connor Crommett, Botond Csaszi, Ryley Desmond, Robin Dmitrieff, Isabella Farrington, Gianna Figucia, Audrey Fortin, Aina Garcia Cardona, Cody Grondin, Madison Harris, Lilly Hutchinson, Reid Jackson, Johanna Jacobs, Ivy Johns, Callianne Jordan, Jasai Marable, Annie Miragliuolo, Alexis Mitton, Jacoby Mort, MacKenzie Oxley, Madeline Oxley, Molly Oxley, Caylee Putek, Sovie Rau, Lailah Sher, Bryson Stratton, Gabriel Studholme, Sabrina Studholme, Kaleb Tolentino, Tyler Waldrop, and Eryn Young.

Honors: Ariana Armstrong, Ashton Bailey, Delia Bailey, Benjamin Beale, Luke Blair, Hailey Boone, Khloe Clark, Collin Clifford, Bradley Cushman, Jilian Desjardins, Logan Dow, Nolan Dow, Kelsie Dunn, Delaney Dupuis, Tesla Every-Blanchard, Gavin Fanjoy, Danica Ferris, Madison Field, Annabelle Fortier, Adalyn Glidden, Camden Hinds, Evan James, Peyton Kibbin, Maverick Knapp, Mason Lagasse, Bryson Lanphier, Matthew Lincoln, Jack Malcolm, Gaven Miller, Thomas Minzy, Kienna-May Morse, Emi Munn, Layla Peaslee, Bryson Pettengill, Teagan Pilsbury, Noah Pooler, Dylan Proctor, Tayden Richards, Samuel Richardson, Colton Ryan, Dylan Saucier, Lucas Short, Ian Smith, Hellena Swift, Braeden Temple, Cayden Turner, Carter Ulmer, and Isabella Winchenbach.

Grade 9

High Honors: Joshua Bailey, Hunter Baird, Madeline Berry, Ella Beyea, Brooke Borja, Dominic Brann, Ryan Carle, Lily Chamberlain, Ryleigh French, Trevor French, Shelby Gidney, Kolby Glidden, Myla Gower, Christina Haskell, Bristol Jewett, Colbie Littlefield, Dylan Maguire, Stella Martinelli, Mason Mattingly, Orin McCaw, Lainey McFarland, Ava Miragliuolo, Grant Munsey, Thomas Roe, Jakobe Sandoval, Parker Smith, Maxine Spencer, Ethan Studholme, Reid Sutter, Audrey Tibbetts, Hannah Tobey, Kayleigh Trask, Kallie Turner, Kinsey Ulmer, Sorrel Vinci, Mackenzie Waldron, and Leah Watson.

Honors: Clifton Adams IV, Megan Bailey, Mackenzie Bowden, Aiden Brann, Jackson Bryant, Nicholas Carle, Jack Coutts, Daegan Creamer, Zoey Demerchant, Dylan Dodge, Taylor Gagnon, Tyler Gagnon, Riley Gould, Chase Grant, Rachel Grant, Bruce Grosjean, Griffin Hayden, Jackson Hussey, Baylee Jackson, Josephine Kelly, Landon Larochelle, Gabriella Lathrop, Marlin Lawrence, Dorothy Leeman, Bella Lefferts, Madison Levesque, Mason Marable, Alexander Mayo, Skyler McCollett, Ayla McCurdy, Annaleysha McNeil, Annabella Morris, Grace Oxley, Carter Peterson, Lexi Pettengill, Nolan Pierce, Reed Pilsbury, Angelina Puiia, Aiden Reny, George Roderick, Jacob Rogers, Jacob Shanholtzer, Jaylynn St. Amand, Leigha Sullivan, Benjamin Theberge, Eli Vallieres, Annezamay Veilleux, Marshall Wellman, and Reid Willett.

Emmett Appel receives MPA Principal’s award

Emmett Appel

Headmaster Jamie Soule has announced that Emmett Appel, of Windsor, a senior at Erskine Academy, in South China, has been selected to receive the 2025 Principal’s Award. The award, sponsored by the Maine Principals’ Association, recognizes a high school senior’s academic excellence, outstanding school citizenship, and leadership.

Appel is a consistent high honors student in a highly competitive academic program that includes honors or accelerated level classes and numerous Advanced Placement and Concurrent Enrollment courses with nearby colleges. He has been commended and honored within the school for his exceptional academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, leadership, and community service. Appel is currently ranked among the top students in Erskine Academy’s Class of 2025, and was one of only two students in the state to be selected to represent Maine at the 63rd annual U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Washington Week this month.

“Emmett’s dedication and commitment to his academic studies, extra and co-curricular activities, and to causes he cares deeply for, perfectly exemplifies our school’s core values of scholarship, leadership, stewardship, and relationships. Emmett has consistently distinguished himself as an exemplary representative for Erskine Academy, and I am proud to honor him with this well-deserved award,” noted Headmaster Soule.

Appel, Soule, and other award winners and their principals will attend an Honors Luncheon at Jeff’s Catering, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. The event recognizes outstanding students by presenting a plaque and awarding ten $1,000 scholarships in the names of former Maine principals and MPA Executive Directors: Horace O. McGowan, Richard W. Tyler, and Richard A. Durost.

The Principal’s Award is presented in more than 100 Maine public and private high schools by member principals of the MPA, the professional association representing Maine’s school administrators.

Erskine Academy student to participate in Poetry Out Loud State Finals

Erskine Academy

As Poetry Out Loud celebrates its 20th anniversary, Maine’s most talented high school students took the stage at the Poetry Out Loud State Finals, on Monday, March 3, at 5 p.m., at the Waterville Opera House. This milestone year honors two decades of inspiring students across the country to explore poetry through recitation, building confidence, public speaking skills, and a lifelong appreciation for literature. This year, 11 outstanding student poets from across Maine have advanced through school and regional competitions to compete for the state title. Erskine Academy is pleased to announce that freshman Stella Martinelli, of Whitefield, has advanced to the State Finals competition.

The Maine State Champion will receive a $200 prize and advance to the National Finals in Washington, D.C., where they will compete for $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends. The state champion’s school will receive $500 to support poetry materials, while the first runner-up will be awarded $100, with $200 for their school. The Poetry Foundation administers all monetary prizes and travel arrangements for national finalists.

This free and public event was live streamed by Portland Media Center on the Maine Arts Commission Facebook page, with a final produced broadcast available later in the year.

Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: China high schools – part 2

Erskine Academy

by Mary Grow

Note: part of this article, like part of last week’s, was first written in September 2021.

Yet another private high school in China, Erskine Academy, opened in September 1883 and is thriving today. The China bicentennial history gives a detailed account of its origins: it became a private academy because China voters at the beginning of the 1880s refused to accept donated money for a public high school.

As the history tells the story, Mary Erskine inherited her husband Sullivan’s considerable wealth when he died in 1880. She consulted John K. Erskine, Sullivan’s nephew and executor, about ways to use the money. (The history says she had no children; on-line sources say Mary and Sullivan had a son, born in 1832 – perhaps died or estranged by 1880? – and a daughter, by 1880 married with three children.)

John Erskine, who regretted his own lack of educational opportunity, suggested endowing a high school in the Chadwick Hill school district, south of South China Village. Mary Erskine agreed, and at a Nov. 13, 1880, special town meeting, voters accepted a $1,500 trust fund for a free high school.

At the annual meeting in March, 1881, voters reversed the decision and told the town treasurer to return the money. In March 1882, school supporters presented an article again offering the $1,500 and “specifying that the town would not pay for providing the school building.” Voters passed over it (did not act).

A month later, a group of supporters asked the Erskines to let them establish a private high school. Mary Erskine approved and helped organize a board of trustees headed by renowned Quaker, Eli Jones.

John K. Erskine was the trustees’ vice-president, Dana C. Hanson secretary and Samuel C. Starrett treasurer. Hanson and Starrett were China selectmen in 1876 and 1877 and again, significantly, in 1881 and 1882.

The trustees “bought the seven-acre Chadwick common from A. F. Trask for $100.” (Wikipedia says the campus is now about 25 acres.) Mary Erskine donated $500 for a building.

Starrett encouraged the owners of a disused Methodist church on the common to sell it at auction. They did, and he bought it for $50.

The trustees had the building moved to the center of the lot and turned into a schoolhouse. “A bell tower and other necessary buildings” were added, and Mary Erskine donated a bell and furnishings in the spring of 1883.

The trustees organized a “tree-planting picnic:” area residents were invited to bring a picnic dinner and a tree. The China history says the grounds gained about 250 trees. A “very happy” Mary Erskine attended Erskine High School’s opening day in September 1883.

Erskine started with two teachers, one also the principal, and “more than 50 students.” The teachers were Colby College graduate, Julia E. Winslow, and Castine Normal School graduate, William J. Thompson.

As Henry Kingsbury finished his Kennebec County history in 1892, he wrote that at “the Erskine School” “under the principalship of William J. Thompson, many young people are receiving a serviceable article of real learning.”

Thompson, Kingsbury said, was born in Knox County and taught in South Thomaston and Searsport before becoming Erskine’s first principal in 1883. The school “has flourished under his management,” Kingsbury wrote.

The China history says in 1885, Carrie E. Hall, from East Madison, succeeded Winslow. In May 1887, Thompson and Hall married; both taught at Erskine until Carrie died “in the spring of 1900.”

Her widower stayed as principal until 1902, and lived until 1949. Find a Grave says both were born in 1860, and both are buried in Chadwick Hill cemetery, near Erskine Academy.

The school initially ran two 11-week terms a year, and in some years “a shorter summer term.” The history lists 16 courses: “reading, grammar, elocution, arithmetic, algebra, history, geography, natural philosophy, bookkeeping, ancient languages (Latin and Greek), botany, geology, astronomy, and anatomy and physiology.”

By 1887, increased enrollment required a third teacher, not named in the China history. The building “was raised ten feet to make room for more classrooms underneath.”

Students from Chadwick Hill and other school districts came and went by the term, not the year. Therefore, the history says, it was not until 1892 “that four students finished four years apiece so that the first formal graduation could be held.”

Trustees had a dormitory for girls built in 1900 and “later” (the history gives no date) one for boys. Students who roomed on campus “brought their own food and fuel from home and prepared their own meals,” the history says.

In 1901 the Maine legislature incorporated the school as Erskine Academy and approved an annual $300 appropriation.

The China history says after 1904, Erskine Academy and China Academy, in China Village (see last week’s article), became China’s town-supported high schools. Town Superintendent Gustavus J. Nelson (1896 and 1897, 1899 to 1901 and 1903 through 1907) came to a financial agreement with the Erskine trustees, and “the trustees accepted Dr. Nelson’s ideas about such matters as curriculum and entrance examinations.”

In the fall of 1904, the history says, “three local students passed the superintendent’s entrance examination, and ten more were admitted conditionally.”

China Academy closed in 1909, leaving Erskine China’s only high school. For reasons the bicentennial history does not explore, Erskine’s enrollment went down so dramatically in early 1913 that the State of Maine downgraded it to a Class B school (two instead of four years, a single teacher instead of two or more).

In the fall of 1913 Erskine had 16 students. The history says enrollment doubled to 32 by February 1914, “and the one teacher was overworked.” The state restored a Class A rating in 1915, and enrollment continued to climb: 46 students in the fall of 1916, 50 in 1919, with a record entering class of 26 and three teachers “for the first time in many years.”

More students needed more space; the history credits relatives of the Erskines, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Ford, from Whitefield, with buying a nearby house and turning it into a boys’ dormitory, named Ford Cottage. Another house became the Erskine Cottage Annex, housing “four girls and a teacher.”

A fire destroyed Erskine’s original school building on Nov. 5, 1926. Fortunately, Ford gymnasium had opened in November 1925; the bicentennial history says classes were held there until a new classroom building was ready in 1936.

The history also says Mary Erskine’s bell was saved from the fire and “mounted on campus.” In the fall of 1971, someone stole it.

Erskine Academy’s website says the school has been a nonprofit organization since 1974. It explains that tuition paid by the eight towns from which most of its students come does not cover costs, so tax-deductible donations are welcome.

The eight towns are listed as Chelsea, China, Jefferson, Palermo, Somerville, Vassalboro, Whitefield and Windsor. Erskine also accepts privately-paid students and, the website says, international students.

China school students who became college presidents

Kingsbury named two men who attended China schools (at least elementary schools) and later became college presidents: Stephen A. Jones and George F. Mosher.

Stephen A. Jones was the second president of what Kingsbury called Nevada State College (later University of Nevada at Reno, according to on-line information) from 1889 to 1894.

During his tenure, the “faculty increased to 15 members… and enrollment grew to 179 in his final year as president.” He oversaw the school’s first graduation, in 1891.

The Jones genealogy in the China bicentennial history includes Stephen Alfred Jones, oldest son of Alfred H. Jones and Mary Randall (Jones) Jones (they were second cousins), of China. Alfred Jones taught in freedmen’s schools in Virginia and North Carolina.

Stephen went to the Providence, Rhode Island, Friends School and then to Dartmouth, from which he graduated in 1872, “receiving both MA and PhD from that institution.”

Married to Louise Coffin, he taught Latin and Greek at William Penn College in Iowa, where their older son was born; and then studied in Bonn, Germany, where their younger son was born. After heading the University of Nevada, the genealogy says, he retired to San Jose, California, returning at intervals to visit China relatives.

The genealogy calls Stephen “a good teacher,” with “excellent literary qualifications” who had “excellent results” when he taught in Branch Mills in 1865. It quotes a biographical cyclopedia saying his “large stature and commanding presence, pleasant but firm,…won the respect and confidence of his students and had a strong influence over them.”

 * * * * *

George F. Mosher was the seventh president of Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, from September 1886 to 1901. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Bowdoin, he was a nurse during the Civil War, and served “in a German consulate” before coming to Hillsdale.

An on-line list of Hillsdale presidents says “Mosher’s years as president were a period of particularly high academic achievement. Hillsdale was widely known as one of the strongest small colleges in the Midwest.”

*****

A digression: Hillsdale’s first president, Daniel McBride Graham (1817-1888), was an Oberlin College graduate who served Hillsdale, then Michigan Central College in Spring Arbor, from its opening in 1844 to 1848. It started with “only five students in a small, deserted, two-room store.”

In 1848, Graham resigned “to become a pastor in Saco, Maine.” In 1855, the school moved about 25 miles to Hillsdale and changed its name.

Graham returned to become the school’s fourth president from 1871–1874. The list of presidents says: “Facing almost total destruction of the campus by fire, Graham led the rebuilding of the campus during the 1873 financial panic.”

Spring Arbor is now home to a private Free Methodist university described on line as “the second-largest evangelical Christian university in Michigan.”

Main sources

Grow, Mary M., China Maine Bicentennial History including 1984 revisions (1984)
Kingsbury, Henry D., ed., Illustrated History of Kennebec County Maine 1625-1892 (1892)

Websites, miscellaneous.

EVENTS: Erskine Academy to host 8th grade open house

Erskine Academy invites all eighth-grade students and their parents from the surrounding communities to attend the 8th Grade Open House, on Wednesday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m., in the gym. All incoming freshmen and their parents are highly encouraged to participate in this event, as registration materials will be available and information about the course selection process will be provided. In the event of inclement weather, a snow date has been scheduled for Thursday, February 27.

Parents who are unable to attend are asked to contact the Guidance Office at 445-2964 to request registration materials.