Richwood Academy Explained

Mount Pleasant School
Location:836 Lambs Road, Richwood, New Jersey
Coordinates:39.7217°N -75.1614°W
Builder:Thomas S. Sharp and James Fletcher
Added:July 14, 2023
Refnum:100009116[1]
Designated Other1 Name:New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Designated Other1 Abbr:NJRHP
Designated Other1 Link:New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Designated Other1 Date:March 21, 2023
Designated Other1 Number:3164[2]
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Designated Other1 Color:
  1. ffc94b

The Richwood Academy, historically known as the Mount Pleasant School, is located at 836 Lambs Road in the Richwood section of the township of Harrison in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. Built in 1870, the historic schoolhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 14, 2023, for its significance in architecture and education.[3] The building, also known as the Richwood Academy Cultural Center, is used by the Harrison Township Historical Society for lectures and performances.[4]

History and description

The two-story, two-room schoolhouse was built in 1870 by Thomas S. Sharp and James Fletcher. It is the second one located at this site. The first was a one-room schoolhouse built in 1855.[3] The community has been known by various names, Mount Pleasant by 1850, Five Points in 1869, and Richwood in 1889. It was named by "Fancy Joe" Jackson after a relative, Garwood Richwood Marshall.[5] The building was used as a schoolhouse until 1950, when the township elementary school opened. In 1951, the Richwood Academy Association was formed and they purchased the building.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Weekly List 2023 07 21 . . July 21, 2023.
  2. Web site: New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Gloucester County . New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Historic Preservation Office . 3 . September 11, 2023 . other names: Five Points School; Richwood School; Richwood Academy.
  3. Web site: Historic Richwood Academy Added to the National and State Registers of Historic Places . Harrison Township, New Jersey . September 13, 2023.
  4. Web site: Harrison Township Historical Society .
  5. News: Boyle . Freddie . Quiet Richwood Once Was Gay . . November 19, 1960 . 20.