Florida Central Academy
Encyclopedia
Florida Central Academy was founded by Colonel L. E. Allen and General T. L. Alexander in 1959 as a college preparatory boarding school
for boys. First classes started 1960-61 school year. There were a total of 23 senior classes. In 1971 the school became fully co-educational. The campus was situated on 45 acres (182,108.7 m²). The school was closed in 1983.
structure with steep roof lines and large chimneys. The building was originally four stories and had 230 rooms. Carl Dann Sr. built it in 1926 during the Florida land boom. It was called the Mt. Plymouth Hotel and Country Club. At one time it had the largest dining room in Florida. The golf course was modeled after St. Andrews Golf Club
in Scotland
.
The last class graduated in May, 1983. A few weeks later, the school was seized by United States bankruptcy court
, prior to the settlement of claims from 330 of the school's creditor
s. The school was closed and all business transactions were halted. The building was condemned
and abandoned, and vandals destroyed much of the structure.
In 1986, the entire building except for one wing burned to the ground. Shortly thereafter the entire site was razed, with no trace of the building left.
It has been recently been designated a National Historical Site
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
for boys. First classes started 1960-61 school year. There were a total of 23 senior classes. In 1971 the school became fully co-educational. The campus was situated on 45 acres (182,108.7 m²). The school was closed in 1983.
History
The main school building was a VictorianVictorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
structure with steep roof lines and large chimneys. The building was originally four stories and had 230 rooms. Carl Dann Sr. built it in 1926 during the Florida land boom. It was called the Mt. Plymouth Hotel and Country Club. At one time it had the largest dining room in Florida. The golf course was modeled after St. Andrews Golf Club
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in the world . It is based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, and is regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf"...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The last class graduated in May, 1983. A few weeks later, the school was seized by United States bankruptcy court
United States bankruptcy court
United States bankruptcy courts are courts created under Article I of the United States Constitution. They function as units of the district courts and have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal district courts have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases arising...
, prior to the settlement of claims from 330 of the school's creditor
Creditor
A creditor is a party that has a claim to the services of a second party. It is a person or institution to whom money is owed. The first party, in general, has provided some property or service to the second party under the assumption that the second party will return an equivalent property or...
s. The school was closed and all business transactions were halted. The building was condemned
Condemnation
Condemnation or condemned may refer to:*a strongly worded rebuke* Damnation, the antithesis of salvationIn other contexts, it may also refer to:-Historical:...
and abandoned, and vandals destroyed much of the structure.
In 1986, the entire building except for one wing burned to the ground. Shortly thereafter the entire site was razed, with no trace of the building left.
It has been recently been designated a National Historical Site