Save the Choctaw Academy! circa1825
Donation protected
America's most progressive place...the 1825 Choctaw Academy...please help stabilize her!
In 2012, I acquired a piece of farmland that contained the Choctaw Academy, an Indian school built by the 9th Vice President of the United States in 1825. Little did I know, that the Academy was perhaps the first federally-funded, racially integrated, non-missionary school in US History. Using War funds, like used for West Point, the Academy was built pursuant to a Treaty with the Choctaw Nation after the Indian Wars. This was a progressive and important place around the turn of the 19th century, and marked a time in History where Kentuckians were fighting against prejudices that would later cause a civil war. All told, 600 Native Americans from approximately 17 different tribes, as well as local whites and slaves would be educated here. This was a place without prejudice! The last remaining structure, seen here, was a dormitory, and she is falling down....quickly.
Please see the video here:
http://youtu.be/RPmO3hskiNk
I asked originally for your support to fund an emergency pole structure--phase one--now complete-- It should be built around/over the Academy and started mid December. It will preserve her from the elements until a full restoration can be attempted.
Phase two-- now in process--is shoring of the floors and debris clean-up to get the load off off the floor beams. Essentially preserving the internal scaffolding, so a documentary can be filmed.
Employees from the National Park Service have recently visited the Academy to evaluate it for National Historic Landmark status. The stakes are high....it cannot become a ruin before achieving this status!
I would be be genuinely thankful for any help in this stabilization effort. I am a local health care provider and a member of our local Historic Society. We will follow this initial effort with a full-blown restoration campaign, but that takes time; time that this building does not have!
Please friend and like it on Facebook...
https://www.facebook.com/Save-the-Choctaw-Academy-356091604736264/
In 2012, I acquired a piece of farmland that contained the Choctaw Academy, an Indian school built by the 9th Vice President of the United States in 1825. Little did I know, that the Academy was perhaps the first federally-funded, racially integrated, non-missionary school in US History. Using War funds, like used for West Point, the Academy was built pursuant to a Treaty with the Choctaw Nation after the Indian Wars. This was a progressive and important place around the turn of the 19th century, and marked a time in History where Kentuckians were fighting against prejudices that would later cause a civil war. All told, 600 Native Americans from approximately 17 different tribes, as well as local whites and slaves would be educated here. This was a place without prejudice! The last remaining structure, seen here, was a dormitory, and she is falling down....quickly.
Please see the video here:
http://youtu.be/RPmO3hskiNk
I asked originally for your support to fund an emergency pole structure--phase one--now complete-- It should be built around/over the Academy and started mid December. It will preserve her from the elements until a full restoration can be attempted.
Phase two-- now in process--is shoring of the floors and debris clean-up to get the load off off the floor beams. Essentially preserving the internal scaffolding, so a documentary can be filmed.
Employees from the National Park Service have recently visited the Academy to evaluate it for National Historic Landmark status. The stakes are high....it cannot become a ruin before achieving this status!
I would be be genuinely thankful for any help in this stabilization effort. I am a local health care provider and a member of our local Historic Society. We will follow this initial effort with a full-blown restoration campaign, but that takes time; time that this building does not have!
Please friend and like it on Facebook...
https://www.facebook.com/Save-the-Choctaw-Academy-356091604736264/
Organizer
Chip Richardson
Organizer
Georgetown, KY
