Eagleswood Military Academy
Encyclopedia
The Eagleswood Military Academy was a private military academy
in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
which served antebellum educational needs.
The Eagleswood Military Academy was started by Rebecca Spring (1812–1911) and Marcus Spring
(1810–1874) in 1861 in the vicinity of the Route 35/Smith Street intersection. The Springs initially started the Raritan Bay Union
, as a utopian community in 1853, but the Union closed in 1860. Rebecca had the bodies of A.D. Stevens and A.E. Hazlett, from John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry
, buried on her property.
The grounds, approximately 260 acres, were recorded in the largest survey conducted by Henry David Thoreau
. The Eagleswood Mansion was located on the grounds. The house was listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places
and the National Register of Historic Places
as the The George Inness House and was demolished in 1993. George Inness
, the American painter, stayed at the home in the 1860s. Edward L. Kemeys (1843 – 1907) was another artist who spent time in residence at Eagleswood.
The start of the American Civil War
caused many of the Academy's teachers to join the war effort and the school was forced to close, having inadequate staff and enrollment to continue its existence. Several years later, the site became the Eagleswood Park Hotel until 1888, when the Eagleswood estate was sold by the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company
to Calvin Pardee. He built a ceramic tile company on the site.
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Perth Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The City of Perth Amboy is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 50,814. Perth Amboy is known as the "City by the Bay", referring to Raritan Bay.-Name:The Lenape...
which served antebellum educational needs.
The Eagleswood Military Academy was started by Rebecca Spring (1812–1911) and Marcus Spring
Marcus Spring
Marcus Spring was the creator of the Raritan Bay Union, a utopian community in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.-Early life:...
(1810–1874) in 1861 in the vicinity of the Route 35/Smith Street intersection. The Springs initially started the Raritan Bay Union
Raritan Bay Union
The Raritan Bay Union was a utopian community in Perth Amboy, New Jersey from 1853 to 1860.-History:It was started by Marcus Spring and Rebecca Buffum . Maud Honeyman Green writes: "The Union established a progressive boarding school that was a pioneer in co-education...
, as a utopian community in 1853, but the Union closed in 1860. Rebecca had the bodies of A.D. Stevens and A.E. Hazlett, from John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry was an attempt by white abolitionist John Brown to start an armed slave revolt by seizing a United States Arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virginia in 1859...
, buried on her property.
The grounds, approximately 260 acres, were recorded in the largest survey conducted by Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau was an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist...
. The Eagleswood Mansion was located on the grounds. The house was listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
The New Jersey Register of Historic Places is the official list of historic resources of local, state, and national interest in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The program is administered by the Historic Preservation Office of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.The register was...
and the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as the The George Inness House and was demolished in 1993. George Inness
George Inness
George Inness was an American landscape painter; born in Newburgh, New York; died at Bridge of Allan in Scotland. His work was influenced, in turn, by that of the old masters, the Hudson River school, the Barbizon school, and, finally, by the theology of Emanuel Swedenborg, whose spiritualism...
, the American painter, stayed at the home in the 1860s. Edward L. Kemeys (1843 – 1907) was another artist who spent time in residence at Eagleswood.
The start of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
caused many of the Academy's teachers to join the war effort and the school was forced to close, having inadequate staff and enrollment to continue its existence. Several years later, the site became the Eagleswood Park Hotel until 1888, when the Eagleswood estate was sold by the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company
Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company
The Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company was a life insurance company based in Newark, New Jersey that was chartered in 1845. The company was headed by Frederick Frelinghuysen...
to Calvin Pardee. He built a ceramic tile company on the site.
Notable Students
- Louis Comfort TiffanyLouis Comfort TiffanyLouis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
- Harry Gray
- J. Lawrence Kearney
- Ellen Wright Garrison
- son of Marcus Ward, Governor of New JerseyGovernor of New JerseyThe Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
- Ralph MunroeRalph MunroeRalph Middleton Munroe was an American yacht designer and early resident of Coconut Grove in south Florida. His home, now The Barnacle Historic State Park, is the oldest house in Miami-Dade County still standing in its original location.-Early life:Munroe was born to Thomas and Ellen Middleton...
- R.M. Colgate
- Frederick Norton FreemanFrederick Norton FreemanFrederick Norton Freeman .He entered Norwich University in 1853 where his plan and idea led to the founding of Theta Chi Fraternity with fellow classmate and cadet Arthur Chase. Freeman was only 17 years old when Theta Chi was founded. He received a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering in 1856 and an...
, Student and Superintendent in 1862