Tuscarora Academy Explained

Tuscarora Academy
Nearest City:	Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
Coordinates:	40.4975°N -77.4883°W
Built:	1816
Added:	June 30, 1972
Refnum:	72001125
Designated Other1 Name:	Pennsylvania state historical marker
Designated Other1 Abbr:	PHMC
Designated Other1 Date:	March 20, 1968^[1]
Designated Other1 Link:	List of Pennsylvania state historical markers
Designated Other1 Color:	navy
Designated Other1 Textcolor:	ffc94b

The Tuscarora Academy in Academia, Pennsylvania is a building from 1816. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.^[2] The building was constructed in 1816 as a Presbyterian Church. When the Tuscarora Academy was established in 1836, some of the classes were held in the church. Other campus buildings were adjacent to the property. In 1850 the academy trustees purchased the building and added the second floor for extra dormitory rooms. From 1851 until 1875, four fires on campus destroyed the other campus buildings. Academy classes continued in this stone building until 1912, then until 1916 the building was used for Beale Township High School. Alumni and community members lobbied hard for the building's restoration and preservation, which finally happened starting in the 1960s. In August 1970, the Tuscarora Academy Museum opened to the public and is still operational today. In 2016, ownership was transferred to the Juniata County Historical Society. The Museum is open June through August on Sundays from 1:30pm until 4:00pm.

In addition to the notable alumni listed below, a book published in 2021 (Tuscarora Academy: Providence is Here) contains short biographies of about a third of the known alumni, faculty, and trustees. This once prestigious school educated young men (and women beginning in 1873) from at least 30 other states and 6 other countries. Alumni went on to settle in every state in the contiguous United States, with many reaching the pinnacle of their chosen professions.

The academy is located about a mile west of the Academia Pomeroy Covered Bridge which is also listed on the National Register.^[3]

Notable alumni

• John L. Withrow, minister, author
• Captain James J. Patterson - instructor, Union army officer, author, and farmer

External links

• Tuscarora Academy and Covered Bridge Academia, PA 1-31-12, video slideshow
• https://pahistoricpreservation.com/instruction-thorough-situation-delightful/

Notes and References

1. Web site: PHMC Historical Markers . Historical Marker Database . Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission . December 20, 2013.
2. Web site: National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania. CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Searchable database. Note: This includes Web site: [{{NRHP-PA|H000642_01H.pdf}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Tuscarora Academy]. 2013-11-22. PA Register of Historic Sites and Landmarks. PDF. 1971.
3. Web site: National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania. CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Searchable database. Note: This includes Web site: [{{NRHP-PA|H050791_01H.pdf}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Academia Pomeroy Covered Bridge]. 2012-12-29. Susan M. Zacher and Tobi Casner. PDF. n.d..